Shure M97xE $69 with free shipping at jr.com

candyliquor35m

That was over the weekend so I snatched one but now I see the price is back to $89 with free shipping. Keep an eye out and they will probably run another special or check pricegrabber.com to see who else is selling them cheap. All I can say is smooth man real smooth and throw a little GW Jr at it and I'm quite impressed. The headshell screws were too short so I had to improvise and use the screws from the stanton that was on the tt.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=2739083

Here are pics with the Technics SL-1800 I found at the thrift store on saturday for $20.

billbillw

Amazon has had this for $65 or less ($62 right now) w/free shipping for months.
For whatever reason, Amazon doesn't show up in all the price comparison tools, but most of the time, they are among the lowest for many consumer electronics items.

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-High-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B00006I5SB/sr=8-1/qid=1158277426/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2931751-4253437?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

candyliquor35m

$62 is a no brainer. I always forget about amazon.

Toka78

Great cart, and at that price, its a steal!

faster100

so can any cartridge fit any tone arm? and what about the needle? is that part of the cartridge and can it be changed. Im new to TT's obviously

Toka78

Most cartridges can work with most tonearms. The problem isn't with 'fitting', rather, it has to do with compliance/weight...some cartridges are very 'stiff', and need a heavier tonearm to work correctly (low compliance/high tonearm mass). Using a heavy tonearm with a high compliance cartridge is never a good idea, and vice-versa. Unless you are getting into megabucks carts, you shouldn't have a problem...most arms you'll see today are medium mass, and most carts will match these. Here are two links that explain things further:

www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/tonearmcartridge.html

www.audiotic.com/T&TSetup/T&TSetup.htm


The second one has a calculator that will help you sort things out beforehand. As for needle replacement, it varies...some you can do yourself (like with the Shure) others have to be sent to a factory/dealer to be retipped (this is usually more expensive).

faster100

Ok that's way over my head, but thanks for the links..

billbillw

Faster,
This cartridge is medium to high compliance. It should work absolutely fine with your Realistic and should be a noticable improvement over the older RS/Shure cart you have now, plus, it will be easier on the vinyl due to a better stylus tip.

faster100

after i get the cleaning supplies, i'll think about a new cart.. dont wanna mess up a new one.. plus the old one can work to practice on for now. Thanks again

schwarcw

Good buy for the money!

audiobliss

So, would this be worth buying for Dad's older Yamaha TT-300U? I'm not sure Dad would let me move it to my rig, and that'd be a big hassle (finding the power cord in the powerstrip behind the HUGE bookcase it's in), in which case there'd be no point in replacing it.

Or would I really be better off just buying a Goldring GR1.2? I've been drooling over that on Audio Advisor, and seriously contemplating it.

With replacing a cartridge, do you just have to pop it in and then connect the four wires? You don't have to solder them, do you?

RuSsMaN

I haven't heard the Shure 97 first hand, but in speaking with some guys whos opinion I generally trust, money best spent elsewhere. A little more beads and shells will equal a LOT more at your eardrums.

AB, the GR is a NO brainer. The Electra cart is decent to start with, and yes and no on the 'pop it in'. It will be easy to install, but all carts should be aligned properly - not only for the best sound, but also to insure minimal wear on the vinyl.

Cheers,
Russ

faster100

cool info here.. Im enjoying my grunt realistic so far.. looks as though next year i'll most likely upgrade.. tax time is great!! and vinyl is almost as cool as tube gear, almost..

audiobliss

RuSsMaN wrote:

AB, the GR is a NO brainer. The Electra cart is decent to start with

If I could find space on my rack, I'd LOVE to have one. Mom would most definitely kill me, though.

How much would you recommend spending on an upgraded cartridge, when the time comes, assuming I get the GR?

audiobliss

I googled the GR, and there seems to be a lot of people extremely dissatisfied with the build quality of the TT, and about as many not thrilled with the SQ. Is the MMF2.1 any better? How about the MMF2.1LE?

