Your opinions on the old Shure V15RS Radio Shack cartridges
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Gretsch6120
Active Member
IIRC, the V15-RS was a rebranded Shure VST III. One of Shure's top cartridges- it came fitted with a nude mounted Hyperelliptical stylus. The original VNSE3HE replacement styli are nearly impossible to find but you can sub a Shure N11HE Hyperelliptical or N111E elliptical tip.
It was a cost-reduced V15V-HE and sounded very much like its big brother. The cantilever was the same as the V's (according to Les Watts), but I suspect the cantilever damping wasn't as sophisticated as in the original V and later V15VxMR, which is why the tracking specs aren't as good, though still impressive.
The body is the Era III SC35C's in an Era V mounting cap. No laminated core, nothing fancy except the beryllium cantilever. The p-mount version is the VST III-P.
Like many Shures of that era, aging/environmental effects on the rubber suspensions have varied from minor hardening to complete immobility. I've found rubber-restorer treatments to be helpful in all but the more extreme cases.
Another thing to check if you find any old Shure stylus with a damper brush (aka Dynamic Stabilizer): the grease in the pivots. You may need to revive the grease with a dotlet of 80k- 100k cSt silicone oil. Do the pivots one at a time and test the drop time after each one. Pop off the cap covering the pivot, but don't remove the existing grease-- it's got a conductive pigment that lets the brush drain off static charge. Stir the fresh oil into the existing goo with a straight pin or similar tool, then snap the cap back on. Wipe off any excess. Work the pivots a bit to get the new oil mixed in, then lift the brush and let it drop, timing the interval. Aim for a 1 to 3-second drop time, according to Shure's customer service folk.
The lower inductance of the VST III / V15 RS / V15 Pro-S body makes it a good home for the N97xE stylus. Doesn't solve all the problems of the xE but helps bring some sparkle back into its life.
The body is the Era III SC35C's in an Era V mounting cap. No laminated core, nothing fancy except the beryllium cantilever. The p-mount version is the VST III-P.
Like many Shures of that era, aging/environmental effects on the rubber suspensions have varied from minor hardening to complete immobility. I've found rubber-restorer treatments to be helpful in all but the more extreme cases.
Another thing to check if you find any old Shure stylus with a damper brush (aka Dynamic Stabilizer): the grease in the pivots. You may need to revive the grease with a dotlet of 80k- 100k cSt silicone oil. Do the pivots one at a time and test the drop time after each one. Pop off the cap covering the pivot, but don't remove the existing grease-- it's got a conductive pigment that lets the brush drain off static charge. Stir the fresh oil into the existing goo with a straight pin or similar tool, then snap the cap back on. Wipe off any excess. Work the pivots a bit to get the new oil mixed in, then lift the brush and let it drop, timing the interval. Aim for a 1 to 3-second drop time, according to Shure's customer service folk.
The lower inductance of the VST III / V15 RS / V15 Pro-S body makes it a good home for the N97xE stylus. Doesn't solve all the problems of the xE but helps bring some sparkle back into its life.
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pilotputz
Super Member
I've had a NOS V15rs sitting around for years.
Recently picked up an old Dual 1219 in need of a cart so I threw the V15rs on and gave it a go.
It sounds excellent and tracks like a champ.
If you have one sitting around I'd suggest you throw it on and give it a spin:
Very respectable cart. Very close in sound to authentic Shure v15s of the time.
Recently picked up an old Dual 1219 in need of a cart so I threw the V15rs on and gave it a go.
It sounds excellent and tracks like a champ.
If you have one sitting around I'd suggest you throw it on and give it a spin:
Very respectable cart. Very close in sound to authentic Shure v15s of the time.
