SX-950SX-980
Active Member
Hi, Whats better a Shure M91ED or M95ED. Are they both of the same standard? What about the Sure M75ED Type 2 Cartridge any good. Does anyone know how to rate them against each other? Higher the number the better????
Shure M91ED or M95ED or Sure M75ED Type 2 Cartridge, Whats better?
- Thread starter SX-950SX-980
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
bohhey
Dualaholic
M-91-ED was the standard in the early '70's for a high quality cart. Shure must have made a ton of them. Put Crutchfield on the map. Retailed for $55.00, buy them for $39.00, and Crutchfield chunked them out for $25.00. M-95 replaced it, and I think that it is an improvement - second only to the V-15. The M-75 is a step down.
hakaplan
Needs professional help
The models are from different time periods, so the numbers don't really indicate relative levels of quality. All were the second highest models to the prevailing V15. It could be argued that the models improved with time, but that is not necessarily born out in everyone's experience. One improvement in particular with the M95 was the thinner (Type II) cantilever. The M91, however, continues to be a favorite around here.
BrocLuno
Lunatic Member
I don't have a M95, so I can't comment directly. But I do have an M91 and a Premier (M75). I like the M75 a lot. I don't think it's a step down from anything but the V-15. It's more a step sideways. A little different tonal quality. Tends to the Grado side as in a bit warmer. But I like Grado's too, so it seems at home to me.
My M91 has a PE conical stylus that I have not been impressed with. It will get tweaked to try and get a "real" 91Ed stylus in it so I can hear it at it's best. That little project is on hold. A few others are in the que first
My M91 has a PE conical stylus that I have not been impressed with. It will get tweaked to try and get a "real" 91Ed stylus in it so I can hear it at it's best. That little project is on hold. A few others are in the que first
Scuzzer
Fixed Bias
What arms have you found work well with the M75? Do you think it will work with an RB300 arm? I need to buy a needle for mine, any suggestions on where to get one that's decent?
goanlisten
Active Member
I owned an M91ED in the 70's and in my humble opinion it was a step up from the M75. If I remember correctlythe M75 tracked at a much higher force and although the output was good - it was considered to be a vinyl deteriorater. I remember experimenting with tracking forces to determine the best choice and it always seemed to track better between 1.75 - 2.00 grams.
The M91ED on the other hand tracked flawlessly at 1.00 gram and managed warped records much better than my other cartridges.
I have an M95 now that I've owned for awhile but I seem to like the brighter sound of an audio technica AT-92ECD.
The M91ED on the other hand tracked flawlessly at 1.00 gram and managed warped records much better than my other cartridges.
I have an M95 now that I've owned for awhile but I seem to like the brighter sound of an audio technica AT-92ECD.
George1355
Active Member
I have both of those and a Pickering cartridge with a DSE-1 stylus and I am trying to decide which two to keep. I am leaning towards keeping the 95 and the pickering but I really don't know how the pickering stacks up to the 91. ANy help would be appreciated.
BrocLuno
Lunatic Member
Correction, my M75 has a Turntableneedles.com after market stylus. It is not the stock ED stylus. I have this one:
http://www.turntableneedles.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9592
I'm very impressed for a $35 stylus. No, it's not an SAS or even an HE, but it sounds pretty darn good to me
George, I'd keep one Shure and the Pickering. They are different enough that they will be suited to different LP situations. Especially if your Pickering will accept the 625 style stylus. That cart & stylus is at home on some LPs depending on studio and recording engineering parameters, etc.
http://www.turntableneedles.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9592
I'm very impressed for a $35 stylus. No, it's not an SAS or even an HE, but it sounds pretty darn good to me
George, I'd keep one Shure and the Pickering. They are different enough that they will be suited to different LP situations. Especially if your Pickering will accept the 625 style stylus. That cart & stylus is at home on some LPs depending on studio and recording engineering parameters, etc.
George1355
Active Member
Cool thanks for you thoughts.
hakaplan
Needs professional help
The M75ED is high compliance and would theoretically be a good match for the Rega arm. The stylus would be called N75ED Type 2 (or just EDT2).
Scuzzer
Fixed Bias
From my initial (but not thorough) seaches I have found a few different stylii sold under the N75ed moniker. Is there a specific manufacturer I should try to find or avoid?
bohhey
Dualaholic
In Europe, Dual put the M-75-ED on the 1225/1226, the M-91-ED on the 1228, and the V-15 III on the 701, and some 1229's. Other 1229's got the Ortofon M-20-E.
