Does anyone NOT like the JICO S.A.S N91ED?

91r100gs · Aug 20, 2014

SimplyOrange said:
Oh, I see.

Well, I've heard nothing but good things from JICO. I personally wouldn't hesitate on even their lower styli. Though I still wonder how it compares to an original made by Shure.

I have all three. The genuine N91ed I have says Hi-Track on the stylus grip. It is a nude 2x7 mil elliptical. The difference in SQ between it, and the $13 EVG/Jico from Carolesneedles is insignificant. They both sound sweet. No wonder M91 cartridges are going for good prices on sleaze-bay, as they can be fitted with a decent stylus for a great price.

loquatious · Aug 20, 2014

JohnMac said:
Right now, I'm comparing a good, original Hi-Track with an EVG. The Hi-Track wins by a margin. A while back I had the opportunity the compare a SAS with those two. I think I gave the Hi-Track a slight edge over the SAS but not by much.

SimplyOrange said:
I'm a bit confused.

Is the Hi Track stylus the original for the M91ED? Is the one available (non SAS) aftermarket, or is it made by Shure?

Just curious, as I've heard there's different versions of this stylus.

nos genuine shure n91ed styli do come up fairly regularly on ebay, and at a much better price point than the sas. when considering a nos n91ed, keep in mind there were two versions (both yellow/cream color and both marked hi-track). there is an early, thin cantilever version :thmbsp: made in the us, and the later, thick cantilever version :thumbsdn:.

a nos thin cantilever n91ed will give the sas a serious run for it's money (and better the egv or other genreics). it's my preferred stylus for the m91ed cart. if you're considering one, you need to check where it was made. thin cantilevers have made in usa clearly marked on the blue shure box, and an evanston, illinois address.

i have nothing bad to say about the sas.

.

JohnMac · Aug 20, 2014

So, what would my black hi-track with a thin cantilever be?

91r100gs · Aug 20, 2014

JohnMac said:
So, what would my black hi-track with a thin cantilever be?

I'm guessing that my yellow body w/ black front panel, with the thin cantilever, and nude stylus is like yours. My guess is that ours are Early USA made.

Going to throw it in on my next side and give it a listen, immediately after listening to the SAS. :scratch2:

loquatious · Aug 20, 2014

JohnMac said:
So, what would my black hi-track with a thin cantilever be?

if it says "shure hi-track" on the front of the stylus grip, it may be genuine shure, but not be an n91ed. probably a n91e. if it doesn't say "shure hi-track" on the front, it is a non-shure generic. there are a lot of generics being sold as "hi-track" when they are not genuine shure. such as this pfanstiehl (noaff):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHURE-HI-TRACK-STYLUS-N91ED-N91E-M91ED-N91G-4-761-DE-/280234869511

there were other variants, the n91e, n91gd, etc. which were different colors. shure literature lists the n91ed as yellow. on the us made, thin cantilever ones, the "hi-track" lettering was metallic red or sometimes gold and very cleanly printed. mexican production thick cantilever styli typically had less precise lettering.

.

JohnMac · Aug 20, 2014

Thanks for all the great the info. It's good to have such knowledgeable folks on board. :thmbsp:

Here's mine.

loquatious · Aug 20, 2014

black with white lettering = n91e.

.

sberger · Aug 20, 2014

It's all personal preference. If you can, get both the original and the SAS. Both have attributes that are unique to each other. Nice to have a choice if you can. Plus the spare factor is a positive. I suppose the only possible to the original is that your never quite sure if it's really NOS or has some miles on it.

JohnMac · Aug 20, 2014

I agree, it's nice to have options.

I'm listening to the black one now and it sounds great. I'm going to order a SAS tomorrow and the EVGs will stay with the mono system for playing old LPs.

KentTeffeteller · Aug 20, 2014

Yes, Jico styli for Shure cartridges are superb quality in all grades from cheapie conical to SAS and all points in between.

ranf1970 · Aug 20, 2014

91r100gs said:
But I see the an elliptical on the Jico website for $56 and TurntableNeedles.com for about $30. I wonder if all these elliptical versions are the same.:scratch2:

I've wondered the same thing myself.

danj · Aug 22, 2014

The M91E stylus was my first JICO. I've since purchased JICOs for my Empire 2000EIII and Shure V15 type III cartridges. They are the first after market styli that I've been happy with across the board and I'll soon be buying a few more.

JohnMac · Aug 22, 2014

Looks like it's unanimous. I ordered an N91ED yesterday.

captouch · Aug 22, 2014

I compared a M91ED with original Hi Track yellow stylus to a V15 III also with an original stylus. They sounded quite different, with the V15 III sounding more detailed and refined, the M91ED sounding more mid-centric, full, but less detailed overall.

I don't know if my assessment of the differences aligns with other's experiences, but wondering if anyone has compared these two carts with SAS stylii and have any comments. I would consider buying a SAS for one or the other, but not both.

Wondering if the differences I heard would be maintained if both had SAS or if SAS would make both sound more like what I'm hearing the V15 III to sound like now.

beatcomber · Aug 22, 2014

captouch said:
I compared a M91ED with original Hi Track yellow stylus to a V15 III also with an original stylus. They sounded quite different, with the V15 III sounding more detailed and refined, the M91ED sounding more mid-centric, full, but less detailed overall.

I don't know if my assessment of the differences aligns with other's experiences, but wondering if anyone has compared these two carts with SAS stylii and have any comments. I would consider buying a SAS for one or the other, but not both.

Wondering if the differences I heard would be maintained if both had SAS or if SAS would make both sound more like what I'm hearing the V15 III to sound like now.

I have both the M91ED and V-15 III with SAS styli, and your impressions of their relative differences with the OEM styli remain true with the SAS.

captouch · Aug 22, 2014

Thanks beatcomber, that helps quite a bit.

bobins08 · Aug 23, 2014

The great thing about the Jico SAS is that it is keeping the vintage Shure cartridges relevant. If you have a V15, M91, or M95 body laying around you can get very nice sound for about ~$140 by putting a SAS on it.

I got my V15-III essentially for free, finding it on an old vintage deck that I flipped. Still looking for a M91 or M95 body.

There is excellent value here, especially when matched with the right arm and optimal loading.

beatcomber · Aug 23, 2014

bobins08 said:
the great thing about the jico sas is that it is keeping the vintage shure cartridges relevant.

+1000!

JohnMac · Aug 24, 2014

I wonder how many JICO sales AK is responsible for. :scratch2:

This thread alone has had over 800 views plus all the other threads concerning JICO.

AudioSoul · Aug 24, 2014

I have been watching this thread with interest. I recently purchase a Thorens TD-150 TT mk2 with the stock arm and M91 ED cart. It has a new aftermarket stylus that I am sure is a generic. It is grey with no markings on it. I think it sounds pretty good but I am going to look into the Jico styluses. I also have a empire TT with Jelco SA-750 arm. Would the the M91 ED be a good match complaisance wise with this arm. If the M91ED with Jico stylus sounds that good I would like to try it on a better arm...

Does anyone NOT like the JICO S.A.S N91ED?

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