Shure V 15 Type IV

Charles Calkins · « **on:** 2 Sep 2007, 12:27 pm »

Hi Guys:
Just looking for some advice.
Could anybody tell me how a 25+ year old Shure V 15 Type IV cartridge would sound compared to a brand new cartridge of some kind?
Shure doesn't make these anymore and somewhere on their site they say if a cartridge is 10 or more years old it's time to get something new.
I've been fooling around with vinyl the past few weeks and so far what I'm hearing sucks. Seems to me vinyl sounded a lot better years ago. So I'm thinking maybe it's time for a new cartridge. Something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Cheers
Charlie

Nels Ferre · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 12:35 pm »

Charlie,

If your vinyl sucks, it may not be the cartridge/stylus.

1. Clean records are paramount. Check the EV1 over at www.kabusa.com. If your records click/pop, they are not clean.

2. Check your tracking force as well as cartridge alignment. There is a fre protractor for adjusting alignment at www.enjoythemusic.com.

3. Make sure your turntable is level.

4. If you do indeed need a new cartridge, I'm sure someone will recommend the Audio Technica AT440ML. It's around $90. I've not heard one, but many here swear by it.

By the way, you never said which turntable you have....

jrtrent · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 01:19 pm »

Quote from: Charles Calkins on 2 Sep 2007, 12:27 pm

Could anybody tell me how a 25+ year old Shure V 15 Type IV cartridge would sound compared to a brand new cartridge of some kind?
Shure doesn't make these anymore and somewhere on their site they say if a cartridge is 10 or more years old it's time to get something new.

It's the stylus assembly that Shure says needs to be replaced (even if unused , the suspension gets hard over time even if the diamond tip is perfect). Though Shure no longer makes a replacement stylus for the the Type IV, aftermarket styli from sources such as JICO can be purchased. Alternatively, Shure also says that the current M97xE is a performance upgrade to the V15 Type IV--I can only add that I've been happy with mine.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 01:28 pm »

Nels and guys:

Are you sitting down??
Are you holding on tight to something??
Wait till you read this!!!

My turntable is A Garrard Direct drive model 75.

Bet most of you have never heard of it. Made in England. Garrard went belly up years ago. It's more than 25+ years old.

Cheers
Charlie

Nels Ferre · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 02:08 pm »

Charlie,

I know exactly what a Garrard DD75 is....my first turntable (when I was 12) was a belt drive Garrard GT-10. Made in Swindon England if I recall correctly...I was soooo proud of it.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 03:16 pm »

Hey Charlie,

After 25 years the rubber component bits that make up that cartridge have probably been compromised.

If you spend a bit less than $100.00 for a new cartridge, you might well be more pleased with your vinyl. A thorough vacuum cleaning is also fanatically recommended.

The aforementioned Shure M97XE (tho I had heard somewhere it too was recently discontinued by Shure), the Audio-Technica AT440MLa, and various Grados (Black, Green, Blue) are all under $100 and are heartily used by many.

Vinyl requires a lot more care and attention to enjoy - but if you invest the time, you will be rewarded with gear tunes with even your oldie Garrard

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 09:01 pm »

Hi Guys:

I spent most of the morning trying to find info. on the Shure M97Xe. The Grado prestige red and the Audio-technica AT 440 MLA cartridges.

lpgear.com has a nice info sheet about each of them. The specs are very close in all of them. The Grado prestige red has a little bit better output voltage. Frequency response and channel separation.

Yea Right!!! The specs on a Ford pinto and a Ferrari were pretty close. Which one would you like to have???

Unless I hear about something else in the next week or two I guess I'll go with the Grado prestige red cartridge. All three cartridges have very good feedback. This buying something without being able to hear it is giving me a great big headache!

Martini time!!!
Cheers
Charlie

WEEZ · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 10:04 pm »

Hey dad,

Have a mar'toon'ie for me too, will ya?

your son,

WEEZ!

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 10:48 pm »

Weez:

I'm on my third so far son.

Cheers
Charlie

WEEZ · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 10:53 pm »

WEEZ · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 11:01 pm »

btw,

I doubt you'll be disappointed with a Grado....

