Shure V15--A Good Cartridge?

Hi Scott

Yes, I had sold my Grado the Reference because the Shure held up so well. Best bargain in audio.

Hope things are going better than when I last spoke to you.

I would disagree with the post by Sdcampbell. I think the Shure is overall better that the Grado Reference. My experience is that the Shure V15V is a great cartridge in the right arm. I have owned several Shures over the years as well as many other high end cartridges. It will not perform it's best in higher mass arms. In the right arm it is tonally more neutral and right-on than any cartridge I have heard. Although it is very natural sounding it will not produce the detail of some of the most expensive moving coil cartridges. I have had a great deal of enjoyment listening to jazz and classical music with it and that is the bottom line for me. It is a true bargain but will never be highly recommended (or carried) by most high end dealers because it is sold by so many discount "lower end" stores.

Just a short note to mention why some dealers "don't like"
the Shure V15. They don't get a big discount on Shure
products if they don't move a serious amount of merchandise.
Shure is one of the commercial audio industry's largest
makers of equipment - with an extensive catalog of equip-
ment that includes microphones of all type, audio mixers,
connectors, cables, field mixers, and much, much more.
Cartridges and associated equipment is just a small part
of their offerings. If they are selling say $20-30K a month
to a large commercial audio dealer; and maybe $1-2K a month
to Joe the Audiophile dealer - guess who gets a serious
discount on their pricing?

I am curious what my Audiogon brethren would recommend as the best low mass arm to mate with the Shure. I still use a Grace 707 (20 years old) and would love to be introduced to a current production design that is as good or better.
Thanks. Dan

When I was a student I purchased a used Mapleknoll - which is now in pieces (a subject for another thread - help to build a new plinth!) - I only had a few $ left and bought a Shure V15 - it sounded surprisingly great.