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Shure LT Series Cartridge Photos/Specifications

noisemodule said:
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.
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All of my VN45LTs and V15LTs have the small shank (all 6 of them). The N97LT does have a larger shank. You can hand jam it in there, but I wouldn't want to try it. The correct VN45LT stylus can be found NOS at pickup naulden online. It is a European webstore and the exchange rates have not been such that it made sense for me to buy from them.

BTW, I purchased a cartridge last year from the ebay seller with the Franken V15LT. I returned it promptly. Many of his offerings are mix and match stylus/cartridge combinations. I especially like the descriptions of some of his higher end styli as "barely used" with a premium price tag. I purchased one of the M111HEs and returned it because the "barely used" stylus was trashed.

cheers,
David
 
dlaloum said:
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...
Click to expand...

Correct!
 
And so say I! You can think of the VN45LT as nothing more than a tiny brushless V15 Type IV stylus.
 
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Good to know, thanks everybody! I think the VN45LT is compatible with the V15 Type IV cartridge. Have any of you used this combination before?

I am assuming the only difference is the knob, but I'm also wondering about lateral compliance; if there would be any difference and if so, would that be an issue using the LT stylus on a regular Type IV cart?
 
VN45LT compatibility

To follow up on my previous posts, I briefly tried out the LT replacement in my V15IV and it seems to work just fine. Without the brush/damper assembly it does look a little underdressed, though. (I did adjust the tracking force.)

When the time comes for the replacement to be pressed into service, I might try prising the brush/damper/guard assembly off the old stylus and glueing it on the new one. An inspection by naked eye suggests that this is essentially how the current one is put together.
 
wualta said:
And so say I! You can think of the VN45LT as nothing more than a tiny brushless V15 Type IV stylus. No difference other than the slightly stiffer suspension so the optimum VTF is 1.25g instead of 1.0g.
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As it falls within the tracking force range of 0.75-1.25g quoted for the V15/IV, it was probably exactly the same compliance. They did warn in the V15LT user guide not to use track it heavier than 1.25g, so like the V15/IV (when not using the brush), that was its maximum. I'm sure it would have tracked OK at 1g if you tried it.:D
 
ETI_5000 said:
As it falls within the tracking force range of 0.75-1.25g quoted for the V15/IV, it was probably exactly the same compliance.
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You could be right. On the other hand, the V15LT user guide oddly specifies no range of VTFs at all, just 1.25g.

http://cdn.shure.com/user_guide/upload/1811/us_pro_v15_lt_ug.pdf

http://cdn.shure.com/user_guide/upload/1817/us_pro_v15iv_ug.pdf

ETI_5000 said:
They did warn in the V15LT user guide not to use track it heavier than 1.25g, so like the V15/IV (when not using the brush), that was its maximum.
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There is such a warning in the user guide, but it would be the only case I've seen where Shure specified both no range of VTFs and an optimum VTF (one presumes-- why specify a nonoptimum VTF?) that was the same as the maximum VTF. That would be especially odd without the protection of the brush. And since VTA changes with VTF, and this is a line-contact stylus, it would surprise me to learn that everything was exactly the same between the two styli.

Still, stranger things have happened, and economy of manufacturing would urge them to make only one version rather than two. So I'll amend my earlier post and track my VN45LT happily at a gram from now on. Even though it's unspecified. I'm so transgressive. Heh. [UPDATE] By the way, in Shure's 1981 brochure explaining this newfangled p-mount system and the new lineup of Shure carts (V15LT and M97LT) does mention a range of VTFs for the M97LT... but not for the V15LT. Technics apparently inserted similar brochures from Ortofon, Audio-Technica, et. al. in the boxes of their first-gen close-n-plays.


noisemodule said:
...I think the VN45LT is compatible with the V15 Type IV cartridge. Have any of you used this combination before?

I am assuming the only difference is the knob, but I'm also wondering about lateral compliance; if there would be any difference and if so, would that be an issue using the LT stylus on a regular Type IV cart?
Click to expand...
Yes, I've used this combination, simply because it was easier for me to acquire the VN45LT stylus than the VN45HE stylus. It works and works well. I'm curious to know what your concern about lateral compliance is about.
.
 
