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Shure LT Series Cartridge Photos/Specifications

Sending it back

My Normarh N94LT failed the sibilance test. James Taylor "Sweet Baby James", easily found in thrifts. Side 2 track 3 ("Anywhere Like Heaven") has a lot of hot esses, which had noticeably more sizzle with the Normarh than a genuine NDC-EJ.

Dave
 
GrampaDave said:
My Normarh N94LT failed the sibilance test. James Taylor "Sweet Baby James", easily found in thrifts. Side 2 track 3 ("Anywhere Like Heaven") has a lot of hot esses, which had noticeably more sizzle with the Normarh than a genuine NDC-EJ.

Dave
Click to expand...

I can't really say that I am surprised. A few months ago I purchased a Normarh N104e stylus to compare to an NOS Shure and a JICO. The first thing I noticed was the cantilever was longer than the original Shure and the JICO. My listening test turned out similarly to yours. The Normarh had significant sibilance issues. The original NOS Shure came in second as the JICO won the sibilance test hands down. I threw out the Normarh as it wasn't worth the time and expense to send it back. Never again.
 
I thought the over-long cantilever was unique to the Pfanstiehl Shures. This Normarh was about right. That is, it was about the same as my JICO N97LT - I don't have any real Shure N9xLT to compare.

Dave
 
Case Closed

Contacted seller (needlestore/Normarh) asking for refund.
A couple of days pass, no reply.
Opened a case - item not as described -, no reply.
Message, no reply.
Message, no reply.
Message, no reply.

Escalated to eBay Customer Service.
They judged in my favor.
Immediately got a message from the seller acknowledging it.

Lesson learned.

Dave
 
Corrected Original Post

Decibel_116 said:
Here are some photos of the M92LT, M94LT, and N94LT stylus. I did not take these photos. The M94LT cartridge photo shows the incorrect stylus grip color. It should be blue as in the photo of the N94LT stylus . Note that it is a nude .2 x .7 diamond. See corrected photo from Wualta in the following post.
Click to expand...

This is a thread bump to let people know that I updated the original posting for this thread to include photos of the M92LT and M94LT that I recently acquired with correct original type stylus. The "Shure" text on the stylus for the M92LT has faded but is still there if you look real hard. If you folks think this is something that should be added as a "sticky", please let an administrator of moderator know. I have made a deliberate attempt to collect and document the original Shure LT series cartridges and styli for the community. It thought I would do something for the forum since I have enjoyed it so much. Thanks everyone!

David
 
Thank you for a most enlightening post.

Now, if you don't mind, I have a question.

I have the opportunity to buy a NOS LT version for my regular V15IV.

This isn't explicitly stated, so my question is this: is the LT a simple plug-in replacement for the V15IV stylus? Minus the damped brush, of course.
 
Capetowntrax said:
... is the LT a simple plug-in replacement for the V15IV stylus? Minus the damped brush, of course.
Click to expand...
Yes. The only difference (other than the brush) will possibly be the compliance. This was just my guess, based on Shure's usual practice of giving both a range of VTFs and an optimum VTF. But the user guide for the V15LT gives only 1.25g and warns not to exceed this. That's also the maximum VTF for the VN45HE stylus. Keep in mind that the p-mount standard for VTF goes up to 1.5g. So are they identical? Could be.
.
 
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wualta said:
Yes. The only difference (other than the brush) will be the compliance, which translates into a heavier vertical tracking force (VTF) for the LT stylus-- the LT's optimum VTF is 1.25g v. 1.0g for the V15IV's.
Click to expand...

Good point. This opens up another can of worms. All of the other styli in the LT series (except for the V15LT) may fit other standard mount Shures based on the M97 body. For instance, would the N97LT fit the M97XE?

David
 
Shure. I mean, sure. It'll sound great, too. You'd basically have an old M97HE but of course without the brush. I have JICO's copy of the N97LT, and it's my go-to Shure stylus for just about every occasion.
 
There is another wrinkle in this....

