For those who have a bit of time and are a bit more budget minded, the patents should be expiring on this cartridge in the next couple of years and, no doubt, JICO, in Japan, will be making a replacement stylus for the cartridge.
Currently, JICO has replacement stylii for all of the Shure V15 cartridges through the V15lV, so the V is next up. Their top line stylii use a radically cut stylus of the Line Contact, Shibata, VDH ilk. There are options for elliptical stylii as well. The cantilevers are more similar to the original than the synthetic ruby of the Soundsmith. I am very happy with my replacement JICO stylus for my V15lll. It is much better sounding than the original, mint, HE stylus that I have for this cartridge.
Best of all, these are available for under $150.00. Just one more alternative for these venerable MM cartridges.
Currently, JICO has replacement stylii for all of the Shure V15 cartridges through the V15lV, so the V is next up. Their top line stylii use a radically cut stylus of the Line Contact, Shibata, VDH ilk. There are options for elliptical stylii as well. The cantilevers are more similar to the original than the synthetic ruby of the Soundsmith. I am very happy with my replacement JICO stylus for my V15lll. It is much better sounding than the original, mint, HE stylus that I have for this cartridge.
Best of all, these are available for under $150.00. Just one more alternative for these venerable MM cartridges.