RuSsMaN

Google Chevy, Motorola, and Little Debbie Snack Cakes - you'll find plenty of bad reviews, and unhappy people.

hearingimpared

audiobliss wrote:

With replacing a cartridge, do you just have to pop it in and then connect the four wires? You don't have to solder them, do you?

You just can't pop it in. There are a lot of variables and setups that need to be done. I'm pretty adept at installing cartridges but am a little rusty so I purchased Michael Fremer's DVD 21st Century Vinyl. In it he goes over installing & setting up cartridges and turntables. This is $35 well spent. It even has a PDF with even more intricate set-up instructions. I've watched it twice already and am very please with it. You can get it at the following sites:

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=29608

http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=118

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=VFREMERSETUPDVD

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7272211

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MFDV001

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=ZOZPAVQK2MZ3JKC4D3GVAFY?skuId=15162887&type=product&id=1563898


http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/306612/moviemain.jhtml

Some of these are less expensive than others. As a matter of fact I am kicking myself in the **** because the very last one has the DVD for under $20 + shipping. I in my zeal to get it purchased it directly from Stereophile and paid full price. I let this audiophile obsession get the best of me that time.

Hope you find this helpful,:)
Joe

candyliquor35m

Is anyone interested in swapping their goldring for my shure for a 7-14 day demo?

Toka78

audiobliss wrote:

I googled the GR, and there seems to be a lot of people extremely dissatisfied with the build quality of the TT, and about as many not thrilled with the SQ. Is the MMF2.1 any better? How about the MMF2.1LE?

The MMF's and the Goldring's (and Pro-ject's) are all very similar. Maybe even built in the same factory (I Know MMF and PJ are anyway). Honestly, not the best build quality. Much like Raife discovered with his MMF, many older TT's (like his Yamaha) are clearly better performers. Belt drives really need a flywheel motor, or at the very least, a heavy platter/plinth. Otherwise the speed/pitch is all over the place due to stylus drag, and/or they can be a bit noisy. For my money, I'd either get a Denon (like a DP-62L), or an older Yamaha (PX series). Heck, a KAB modded Technics 1200 will soundly best anything else under $2K, and possibly beyond, when it comes quiet operation and accurate speed. Won't have to remove the platter to change speeds either.

billbillw

RuSsMaN wrote:

I haven't heard the Shure 97 first hand, but in speaking with some guys whos opinion I generally trust, money best spent elsewhere. A little more beads and shells will equal a LOT more at your eardrums.

AB, the GR is a NO brainer. The Electra cart is decent to start with, and yes and no on the 'pop it in'. It will be easy to install, but all carts should be aligned properly - not only for the best sound, but also to insure minimal wear on the vinyl.

Cheers,
Russ

I couldn't disagree more. In its price range, there is really NO other cartridge that can touch the M97xE. The only other option is the AT440ML, which most agree is too bright (and its at least $20 more). Compared to a low end RadioShack cartrdige (which Faster has on his table), this would be a marked improvement. I have the M97xE mounted on my Oracle and I've been comparing it with an older AT15Sa cartridge (which many folks rave about), and I can't really decide which I like better. I do not think the Shure is holding back my Oracle, I'll say that much.

I also have other opinions which I trust (Grumpy and others at AK) and they feel the same way about the M97xE. I'm pretty sure I know who's opinion you are referring to (the thread you started about the M97 for $57 last Spring). You have to keep things in context and realize they knew you would eventually move to higher priced cartridges to match your nicer table. With Faster and some of the other reluctant vinyl newbies, the M97 is a perfect starter cartridge. Its not a huge investment, but it will give very good sound and not much wear on the vinyl.

No, the Shure is not comparable to $250+ MC or MM cartridges, but I feel that it is the best cartridge available new for under $100. Its very neutral, with a flat response curve, very nice midrange, it tracks better than anything in the price range. It also comes with a very nice package that includes an alignment protractor, a stylus brush, and a screwdriver.

audiobliss

This whole thread has me wanting to get an older TT, like possibly a Thorens, and using that as a foundation instead of putting $300 - $400 into a new TT.

There's just no telling how long it would take to run into such.

Actually, I keep thinking about that VPI Russ was selling a while back...then I remember the price tag!! :eek: