Thanks for that Shure 'Ranking Chart' Harold......
Very useful 👍
Very useful 👍
Hear my Cartridges....🎶
Thanks to Harold's Shure Cartridge Ranking Guide (above).....I managed to find a SHURE ULTRA 500 in mint condition with its MICRO RIDGE STYLUS still sharp and shiny 🤗 Unfortunately for the last month, one of my Halcro DM-58 Monoblocks has been in Adelaide (with its maker) having a faulty capacitor in one of the protection circuits replaced so I have only been able to listen through headphones or to mono records on one speaker 😢 The ULTRA 500 is certainly a step-up from the rather flimsy plastic construction of both the ML140 HE and V15/III. So with a TRIPLE-COMPLEMENT of Shures......does one hear what one pays for.....? Hopefully Frogman and Harold won't let us down with their contributions....🧐 SHURE V15/III/SAS SHURE ML140HE SHURE ULTRA 500 |
Hi Halcro for me on my cheapo ear iPhone plugs - Shure V15/III/SAS - full bodied but coloured sound Shure Ml140HE - slightly recessed in the vocals, clangy in the upper mid area Shure Ultra 500 - the least coloured by far of the three, the balance across the frquency spectrum far more even, and more resolution. On crescendos this cartridge holds that balance. This is significantly better than the other two to my ears, more open, more balanced and less coloured. If you really want to hear the Ultra 500 at its best you need to buy yourself an Eminent Technology ET2, a significant gain in performance cf the Dynavector/FR64 to be sure - I own all 3. I'm not convinced your lovely dog is a Linda Rondstadt fan though. |
Thanks for the feedback Dover..... Good stuff 👍 I'll refrain from comment in case Frogman gives his appraisal (I hope he hasn't abandoned us?)..... I have no doubts that the ET2 is a superlative arm as I've heard nothing but praise for it from many people I trust (including you)... It will just never find a spot in my system for various reasons... I'm not convinced your lovely dog is a Linda Rondstadt fan though.Au contraire mon frère..... You will notice that Princi was absent for the V15/III performance but stayed on the couch opposite my listening spot for the whole ML140HE performance. For the Ultra 500, he started on the couch opposite me but quickly came over to join me at the best listening position. Make of that what you will......🤗 |
Agree with you Dover on your Shure rankings..... Despite Princi's preferences, the V15/III/SAS sounds more refined than the ML140HE. Just be aware that the substitution of the SAS stylus improves the 'standard' V15/III and its ranking ahead of the 140HE would not guaranteed without stylus upgrade. I suspect that if Shure had given the ML140HE a better designed body (more like the Ultra 500)....it could sound better than it does. The Ultra 500 is in a different class altogether 🤗 It's refinement, cohesion, transparency and detail retrieval is impressive. No matter what I throw at it (genre-wise)....I never tire of listening to this super cartridge. Certainly amongst the top of my MM cartridge collection. Will be interesting to hear it against the 'King'.....the Palladian 🧐 |