SHURE V15VXMR - Audiophile Phono Cartridge

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely A Shure Thing !
Review: Can vinyl playback get any better than this ? It's a possibility (with more expensive elite or esoteric name brand cartridges).However,spending more does not necessarily guarantee you will get more or better sound. I have spent my hard earned $$$ on Grado audiophile cartridges and they cannot match up to this Shure cartridge.I have also bought Audio Technica budget carts and their AT 120E. I finally bought their AT 440ML (their best MM cartridge so far---bright, bassy, clean output, great detail, but not strong on tracking all sibilants like the Shure).I once owned a Shure V15 RS cartridge (sold by Radio Shack and assembled in Mexico---so what, the sound and tracking qualities were stupendous)! However, It was time to upgrade to the V15VxMR cart.

Take the V15VxMR for example. Here are it's audiophile quality strong points: It tracks with the utmost accuracy from beginning to end. Not just in it's warm and musical characteristics, but also extracts those words or vocal lyrics in the grooves of those black licorice discs that begin or end with the letters s,z, f, t, p ...The stylus reproduces these consonants with pure silky smooth sibilance (sibilants). No harsh or edgy static-like "s" words, etc. cutting into your ears or the room ! Inner groove distortion is practically non-existant (of course depending if you are playing a well cleaned record that has not been abused or worn out). I used to hate it when the tonearm would play the last two tracks on either side and the cartridge and stylus could not keep up.This would produce degraded sound. Fast musical movements, vocals, loud and fast passages were horrific, grainy and just plain shrill. The Shure cartridge overcomes this by a major landslide.

Another beautiful plus is the absence of ear and mind fatigue over any lengthy period of music listening ( sounds that are bright and harsh and ,yes, edgy). A few have criticized the Shure V15VxMR for not being sharp in the upper frequencies or having that "wow" factor in reference to it's smooth, warm, and sometimes silky quality. The major benefit of this neutrality or warmness is that it allows you to really be able to listen to musical and vocal detail that you can't really hear with cartridges that sound harshly or overly bright(that's where the ear fatigue comes in) ! Also, since the birth of the cd and other digitized music formats, many have grown accustom to or have only experienced the bright and artificial digital sound. Therefore, some have no idea or have forgotten how musical and natural a good clean analog or vinyl record can sound to the human ear as well as being a relaxing experience.Sometimes less is more... The V15VxMR is warm and some will say neutral. No exaggerations or coloration of sound. No piercing artificial highs or harsh mids. Bass reproduction is firm and natural.Stereo soundstage is well separated and dispersed. The biggest miracle of all is that it tracks optimally at only 1 gram !! No more carving into your valued albums with cheap cartridges or styli that require a heck of a lot of weight or gram application to achieve somewhat decent sound retrieval !

The stabilizer brush does serve several purposes. It counteracts static, acts as a shock absorber for warped lps, and CLEANS the record as it plays; This also kills two birds---cleans the record and also keeps the stylus clean as well before that unwanted dust hits it. Record surface noise is the LOWEST I have heard compared to any cartridge I have ever owned in all my years ! With it's exceptionally clean tracking and minimum surface noise I often forget I'm listening to a record...In this regard the Shure almost mimics the background silence of a cd between tracks.

Mounting instructions are a breeze. Alignment can get tricky but can be accomplished. All the necessary gear to mount with instructions are generously included in a nice silver metallic-like box. Shure treats this cartridge as a precious gem with good reason(s).

Now the sad news...As of this past fall, Shure has ceased production on this beauty. Website explains the high cost in obtaining the expensive materials and the lack of people having a hankering for vinyl. There will only be replacement stylii for a limited time until even those run out in early of 2005. What's left cartridge-wise is a limited stock on hand from a few reputable hi-fi audio stores online and eBay...In addition, be careful of price gougers as well. Not that I was gouged, but I could have saved about $30 bucks on mine had I seen the ones being sold through Amazon.com sellers and eBay !

The V15VxMR passes these audiophile ears with flying colors.This is the cartridge you definitely want to use when transferring your valuable records to cd-r digital format. If price is an issue, a super alternative is the Audio Technica AT 440ML.However,the Audio Technica is on the opposite end of the sonic spectrum of the Shure; it's a pretty bright sounding cartridge ! It's got it's own bang for the buck qualities as well ...The bottom line is that when you listen to the Shure V15VxMR you forget you're listening to a needle and record unlike an Audio Technica cartridge (you know it's mechanical presence is there along with the music).Just like certain high end audiophile speakers "disappear" and you only hear the music, the same can be said of the Shure; it disappears and all you hear is MUSIC !!

LP's I've used to give the Shure cartridge a workout or test:

1)Kate Bush "Hounds of Love" (filled with plenty of soft female vocal "s" words and heavy electronic percussion and synth work not easily tracked by lesser cartridge). The Shure passed!

2)The Ink Spots Greatest Hits (rich-deep male vocals and jazz music). The Shure captured every detail and nuance on this mono 60's pressing.

3)Eddie And The Cruisers-Orig. Soundtrack (rock instruments, drums, electric guitars, fast musical mudulations and movements sound crystal clear---no break ups).Male vocalist enunciates clearly and intelligibly.

4)Stevie Ray Vaughan "Couldn't Stand The Weather" (his guitar work beautifully recreated---felt like a live concert---gives the "you are there" ambiance).

5)David Becker Tribune "Third Time Around"-(contains an awesome acoustic guitar instrumental that sounds natural and real).

6)Pat Metheny Group "First Circle" ( very inviting,smooth feel with the keyboards and acoustic instruments).