WEEZ (the former Grado pimp)

Wayner · « **Reply #11 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 12:38 am »

The Shure is Yuck................get the AT440MLa.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 12:51 am »

Wayner:

Thinking about that one but I'm kind of leaning toward the Grado prestige red based on the specs.

HELP!!!!. HELP!!!!. HELP!!!!.

Comprende?

Cheers
Charlie

Airborn · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 07:42 am »

Charlie,

I got back into vinyl recently and acquired a vintage Dual 601 belt drive TT which included a 30 year old Shure V15 Type III cartridge. I didn't think it sounded too good at first either, but the original owner assured me it was hardly used over all those years and after playing with the VTF (increased to 1.4 grams) and VTA (increased down angle) and adjusting the screws on the headshell (loosened), it started to sound pretty good. I imagine the stylus is still lacking mechanical support after all those years, so I looked into getting a replacement stylus, which still can be had from JICO or LP Gear for both the type III and IV. However, I eventually decided on the AT 440 MLa (<$89 new) and have been very happy. It takes the AT 440 MLa awhile to break in, so don't be surprised if it doesn't sound too great right out of the box. In fact, at first I thought it sounded worse than the Shure and I played with set up alot. After several weeks, however, it now sounds very good, much better than the Shure, which I believe I can now tell does need a new stylus. I might get one just to salvage the Shure and to have something to compare with the AT 440 MLa. Vinyl is a lot more work than cd, but well worth it IMO.

Wayner · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 12:03 pm »

Charles,

Are you going to Longhorn the Grado if you get one?

W

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 01:27 pm »

Airborn:

Thanks for the very good info.

Wayner:

I havn't a clue as what you mean when you ask if I'm going to longhorn the Grado. It's all greek to me.

Cheers
Charlie

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #16 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 01:59 pm »

Charlie,

As I am Greek, a Grado devotee, and someone that's Longhorn'ed his Grado's....let me translate

Frank van Alstine came up with a very effective way of creating better tracking performance for Grado's 25 years ago. He called it a 'Longhorn'. It's essentially an outrigger 1.5" long in total across the face of the cartridge. Have you ever seen a tight-rope walker inching along the skinny rope high above the crowd....they use a long pole to create a better sense of balance. In the same way, the Longhorn creates a more stable sense of balance for your cartridge to roll thru the skinny grooves.

Henry/ohenry has a good shot of his outrigger/Longhorn....and Frank has it all spelled out in his 1982 Audio Basics newsletter (April) http://www.avahifi.com/root/audio_basics/ab_pdf/ab1982.pdf

Henry's shot of his Longhorn:

It's very easy to do, and really worthwhile.

John (the current and reigning Grado pimp

)

ohenry · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 08:26 pm »

Charlie, if you need some "U" channel, PM me.

Airborn · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Sep 2007, 04:58 am »

Thanks, Charlie. Let me know if you decide to replace the stylus on your Shure; if it works out well for you I might decide to take the plunge with my V15 Type III.

Another good upgrade is to use some plasti-clay or plumber's putty on the underside of your platter and on your tonearm. As John fka The Chair Guy says, it really helps dampen those ringing platters and hollow tonearms.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Sep 2007, 09:14 pm »

Hi Guys:

Got a Grado prestige red for my Garrard DD 75 table. The Shure was really wore out. The plastic body behind the needle looks like it was dragging on the records.
The Grado came with screws way to long. My TT arm Does not have pass through holes over the cartridge mount gizmo so the original screws would not work. I Made a pair out 2.5 metric screws and cut them down to 1/4inch length.
As you can guess it sounds better now. A little hum when the arm is at rest but goes away when I lift it up to play a record.

Got a Stanton T.90 USB table. Came with a Stanton cartridge. I can hook this one up to my PC and transfer records to a folder and from there burn a CD or transfer it over to ITunes. If I can figure out how to. This table sounds a lot better than the Garrad with the Grado.

Hey!!! Right now I'm listening to Super Trooper by Abba playing on the Stanton.. Sounds great.

I got a cheapo phono preamp because my Pre does not have a phono stage. Think I'll start looking for a decent phono pre. All in all this adventure into vinyl has been very frustating but it looks like I'm on the right track now.

Cheers
Charlie