Really interesting article on the Shure M44-7
- Thread starter beatcomber
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I LIKE MUSIC
Super Member
Very interesting.
Thank you for the link.
Thank you for the link.
Eric Lloyd
Well-Known Member
Great article. Thanks for sharing, I hadn't seen it before. I have a new respect for the M44-7 now.
Mojo Warrior
Reality Star
+1
malden
Lunatic Member
The M44-7 is a fun cartridge. Thanks for posting the article. The most interesting part of the article for me is the description of the suspension system, which is often overlooked in discussions about cartridges and styli. It's just as important as stylus shape and cantilever material.
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Great read. Been using that cart most of my life. Have always liked its sound,
Reminded me of a post I made on another forum several years ago. I had been interested in the M44 series and went to the library to go through old High Fidelity ads to see its history. Below is a cut-and-paste from that post:
Has any product gone from top-of-the-line to also-ran as quickly as the Shure M44 series cartridge? In looking at older issues of High Fidelity yesterday, I found that the M44 (the first Shure designed to track at 15 degrees) replaced the M33 as top dog in their advertising in the Dec. '63 issue. Priced at $49.50 (.5 mil stylus, .75-1.5 VTF) or $44.50 (.7 mil, 1.5-3.0), it was lauded as "awesome in its vitality and clarity," "a night-and-day difference," and "the new standard in distortion-free hi-fi cartridges." By April of '64, the Shure V-15, with its elliptical stylus, was introduced, relegating the M44 to second-tier status. In September of '64, the M44 was being advertised as the modestly-priced alternative to the "professional grade" M55E and V-15, and the price had dropped to less than $25.00. And now, 40 years later, it's said to be engineered for DJ's and turntablists. But we should not forget that this was once the flagship of the Shure line, an audiophile's dream, even if only for a few months.
Now it's over 50 years since its introduction and still going strong, hopefully for a long time to come.
Has any product gone from top-of-the-line to also-ran as quickly as the Shure M44 series cartridge? In looking at older issues of High Fidelity yesterday, I found that the M44 (the first Shure designed to track at 15 degrees) replaced the M33 as top dog in their advertising in the Dec. '63 issue. Priced at $49.50 (.5 mil stylus, .75-1.5 VTF) or $44.50 (.7 mil, 1.5-3.0), it was lauded as "awesome in its vitality and clarity," "a night-and-day difference," and "the new standard in distortion-free hi-fi cartridges." By April of '64, the Shure V-15, with its elliptical stylus, was introduced, relegating the M44 to second-tier status. In September of '64, the M44 was being advertised as the modestly-priced alternative to the "professional grade" M55E and V-15, and the price had dropped to less than $25.00. And now, 40 years later, it's said to be engineered for DJ's and turntablists. But we should not forget that this was once the flagship of the Shure line, an audiophile's dream, even if only for a few months.
Now it's over 50 years since its introduction and still going strong, hopefully for a long time to come.
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JohnMac
Addicted Member
I have an M44E with a good original stylus which I enjoy on a dual TT. Are all M44 bodies the same? Can I use a "7" stylus in my cartridge? It looks the only difference is that the E is eliptical and the 7 spherical. The other specs appear the same.
Thanks,
John
Thanks,
John
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JohnMac
Addicted Member
Thanks. I didn't notice the tracking force difference. Looks like the "G" might be the way to go for LPs.
I was using the M44 with the appropriate stylus for playing 78s. I dismantled my mono system and sold the 78s then discovered how nice the cartridge sounds when playing LPs. Might be worth investing in a new stylus.
I was using the M44 with the appropriate stylus for playing 78s. I dismantled my mono system and sold the 78s then discovered how nice the cartridge sounds when playing LPs. Might be worth investing in a new stylus.
malden
Lunatic Member
I found that the M44G doesn't do well in a medium mass tonearm, probably works best in a high quality low mass tone-arm.
malden
Lunatic Member
Regarding your M55E, JICO after-market Shure styli are built and sound like the originals...
http://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=1014
http://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=1014
That looks exactly like what I have, which is an EVG, supposedly made by Jico. But there's no way to really know since the Jico site lists no specs.
malden
Lunatic Member
EVG may source some of their styli from JICO, but they are not the same as those available through JICO's website. I have about a dozen JICO styli and several EVG & Pfanstiehl. JICO are built just like the originals, EVG & Pfanstiehl are not.
orthophonic
Super Member
The jukebox expert isn't much of an expert, the Seeburg G used a Pickering Cartridge and Stylus (as all Seeburgs did from 1949 to the end), not an Astatic.