The V15LT was available both in the mini key shaped stylus grip and also in the standard Shure p-mount format, as sported by the current M92e (except with the small shank of course).

Was it the only LT to do this?
Was there perhaps a transitionaly period between the mini key shaped styli and the "standard" Shure p-mount style.

The V15Vp, V15HRP both use the standard stylus style (V15V with small shank, V15HRP with standard shank).

I have a DT25P (stylusless) and an M97LT (also stylusless) - I focused on the p-mount models that can take the standard mount styly, as they are available!

bye for now

David
 
David, do you have a photo of this so-called transitional V15LT? I haven't seen anything like what you're describing, at least not here in the US. Not saying it doesn't exist or couldn't happen, just that I've seen zero evidence of it so far.
 
I have seen it advertised on ebay in the last 2-3 months - with photos clearly showing V15LT printed on the side.

There was also a posting on AK some months back that showed a V15LT (photos were posted) and again it was with the standard p-mount stylus format. (or was it VE? - will have to do a search)

Yes I was surprised too!

The ebay exemplar went too high for me, but I am keeping an eye out....
 
That eBay listing specifically calls the stylus a VN5P, not a VN45LT. A slight inductance mismatch, but certainly workable, and of course an excellent, beryllium-equipped V15 Type V p-mount stylus. So no, it's not a transitional LT stylus, but something that's actually better.

But it does say something that a seller found a beryllium stylus easier/cheaper to come by than the previous-generation LT! I see TTN.com still has the genuine VN45LT in stock if someone really wants it, but the price is enough to make you think "I guess I'll get the SAS."

And I think we've all seen enough Frankencarts on eBay, some of which are hilarious, to know that if a random stylus can somehow be jammed into a random cart body, upside down if necessary, someone will eventually try to sell it to you, claiming it "works great".
 
I have no idea what the colour or noomenclature would be for the stylus of this version of the V15LT.

Clearly being a member of the V15IV family, I would expect the same stylus type.... and with this body shape it might even be fitted with a stylus having a damper brush....

I have no idea, so far I have only seen these types of photos of specimens in the wild - I have never seen the matching documentation/specs.

It is also worthwhile considering that the V15IV family also included the VSTIII and the "tracker" cartridges - the Tracker VST's had a V15IV stylus with damper, as did the VSTIII's I believe - although these styli were sold under differing codes. The plastic surrounds are the standard p-mount fitting so these would have been interchangeable with a V15V...

In any case - still keeping an eye out for more information on these other members of the family...

And I forgot to mention - all the 500mH bodies suit the V15IV (or V15III) styli well (obviously) or SAS, while keeping the original factory loading.

If the body is fitted with a V15V stylus, then it would need very low capacitance and possibly a resistive loading adjustment as well to bring the voicing back into line.

The same principles apply to the wider shank bodies (M series, DT series) where a stylus designed for a lower inductance cartrdge, would require additional capacitance to compensate, or vice versa. (the art of Frankencart...)
 
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Thank you for the responses.

The item in question (images taken using a mobile phone):

Photo+2014-07-04%252C+10+40+37+AM.jpg


Photo+2014-07-04%252C+10+42+00+AM.jpg


The sticker price of R82,50 in South African rands is equivalent to a little under 8 USD. The seller's current asking price (I believe that he has more of these units and other types as well) is around $90.

I have no affiliation to the seller. I don't want this to appear to be a sales pitch - particularly as a newcomer to this forum - so if anyone wants to follow up I'd suggest you take a look at the SA Audiovisual Forum at www.avforums.co.za
 
Decibel_116

can you tell me the difference in the shank on your N97LT and your VN45LT styli, length/width, etc? I think the N97LT has a wider shank and the VN45LT has the same shank as a VN45HE. I'm trying to figure out if there is any compatibility between the two.
 
To the best of my knowledge (and with regards to previous postings here and on VE), the V15LT apparently has the narrow shank, the same as the V15III / V15IV and V15V.

I do not own a V15LT to confirm this with.

I do have an M97LT and can confirm that it has the wider shank same as the majority of shure cartridges...
 
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