:banana2:

Guys! There are ICICLES in HELL today! My wife called to tell me I can buy that cartridge thingie that I want! Amazon's price reduction must've pushed it into here 'okay zone'! She even ordered it for me! I've got a brand-spankin' new Shure M97xE on it's way to my humble abode! Right NOW! Do I seem excited? I AM!!!

Alright kiddies, now is the time to chime in and tell me all your horror stories and your triumphant tales about your M97xE. Did it change your life for the better? Does is polish your car, and shine your shoes? Seriously - how MUCH of an improvement did it make for your vinyl playback? Was the dampening mechanism a noticeable technological advantage? Had you ever owned a V15(any model), and if so - how do they compare? I considered getting the AT 440ML as well, but tales of its brightness made me keep looking.

30 albums into my new M97xE and I'm simply amazed!! You're gonna love it. Congrats!

Congrats. On the wife, I mean.

:thmbsp:

I got mine a few month ago, it replaced a Grado Black, to me it's a lot better.

Sadly it hasn't washed my car yet :no: . I'll have to look into that.

I haven't tried the dampening thingy, but have been thinking about it.

Have fun!

Pete

Thanks guys. I can't wait!

:lock:

Congratulations!

I got mine some 13 years ago and she has yet to buy me a cartridge. But she puts up with my LPs, carts etc. Oh, and the M97xE is very good. I'm debating with myself if it is better than a Denon DL-160. You better hang on to both.

- Harald

I replaced an Ortofon VMS 20E MKII (see AK classifieds) with the M97xE and think it is musically about the same. Perhaps a tad better on the bottom, similar mid range and just a very tad shy on the highs. For me, that's a tie. But, I just bought 50 brand-new never opened RCAs from the late 50's and all have a slight bit of warp (maybe that's why they were $5 for the box). So, the dampening thingie (to use the above technical term :D ) is quite handy and does the trick making these records 'trackable'. What is that ad......nothing tracks like a Shure........or at least should have been the ad. As nothing does.

Compared to the last Shure I owned (V15VxMR - I forget which are caps and which are not) and listened to for almost 10 years before I discovered just how good MC cartridges are, I can't really say I remember. The 97 tracks as well, and sounds really good for a MM cartridge. And that's what I need for my second TT. Very nice piece of gear. :thmbsp:

I ordered a M97xE today from Amazon for an amazing $57.99 with free shipping. Hooray!!
Estimated arrival is November 4th, but with free shipping, what the hay!!

Previously owned a V15 Type IV but the stylus crapped out. Currently running a M94E.

Paul

Sweet! Keep 'em coming!

Let's start a M97xE marathon and try to wipe out Amazon's stock.

Wouldn't that be fun?

I like mine a bunch. Great wife you've got!

I guess I'll keep her...for a little longer... :kissy:

Now, I've just got to convince her I need to buy another one since they're nearly the same price as the replacement stylus! :yikes:

Probable response? :whip:

:lmao: Tell her you wanna buy another one now, and lock in the price before inflation makes it even worse!
Tom

I almost ordered two for that very reason.

I have had mine for 4 mos now the wife a bit longer :D I keep the damping thingy down all the time I don't hear a difference and its vary good at getting the dust out of the grooves. Enjoy :banana2:

Ron

Ron(and others),

What cart did you replace with the Shure, and how dramatic was the presentation difference?

A couple of months ago Amazon had them for $52 and free shipn'. I bought 3 thinking this wasn't gonna last for too long. Tell the wife in the next couple months they will probably be selling for $70 a pop.

My M97Xe replaced my Shure M95He that I have owned for 27 years. As to the difference more opened better sound stage clearer highs better lows. I love it. :thmbsp:

Ron

Check out what this ERA IV M97HE ended at.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5819146400&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

My M97Xe replaced my Shure M95He that I have owned for 27 years. As to the difference more opened better sound stage clearer highs better lows. I love it. :thmbsp:

Ron

I noticed you have it on a JVC QL-F4, so I guess that means it'll sound good on my QL-5 as well! I'm considering one also.

