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Shure M97xe v. Grado Black v. AT95E

Sorry, I don't think I really answered your question! A multimeter can be used to check the value of the input loading resistor in most phono stage designs that I know of, although some designs are coupled through a capacitor.

Checking this with the power on is not recommended for several different reasons. In any case, if the cartridge is connected to the phono preamp, the coil resistance will essentially appear in 'parallel' with input loading resistor, leading to misleading results not to mention the effects of stray voltages.

There are safety issues and risk of damaging the circuit too. I wouldn't do it. Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
That's okay it took two posts. :D But thanks for saying that. Damaging my pre-amp is the last thing I wanna do, so I'm not gonna check it. I'm not going to try and open up my pre-amp as well since I'm not handy with a soldering iron.
 
Superbad said:
edit: Also, I guess i would have to consider the cost it would take to replace the sylus once it gets worn out. The Shure looks like its going to be around $60 which is pretty steep. On a side question...how long will a stylus generally last?
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Shure says their diamond styli should last about 500-800 playing hours (varies depending on tracking weight, anti-skate setting, grunge in the grooves, etc.). In the past, I could comfortably get about a year's use out of a stylus; I play records more now, so I'm replacing one about every 9 months.

I've owned two of the three cartridges you mentioned, and had the very similar Grado Green, but not on your turntable. Though they don't sound the same, I find good points in all of them and the best recommendation I can make is that you pick one, enjoy it til it wears out, then try something else. Hopefully you'll be in this hobby a long time. If you try something different each time for a few years, you'll soon get to know what sounds best to your ears and system.

I bought my M97xE from a local dealer for about twice the price you quoted and consider it a great bargain. I also buy replacement styli locally, typically at full retail, and again consider it money well spent. Not only do I get to support a local business whose services I value, the overall cost is not excessive for the pleasure returned. A lot of people spend the $60.00 you mention, or more, every month or two for things like cable television, cellular phones, and/or high speed internet service. I'm not rich, either, and gladly forgo those items in favor of bringing music into my home.
 
I have the M97XE and Grado Black and in my opinion there is no contest. I would go for the Shure immediately as the stabilizer brush really works and that cartridge can track just about anything there is. Now if you throw in the AT 120E in there then I will have a different opinion. It took awhile for the AT to break in but now that it has I am absolutely amazed by the sound, nice deep bottom and excellent highs. I haven't heard the AT 110E that was suggested but I suspect it's very similar to the 120E. I know this doesn't really help with your original question but I thought I would throw in another suggestion. :D
 
Another vote for the Shure. Please be advised that there is a massive break in period with it though. This has become my favorite cart. I like it better than my Grado Silver!
 
Yes, I concur. The 'break in' period is around 100 hours or so which worked out to be a couple of months! I experienced this with every one of my three M97xE's.

The great thing is the cartridge just keeps getting better! Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
Go for the 97

The AT and the Grados are good. Had them. I get stuck on certain brands and stay with them. Been running them on my Duals. Got down to two from seven (Wife Factor) but I back up to five. Have a first generation Dual 1009 with a Shure M55. Its been a lifetime favorite. Figured I'd try a 97. Got it for $65 with shipping last summer. Put it on the shop 1009. I dont think you'd go wrong for $55. Years ago I had a Pioneer PL12D with a Shure M44. That was a good combination. The Shure 97 will sound good on your Pioneer. I have been pleased with its sound on the 44 year old Dual. Kept the M55 mounted and put it to use on a second Dual 1009 in my sleeping quarters. Its old but it still sounds good. Set it up last week with a free Pioneer SA70 amp free from the landfill tied to a pr of small Aiwa two way speakers.

I do like the AT line of carts and recommend them. The Grado 10 at $40 is decent also. Used them on several projects as they are available locally when I need something ASAP. Dont thinks you'd go wrong with any you mentioned.Good listening Eric:music:
 
Answer to PATRIOT1776: The M97HE (the N97HE is the stylus for it) or the SAS version are NOT the same thing as the M97xe. The only similarity is the number. The original M97HE dates from about 1980 and was second in the line to the V15 IV. The stylus for the current M97xe will not fit the older model.
 
Okay. Thanks, so the N97HESAS JICO will NOT fit my V15RS for sure then? Alright, thanks for telling me. After I get paid this Friday what little bit I've made over two weeks, I'll use probably most of it to get an M97xE stylus to serve as a backup styli for V15RS.
 