The 1st set of tables were lower end, the 1228 is really pretty darn decent for the smaller chassis design, and the other two - well, we all know about those.
The M-75 is NOT the cart the M-91 is. I'll have to dig through my paperwork for the specs. Given the $$ the V-15's pull, I'd look for a M-95. A few had the HE stylus - REALLY nice for the $$
The 1st set of tables were lower end, the 1228 is really pretty darn decent for the smaller chassis design, and the other two - well, we all know about those.
The M-75 is NOT the cart the M-91 is. I'll have to dig through my paperwork for the specs. Given the $$ the V-15's pull, I'd look for a M-95. A few had the HE stylus - REALLY nice for the $$
pilotputz
Super Member
Well, since no one seems to want to chime in about the similarity of a whole swathe of Shure cartridge bodies, I'm going to continue in my assumption that they are all the same, and that the only REAL difference is in the quality of the stylus.
The question posed at the beginning of the post was whether the M91 or the M95 was the better cartridge.
I do not have an M95 but it looks very similar to the M97 which I do have.
The M97 has a very rich, refined sound to it with very mellow highs.
The M91 is a bit higher output and has a bit more of an open sound to it, with very tight bass and clean, clear highs. Lots of people REALLY dig this cartridge.
If it were me, I'd go with the M91. But I would certainly hold on to the M95 in the chance of someday crossing paths with a correct stylus.
You hear a lot of talk these days about certain aftermarket styli such as JICO or SAS. Personally, I've had much better luck with factory styli; and they're still out there to be had. Check out www.stereoneedles.com. They will have any stylus for any Shure cart that you can think of.
GOOD LUCK!!!
The question posed at the beginning of the post was whether the M91 or the M95 was the better cartridge.
I do not have an M95 but it looks very similar to the M97 which I do have.
The M97 has a very rich, refined sound to it with very mellow highs.
The M91 is a bit higher output and has a bit more of an open sound to it, with very tight bass and clean, clear highs. Lots of people REALLY dig this cartridge.
If it were me, I'd go with the M91. But I would certainly hold on to the M95 in the chance of someday crossing paths with a correct stylus.
You hear a lot of talk these days about certain aftermarket styli such as JICO or SAS. Personally, I've had much better luck with factory styli; and they're still out there to be had. Check out www.stereoneedles.com. They will have any stylus for any Shure cart that you can think of.
GOOD LUCK!!!
hakaplan
Needs professional help
The specs for the M91ED and M75ED-2 are identical right down to the trackability. The styli have different shaped plastic, but are interchangeable fitwise and are probably the same. There was never a M75ED type 1. It was marketed as type 2 from the beginning. The specs are at vinylengine.com. I don't have the 75 so I can't compare, but since I have everything else, I might as well look for that too and test for myself.
They changed body styles with the M95 and the sound changed, too. I think the M95ED and original 97 were very similar in sound. That hexagonal body is still made today, but as others have stated, I don't think the M97xE is as good as the non-x model. But others who have bought them recently have stated they sound very good and without high end rolloff, so maybe they've changed something.
They changed body styles with the M95 and the sound changed, too. I think the M95ED and original 97 were very similar in sound. That hexagonal body is still made today, but as others have stated, I don't think the M97xE is as good as the non-x model. But others who have bought them recently have stated they sound very good and without high end rolloff, so maybe they've changed something.
hakaplan
Needs professional help
Were the 1225/1226 and the 1228 sold concurrently?
jazzwolf
Super Member
It depends on which M97 you have. If you have the M97ED or M97HE I'm sure it's the same BUT if you have an M97XE there is NO WAY it sounds like it. I have the M91ED, M75E, M97HE and M97XE and the older cartridges smoke the M97XE and it's not even close. The M97XE has the rolled off highs that makes a lot of my records sound boring and lifeless. It's a GREAT tracker but after awhile it sounds like I'm listening to something that is dead and I revert to one of the other cartridges.
pilotputz
Super Member
Actually, I have an old stock Realistic RXT-4 from the 70s: It's simply a re-branded M97ED. But my experience has been the same as yours, and not just with Shure: Old carts--and most audio gear in general-- absolutely smoke most new ones. That's why I always advise finding factory replacement styli.