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Yes, that was part of my original idea too: Shure playing nice with those Technics folks, even though they sold the V15LT with an adaptor to use on TTs with all the adjustment in the world. But there's really no satisfying evidence either way, so I'm leaving the question open and remaining cagey and a little transgressive and... other things. [sneaks off]

[sneaks back on] I wonder if Shure made a similar recommendation for the V15V-P stylus? Hmm.. Yes, they did.[sneaks off again]
Shure VN5P specs.JPG
 
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wualta said:
...economy of manufacturing would urge them to make only one version rather than two.
Click to expand...

:yes: I had assumed the very same thing, which is why I'm trying to pin down specifics to verify. It would certainly make sense, however...

wualta said:
...I'm curious to know what your concern about lateral compliance is about.
Click to expand...

I wondered if the Linear Tracking tone arms would require a different lateral compliance due to the difference in their movement across the platter. :scratch2:

Resonant frequencies generated on the Y axis are related to effective tone arm mass and tracking force, as we know, but what of resonance along the X axis? It seem that if the mass of a tone arm has an effect on the required tracking force to suit the vertical compliance of the cantilever, then there is an equivalent relationship between skating/Anti-skating and lateral compliance.

Evidently there is no skating effect on linear tracking tables (according to Wikipedia FWIW) but they do employ mechanisms to move the cartridge across the radius of the disc. I'm not so familiar with LT tables, but presumably the force required to move the cartridge/arm would have an effect on the cantilever's horizontal resonance, and therefor it's lateral compliance, no?

Please, someone stop me if I'm spouting BS. I don't pretend to know the engineering behind all of these things, these are just my educated guesses.

Anyway, if what I have assumed is of any relevance at all, it would follow that using a VN45LT stylus in a V15 type 4 cartridge mounted on a pivoted tone arm may result in different resonant frequencies generated on the X axis, unless compensated with the appropriate anti-skating force.

I know this is all pretty esoteric and the difference in lateral compliance between the VN45LT and VN45HE, if any, may be meaningless or functionally irrelevant. But bear with me, if I can get enough useful information from this line of inquiry it might pay off...
 
Where can I get a replacement stylus for my V15LT. ??

Decibel_116 said:
Shure LT Series P-Mount Cartridge Photos/Specifications

The V15LT is the T4P version of the highly reviewed V15 type IV standard 1/2" cartridge. At the time of it's introduction, it was arguably the finest T4P moving magnet cartridge on the market. The cartridge has a laminated core that results in a more forward soundstage and less high frequency roll-off normally associated with Shure cartridges.

Specifications:

V15LT:
Stylus - VN45LT Black Grip
Type - Hyperelliptical .2 x 1.5 mil
Output: 4mv
Frequency Response: 10-25,000 Hz
Channel Balance: Within 2 dB
Channel Separation: 25dB at 1 kHz, 15 dB at 10 kHz
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.25 grams
Trackability


V15LT User Guide: http://cdn.shure.com/user_guide/upload/1811/us_pro_v15_lt_ug.pdf
Click to expand...
 
Balifly said:
Would that stylus not fit on the Pmount body ?
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Actually, no. Not without some minor surgery. Look at the front of the V15LT cartridge and you'll see why. The VN45HE would be stopped well short of full insertion by the chrome-colored cap with that little keyway in it.
However, the cap is easy to remove without tools and without damage and can of course be stuck back on. Removing the cap would at the same time compensate for the extra mass of the VN45HE stylus (brush down) over the tiny VN45LT-- this being a benefit primarily for those tables without adjustable VTF, or those with limited VTF adjustment.
 
Balifly said:
Would that stylus not fit on the Pmount body ? :idea:
Click to expand...

It will only fit if you pry the chrome plastic cap off of the top of the cartridge. After that, I don't know how that will effect the mass. I think Wualta may have tried this before. I have not personally wanted to rip the top off my cartridge - yet....:)
 
I was working with an SAS version of the VN45HE, which is lighter than the Shure version, but without weighing everything (I don't have a Shure VN45HE), I'm pretty sure you'd be safe VTFwise. You'd probably be up to 1.25g, but many p-mount tables allow some VTF adjustment, if operating the stylus at its max VTF concerned you.
 
FWIW, my 92 and 94LT stylus' fit and sound great with my M35x cart. Just like my N97HE and ED.
 
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