I would think so Warren I have had no problem let me know how you like it.

Ron

I've had mine for about a month now and I REALLY like it. I had gotten away from vinyl the past few years, but this brought me back in a big way. Let's hope Shure continues to make replacement stylii for it for years to come!

Let's hope Shure continues to make replacement stylii for it for years to come!


With such a great price on the cart right now, we all might want to grab another, in case Shure decides to EOL this product earlier than we'd all like. :dunno:

You guys have macros(closeups) of your blue-man riding the groove?


:lurk:

For the price of only $58.00 bucks, I ordered 2 from Amazon recently. It tracks great and sounds very smooth. Love it!

On NOS RCA vinyl.

Below left lurks the Kontrapunkt b, ready to strike when only the best is good enough. Obviously, stacked TTs is most temporary.

Wow! That cart looks good on your table. Someday I'll try out a MC cart. I like the Ortofon styling.

how do you use the cartridge alignment guide that comes with this? tks

I bought one about 6 months ago and liked i so much, I bought another :banana2:

Clyde

how do you use the cartridge alignment guide that comes with this? tksOK. Took me a while to find this one under the foam insert. I use the mirror from www.turntablebasics.com and highly recommend it for this operation. But, the Shure one is fine and the price is right. Imagine that.....$58 for a paper alignment grid and they will even throw in a nice MM cartridge and tools.

1.) Believe it is obvious where the hole at the one end goes (no, no....its dark and smelly there - I mean the TT spindle).
2.) Place your stylus over point a or b (pick one to start - your choice). Note that there are two darker lines going through these points (a long one from the spindle hole and a short one across the paper at each point). Rotate the platter so that the short dark line going through point b also goes through the centerline of the cartridge from front to back. This is relatively easy on the M97xE as the blue thingy (Dynamic Stabilizer/DeStaticizer - such a big name for such a little piece) has a nice little tit/pointer sticking out from the front when it is in the down position. That is where the stylus would be if you weren't smart enough to protect same during this operation by having it locked all the way down (hint, hint). Now, note how far in front or behind the long dark line the stylus is. Remember this distance (or, if your memory is like mine, write it down).
3.) Place your stylus (blue tit) over the other point. Rotate the platter such that you place the short dark line directly under the blue tit and insure that this line, again, goes directly down the centerline of your cartridge from front to back. Note the distance the blue tit is either in front or in back of the long dark line through whichever your second point is (unless your original install was very lucky and everything is the same at both points).
4.) Now, your job is move your cartridge either forward or back in the headshell to make sure the distance from the blue tit to the long dark line is the same when the small dark line is running down the exact centerline of your cartridge at both of these points. As you can see from my pic's, the blue tit is about 3-4mm away at Point a and only about 1mm away at point b. I need to adjust my cartridge location.

You may not be able to hit exactly on these two points. If not, then try to equalize the distance away at each point, on either side. That is, if the closest you can come is 1mm short at Point a then try to set your stylus at 1mm long at Point b. But, with any reasonable TT/TA you should be close.

In making this adjustment, if your TT doesn't automatically line up the centerline of your cartridge to be perpendicular to the radius of the long dark line (so that the centerline of your cartridge lies along the short dark line) you will need to rotate the cartridge in the headshell to line it up.

This is an iterative process. You'll need to go back and forth a few times between Points a & b and adjust to get it right.

Now isn't this much more fun and involving than just tossing a silly little CD in the player. Are you having fun yet? :D

Spinning Bad Company__Desolation Angel now.

Hey guys,

I dug through the archives looking for references to this cart, and stumbled across more than a few references to arm compliance(high or low), and it's relationship to the same property in the cartridge, and how the two should be mated together properly. I have a Sony PS-10F table, with, I would say, a 'medium' weight 'J' shaped tonearm. Any idea if this will work well enough with my high compliance M97xE? Should I assume that this cart would NOT work well with a heavier or lighter tonearm? Thanks!

Edwin/B-2...excellent posts!!...how did you find that little bugger??...makes it easier than the downloadables...

