So WHERE do you go to buy a Shure V15 Cartridge ?

Have you considered other cartridges? Perhaps you might do well with a high output MC, something like the Denon 103 that some here have reported to be pretty darn good for under $300. Given what you have had prior experiences with, something like this might be an "ear-opener". Don't know how it might work on your table, but you might want to ask around.

If you are set on the V15, you're in pretty good shape, though.

Belts can be found at Projector-Recorder Belt Company in Whitewater, Wisconsin. They are the actual manufacturer of alot of OEM belts and you don't have to pay for 5 middle-man mark-ups.

Regards
Jim

Went out to J&R guys, and the price there is $229.00 -- the cheapest I've been able to find so far. My current pre-amp only supports MM so I'm staying put. Since we're talking analog, I have an old Apt-Holman preamp I'm trying to resurrect, especially the phono preamp. Is there a spot everybody considers the best to work on your gear ?

Bad Ears- not that I'd try to sell you on a MC but to clarify, you can use a high output MC with your MM input, which is why the MC manufacturers produce these. It's only a function of having enough voltage, nothing more. Most of the HO MC's put out well in excess of 2 mV, which is what alot of MM's put out.

A few years back, HO MC's were not as well developed, but most manufacturers have now figured out how to get them very close to the low output versions.

On the topic of repairing your pre- where are you located?

Regards
Jim

also could use a step up transformer to upmatch moving coil output levels to a MM phono input

I'm In St. Louis Missouri. The two high end repair stores I was familiar with are now gone.