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V15rs

kconnor

kconnor

Well-Known Member
For a long time there was conjecture that the V15RS was a variant of the M series cartridge. It is not anywhere close to it. It is in fact electrically identical to the V15xMR. They are one and the same. I measured the impedance of both cartridges over frequency. The only difference is cosmetic. No doubt about. You can pick up a V15RS body for considerably less than the more expensive looking Shure V15xMR. As manufactured the V15xMR had a better stylus. It’s like the difference between a Chevy and a Buick. The basic body is the same however some people are willing to pay extra for the more impressive nameplate and trimmings.
The V15MR uses the VN5MR and is different from the V15RS. Measurements don’t match nor will the stylus fit. Only the V15xMR VN5xM stylus assembly will fit the V15RS.
 
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The styli assemblies from Lpgear that you mentioned are M series replacements. My measurements for the M97Xe and M97HE show that the inductance vs. frequency values are so close as to be practically negligible. The M prefix is certainly appropriate for the M97Xe. I assume that back when there weren’t any application specific replacements for the V15xMR and the V15RS styli, Lpgear recommended those as substitutions. They would work but it would be a “hybrid”. Now there are correct replacements available.
 
We have had this discussion before.

I had once purchased a half-dozen of those RatShack RS-V15 cartridges, believing that they must be bargains. Not even close. RatShack has never, ever in recent years sold anything without having it cheapened first.
Shure V15 design switched from single-layer to multi-layer laminated pole pieces way back with the V15II-improved model. Certainly there were many other, not visible design changes as well. Pull that RatShack sukah apart and tell me what you see.
I found this cartridge to be shrill junk with an expensive-to-replace needle. Sold all of them. Prefer my ML140HE, which makes toast out of just about all other Shure cartridges.
The stylus may fit, but the cartridges are sure different.
 
Difference in components may not always be visible but they are measurable. You say that the V15RS uses a solid core material. If it does, then it’s highly likely that the V15xMR does also.
Suppose the V15RS core is solid and the V15xMR core is laminated. One construction method is not inherently superior or inferior to the other it depends on the application.
Measurements don’t lie. Any difference in core material and construction would be quantified in the parametrics.
A laminated core is used to reduce magnetic hysteresis, the tendency of a core to retain some residual magnetism after each cycle and eventually become saturated to an extent that performance is compromised. Saturation reduces inductance. The values of inductance and impedance I measured for the V15RS and V15xMR are the same up to 20 kHz. That tells me that the cores are constructed alike and use the same materials.
In this case because they measure the same they would still perform the same.
The DC resistance, inductance and AC impedance of the magnetics (coils and cores) in the V15RS and the V15xMR track so closely that any dissimilarity can be attributed to production tolerance and not design differences. DC resistance does not tell one much about the characteristics of core materials and construction, but even that is the same between the two. AC measurements tell a lot more. The inductance and impedance of these cartridges are the same up to 20 kHz. I took the measurements on an Agilent 4284A Precision LCR Meter.
The V15RS was made during the time the V15V-MR was being manufactured and they are not the same. The coils and cores are different and that is confirmed by my measurements. The V15RS also used a less expensive hyperelliptical stylus instead of the micro-ridge used in the V15V-MR. The stylus and cantilever assembly accounts for the vast majority of variation in performance between cartridges, the motor less so. It is quite possible that they used the already available V15RS motor as the basis for the later V15xMR.
I contend that the V15RS and V15xMR bodies are equivalents. I really am open to persuasion otherwise, but please present some tangible data that refutes my position.
The V15xMR stylus assembly (VN5xM) is a correct replacement for the V15RS and is the only one that at a minimum will perform as it was designed to do.
 
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I just decided to remove the guts from the metal cartridge body on a V15RS cartridge. The coils and cores are totally encapsulated in the same opaque plastic that the back of the cartridge is made of. You can’t see them. It would take some serious digging to expose them enough to examine them, and if you did they would be seriously damaged at that point.
The coils wrap around the core (pole pieces). If anything you would be able to see the coils before you would the cores. Neither are visible.

Just wondering how you were able to determine that the cores are solid?
 
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But you can see the pole pieces.

You don't remember Hirsch labs? This guy never used his ears to report on Hi-Fi equipment, just instruments. His work was junk.
 
kconnor said:
The V15xMR stylus assembly (VN5xM) is the correct replacement for the V15RS and is the only one that at a minimum as will perform as it was designed to do.
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Thanks for the confirmation on the correct replacement stylus, VN5xM for the V15 RS.:thmbsp:
 
Before ordering anything it is best to first confer with the residential authority.:D
Howard indicated that the VN5xMR is the proper replacement stylus.
 
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