Eron...I really think B-2's description of this carts characteristics is spot on...regarding your comments about the tone arm.. i too got the overall impression that this cart would work well with a mid weight "J" or "S" type arm. My TT has just that ("S") and works very well...although with the right tracking force adjustment i am not sure what significance that means...anyone have thoughts on that one??...a

I would think that you would be ok with a medium weight tonearm. Tracking weight should be right around 1.5 grams.
Enjoy !!! :thmbsp:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27641

I can't wait!

...how did you find that little bugger??It comes with the M97xE. Is underneath the foam insert. You can get the mirror one that helps with other cartridge alignments at www.turntablebasics.com. And, Shure cartridges are pretty forgiving on arm selection. Think Shure was/is always aimmed at the masses, so their cartridges will sound good unless you are the far-ends of usual TA weight (skinny little graphite fishing rod tube or massive sewer pipe).

Well boys and girls...

I finally aligned the cartridge last night, and I've been spinning vinyl for hors, trying to get a 'fix' on what I'm hearing now. The sound seems a bit 'anemic' compared to the original Sony VL-34G cartridge that I had been listening to before. I'm still waiting for this cart to 'break-in', but I'm not too sure it will change the way I'm hoping for. The high cymbals on the drum tracks seem very 'subdued', at least on the rock albums I'm used to listening to. Even my wife complained that it doesn't have the presence and soundstage that it used to have. Only a few recordings sound 'right' to me so far. The bass seems roughly the same, perhaps a bit 'muddier' than I expected. I'll keep spinning records and I'll post my findings should they change. I hope I don't have to try and convince my wife that I need to get the AT 440ML. At least she understands that 'a needle isn't just a needle' any more.

Micropassatman,

I did a A/B comparison between the two below mentioned carts. My results/opinion below are copied from the original thread I posted. I have never heard the AT cart but thought my results may interest you.

The V15 Type IV vs the M97xE

During the time that AK was down I received the M97xE from Amazon. I saw another opportunity for a cartridge comparison.

Although I’ve read that the M97xE is recommended by Shure as a good replacement for the V15 series, I had to find out for myself.

I purchased a second headshell for quicker swapout. Let the listening begin. I have only played Dire Straits “Brothers In Arms” and Heart “Magazine” so far to compare the two carts but believe my ears are not lying to me.

I started with the M97xE and have to say that I thought it sounded pretty decent. The music doesn’t jump out at you, but none of the music is lost either. Bass was not boomy, midrange was not exaggerated or tiring to listen to and treble was flat but not weak. Neutral is the word I’m looking for to describe this cartridge I think. No real soundstage to speak of, but it may be my TT, I’m really not sure.

Now the V15. On my TT it walked all over the M97. It has much more soundstage and openness to the sound. I had my son listen to both carts without telling him which one he was listening to and he could tell the difference right away. Within the first 20 seconds of listening he said that it sounded more open, wider and crisper. He was not even sure which cart he was listening to. Of course he was referring to the V15 sound although he didn’t know it.

I apologize if I bored anyone, but I had to share my experience.

The M97xE will stay with me as a spare because it sounds darn good for the price (less than $60.00 from Amazon), but the V15 will definitely be my primary listening cartridge.

Paul

Thanks Trip!

Not a waste at all! I want other peoples' opining on this cart so I can distinguish between my ears and my short-term memory(previous cart). I agree with what you've described. Withdrawn soundstage and a neutral timbre. Great price does not always equal great product! I think I'll have to give the 440ML a listen. Anybody got an extra they'd loan me for a listen? I'd hate to dump more $$$ on a glorified papperweight.

I have been using both the M97xe (since June) and AT440ML (since August) for a while. The Shure replaced an AT3600 so the difference was immediately noticeable. Really liked the upgrade and probably would have stayed with it except that my son-in-law wanted to borrow a TT. The AT3600 had gone with a TT I sold so I didn't have a cartridge to go with the loaner.

Good reason to buy a new cartridge. Got the AT440 cheap on Amazon. The thing I noticed immediately is that this cartridge seemed to clean up my vinyl - less noise, pops, etc. The AT440 must dig deep down in the grooves compared to the M97.