The M97XE is a good value and a decent cartridge, but of all the cartridges I've heard it's easily my least favorite. I found it to be un-engaging and bland, with no particularly outstanding characteristics other than good tracking. When I was using the Shure my next upgrade was the Grado Silver, which took a while to get dialed and broken in, but the difference in sound quality is huge, I would never consider going back. I've heard the Black and also feel it's a much more enjoyable cartridge than the Shure.

Keep in mind Grado cartridges are hyper-sensitive to setup and take a very long time to break in.
 
Patriot1776 said:
Okay. Thanks, so the N97HESAS JICO will NOT fit my V15RS for sure then? Alright, thanks for telling me. After I get paid this Friday what little bit I've made over two weeks, I'll use probably most of it to get an M97xE stylus to serve as a backup styli for V15RS.
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No, that's not what he said at all. He said the new M97xE won't fit the body of the old M97. Nothing about whether it will fit the V15RS. I don't have a V15RS, but the plastic on it is similar to those of the p-mounts and I'll check the fit of both the old and new M97s. In the meantime, these two hyperellipticals will work:

http://www.export-japan.com/marketi...cts_id=1005&osCsid=j7lbe5fls2p9bdjb36p70qm861

http://www.export-japan.com/marketi...cts_id=1030&osCsid=j7lbe5fls2p9bdjb36p70qm861

Or if you want the SAS, the N95-SAS will work.

http://www.export-japan.com/marketi...cts_id=1032&osCsid=j7lbe5fls2p9bdjb36p70qm861
 
Don't know if this helps, but according to Shure's database, the V15RS used the same stylus as was on the VSTIII, the VNSE3HE. Another post there states, "Styli that will fit the V15RS: VNSE3HE; or N111E; or VN5MR. Shure no longer has stock of these models."
 
My original stylus for the V15RS ain't even heavily worn yet, but I'm running the risk of having an accident/disaster carrying my turntable from the stereo to my computer when setting up to transfer/digitize records (something I'm doing a lot of) and I'm wanting to get a stylus so in case it does happen I won't be screwed. Stylus options I'm considering:

N97HESAS
N95SAS
N97HE Shure-made stylus
N95HE

The Shure replacement stylus and the 97HESAS are the top contenders since they also have the stabilizing brush (at least the N97HESAS appears to), a feature I would like to keep if I have to use this spare stylus.
 
The current line of Shure styli will fit and function properly in the V15-RS. I purchased a new stylus for my V15-RS and Shure sent me the N111ED stylus. It looks exactly like the M97xe stylus (stabilizer brush and all) except that it is black instead of blue. I use the N92 (cheaper red) stylus in my V15-RS and my M97xe for playing worn records and I have interchanged the styli from my M97xe to my V15-RS quite often.
 
Have you noticed any differences between the various styli in the V15-RS? I'm thinking if I order the SAS stylus meant for the M97xE, that one will become the stylus used when I'm playing records straight into the receiver and speakers, while the original stock stylus would become my transferring and digitizing stylus.
 
According to lpgear.com, the M97xe replacement stylus is the one recommended for the V15-RS. I have an RS with a broken cantelever (thanks to my then-two-year-old daughter) and was interested in this option, but the cost is so close to the whole M97xe that I may just get that entire cart. I therefore haven't tried the RS/N97xE combo and can't comment on how it would work.
 
Patriot1776 said:
Have you noticed any differences between the various styli in the V15-RS? I'm thinking if I order the SAS stylus meant for the M97xE, that one will become the stylus used when I'm playing records straight into the receiver and speakers, while the original stock stylus would become my transferring and digitizing stylus.
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Hi - Not sure if you're asking me or not, but I really can't detect any sonic difference between the N111E and the N97xe stylus. To my untrained ears they are the same, they have the same stylus tip radius and the same specs on the spec sheet from Shure. I still have the invoice for the N111E and it was $50 direct from Shure in Illinois back in 2004. I think the N97xe stylus is pretty close to that, but hell for $55 I'd definitely get the whole cart! :thmbsp:
 
Unfortunately, I don't have an extra headshell to mount it on if I get a complete M97xE, and 80's straight-arm Pioneers take a proprietary headshell, hence the reason I'm going with the stylus only, and leaning towards the SAS stylus to use for live playing on the stereo and the original stylus for digitizing and first plays of used and freshly cleaned buys.
 
Patriot1776 said:
Unfortunately, I don't have an extra headshell to mount it on if I get a complete M97xE, and 80's straight-arm Pioneers take a proprietary headshell, hence the reason I'm going with the stylus only, and leaning towards the SAS stylus to use for live playing on the stereo and the original stylus for digitizing and first plays of used and freshly cleaned buys.
Click to expand...

That's a good solution. Now I get the picture (just noticed your Avatar!)
 
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