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How does Shure V15 Type IV compare?

Hi,  I recently got back into listening to vinyl again after 30+ years.   I purchased a new Project Classic turntable, and a new JICO stylus for my Shure V15 Type IV that I've kept from the 80's.   The Type IV cartridge with the new JICO stylus still sounds really great,  I think just as good as I remember when I used it in the 80's.   It sure beats the hack out of the Ortofon 2M silver cartridge that came with the turntable.

My question is, how does the Shure V15 Type IV stack up against today's high performance cartridges?  I want to know because if I were to upgrade from the Shure,  where do I begin?  at what price point should I start looking?   e.g Is the Shure just as good as let's say Ortofon 2m Black?   I would hate to spend hundreds of dollars to buy a new cartridge only to find out that it is inferior to the Shure.

Any information will be appreciated.  Thanks!
128x128xcool
tooblue
1,941 posts
 
I do not have a comment on the Shure other than it was never one of my favorite carts in any of it's iterations, my favorites from that era were the Grace F9 and the ADC XLMs, with that said, I abandoned MM carts when I installed my first MC, the GAS Sleeping Beauty back in the later 70s. After all that time, I ran across a Grace F9 motor, no stylus, in my audio drawer and purchased a Soundsmith OCL stylus assembly from SS and am now wondering why I abandoned the MMs for the MCs. I have in rotation some very good MCs including a DRTxv1s, ZYX Universe, Miyabi Standard and a AT ART9 which this Grace certainly doesn't give up much if any to any of them. I am getting ready to order another stylus assembly from Soundsmith so I can keep this goodness alive for the foreseen future. Enjoy the music
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Good point @tooblue
Same here on two turntables with 4 tonearms in one system and MM/MI battle over LOMC all the time. Miyabi MRA, FR-7fz and many others are agreat but on the other hand i have Grago Signature XTZ (MI) at the moment and it’s lovely.

No one can tell that MC is better than MM, just because it’s MC.
MM or MI are always more convenient.

I don’t know why V15 was so popular and very few people remember ULTRA series from Shure.

I adore Grace LEVEL II and F14 models, comparing Grace MM to Grace MC is also fun, Asakura ONE was Signature LOMC from Grace (one of the rarest from this manufacturer).

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I find Chak's endless rants about fairly "RARE" vintage cartridges (rare in finding them in GOOD operating condition) as well as his rants about belt drive decks tiresome (to say the least;-).

@dekay but i hope you can learn some from my posts at least. 

I want to know more about rare cartridges (or rare models from well know brands) myself and do my best to find them, because people who review cartridges have no idea about 80% of the cartridge population so the reviews are useless when they limit themselves only to new models. In the end we have maybe 5 different cartridges everyone is raving about, this is a bit boring and does not display the whole picture. I always trying to add some forgotten cartridges to the list of recommended MM or MI, because i know they are very good (and better than many more expensive units). 

roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@chakster : how about the Microacoustics 2002 electret cartridge and the higher-priced models from this US company? I had the 2002 in use on a JH Formula 4 arm back in '78. Sounded excellent! 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@dekay : the V15 IV got a negative review in TAS back in the days of yore! The next version (V15 V mr) was a considerable improvement! I have a brand new-in-box one that I'm keeping as a heirloom piece!
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