About a month ago, I got the M97 back (he hasn't set up the TT yet so I pulled off the headshell to be returned when he has it running) and have been listening to it lately.

I have not really listened to these to compare as I am basically thrilled with the sound of both compared to what I had been listening to. Both of them let me hear things I had been missing and everything sounds new. But tonight I put the AT440 back on and I can definitely say that it makes the LPs sound cleaner.

The one thing I did do was use a test LP I picked up a few weeks back to check them both out. It is called the V15 type V Shure Audio Obstacle Couse. The M97 seemed less susceptible to skate - did not notice much difference with different anti-skate settings during the test tones while the AT440 was difficult to set properly - but mistracked at a slightly lower volume than the AT440. But I will go back to the fact that many pops disapear with the AT440. Even the test LP sounded better.

Probably haven't helped much but at least you have my .02 worth.

Alan

Thank you Alan. Hearing someone with some exposure to both cartridges DOES help. Now, I just have to convince my wife that I need another cart!

I don't have the comparitive experience of these folks but did notice a break-in period on the Shure ME97x.

I also tried the dampener and will not use it again - it "veiled" the sound IMHO.

Pete

Observations...

Congrats. On the wife, I mean.

:thmbsp:

I got mine (What? a new wife? :D - outlaw ) a few month ago, it replaced a Grado Black, to me it's a lot better.

Sadly it (You shouldn't call her "it" ... ) hasn't washed my car yet :no: . I'll have to look into that.

I haven't tried the dampening thingy (Not even going there... :Rolleyes:) , but have been thinking about it.

Have fun!

Pete

:D

I got mine 2 weeks ago or so.....replaced a 25 year old M91ed that had a new needle. Surprisingly not as startling a change as I expected, shows how good old Shures are. Out of the box I did notice better highs, all around a great neutral sound in my book ! I would also like to get another for the future at that price.

A while back i picked up an M97xe to replace an older (original m91 i think?) cart on my Dual 1019. I initially felt that the M97xe lacked a bit in the low end, but after break in it opened up. Ive since picked up a Music Hall mmf5 with a Goldring G1012 cart on it. I had planned on swapping out the goldring but figured i would give it a chance to break in. The goldring sounds great now, but doesnt track as well as the shure. The M97xe is one heck of a value.

-j

I am still trying to 'like' this cartridge. I gave it a go with the Power Station and Roy Orbison last night, and I just can't stop thinking about the strange treble that this thing sometimes projects. I hate to track and run, but I just don't think my ears are gonna get used to it. If anybody out there wants a barely broken-in M97xE - PM me and I'll make it worth your while. I think there's a 440ML calling my name...

I thought the M97xe was harsh at first, but it after break in its pretty good.

It was definitely a little screechy at first. Now, it's just...rolled off at a certain frequency. My VTA looks good, and the protractor adjustment looks right, too. It sounds the same throughout the record, so I doubt it's an alignment issue.

I was also underwhelmed by it's low output compared to the Sony. I may just go back to the 34L for awhile. I bought a N.O.S. stylus for it right before I purchased the Shure. Does anyone know where I can have the stylus 'checked' for wear? It came with the turntable as I purchased it, and I have NO idea how much wear it has on it. It sounded fine, but I'd hate to damage any vinyl with it.

I am still trying to 'like' this cartridge. I gave it a go with the Power Station and Roy Orbison last night, and I just can't stop thinking about the strange treble that this thing sometimes projects. I hate to track and run, but I just don't think my ears are gonna get used to it. If anybody out there wants a barely broken-in M97xE - PM me and I'll make it worth your while. I think there's a 440ML calling my name...

I have the Shure M97xE and never really warmed up to the sound, the tracking is fantastic as I have a pretty warped LP that sends other stylus flying but when the stabilizer is down the shure tracks it like a gem. It is pretty impressive BUT I really don't care for the sound. I prefer the Grado Black or my Audio Technica At120E as they sound nice and full especially the midrange on the Grado. I gave it a very good burning in period but never really cared for the sound and you are right about the low output.