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The Shure V15 V with a Jico SAS/B stylus VS The Soundsmith Hyperion MR and Lyra Atlas SL

On a sentimental lark I purchased two Shure V15 V bodies and one SAS/B stylus. I was always a realistic about the Shure's potential. Was comparing it to $10k+ cartridges fair? Absolutely. The Shure was considered to be one of the best cartridges of the day. Why not compare it to a few of the best we have today?

The Shure has always been considered to be unfailingly neutral. Famous recording engineers have said it sounded most like their master tapes. I do not have an original stylus for the Shure and I can not say that the Jico performs as well. 

My initial evaluation was quite positive. It worked wonderfully well in the Shroder CB. With a light mounting plate and small counterbalance weight a resonance point of 8 hz was easily achieved. There was nothing blatantly wrong with the sound. There was no mistracking at 1.2 grams. You can see pictures of all these styluses here https://imgur.com/gallery/stylus-photomicrographs-51n5VF9 

After listening to a bunch of favorite evaluation records my impression was that the Shure sounded on the thin side, lacking in the utmost dynamic impact with just a touch of harshness. I listened to the Shure only for four weeks as my MC phono stage had taken a trip back to the factory. I was using the MM phono stage in the DEQX Pre 8, designed by Dynavector. I have used it with a step up transformer and know it performs well. I got my MC stage back last week and cycled through my other cartridges then back to the Shure. The Soundsmith and Lyra are much more alike than different. I could easily not be able to tell which one was playing. The Lyra is the slightest touch darker. The Shure is a great value....for $480 in today's money, but it can not hold a candle to the other cartridges. They are more dynamic, smoother and quieter. They are more like my high resolution digital files. Whether or not they are $10,000 better is a personal issue. Did the DEQX's phono stage contribute to this lopsided result? Only to a small degree if any. I do have two Shure bodies and they both sound exactly the same. The Shure may have done better with a stock stylus. I do not think the age of the bodies contributes to this result at all. 

128x128mijostyn
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pindac
2,864 posts
 

@lewm stated "Hearing is believing ".

I stopped taking description of Audio Equipment's end sound as a guidance many many years past. I have been much more interested in being able to encounter sound and form my assessments, as a result of the impression that had been made. 

Isolated / Insular Listening experiences leaves an individual quite limited in their experiences of sound being produced from recorded music replays.

My friend who tinkers with the 57's will be informed of the design for Quad 57 mentioned by @lewm, maybe I can hear one, especially as I donored 2 x 57's to support their own array method used.     

dogberry
691 posts
 

Now that I have a powered subwoofer between my Quad 2905 speakers, I realise I could have got away with 2805s (or their replacements with fancy wood trim, the 2812). The trick has been to adjust the level of the subwoofer such that I cannot tell when it is switched on, but can tell when it is switched off - I know that makes little sense, but perhaps you understand me. It is like adding, say, cinnamon to Italian savoury dishes, not so much you can taste it, but it still adds something to the flavour.

lewm
13,239 posts
 

Doggie, wait a bit for Mijo to tell you that you must use a stereo pair (or quadruplet) of subwoofers to reach Nirvana. Actually I agree stereo subs have some advantages. But I am not in a position to criticize.

I’m munching on the idea that my Sound Lab 845 PXs “blend right into the room”. Perhaps if my listening room was a gymnasium or an aircraft hanger. Guests who don’t know any better think I’m planning a rock concert when they see the two black monoliths, each measuring 8’ x 3’, in our living room.

audioquest4life
773 posts
 

@mijostyn 

 

Which version of the Hyperion are you using? I noticed that Soundsmith now has two variants of the Hyperion. I have the previous Hyperion MK II Contact Line which is absolutely amazing. This new Micro Ridge variant of the Hyperion sounds like a great match. 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,103 posts
 

Dear @mijostyn  :  " So, it is fun to hear what we were listening to back then. Now, What cartridge is mounted in your turntable at this moment?? "

 

Well I don't do it just for fun but for the MUSIC overall presentation.

 

Several vintage cartridges are a true challenge and even can outperforms to some top today MC/MM/MI cartridges and you can't know till you listen with your today system. Shure is not a reference for what I'm talking about, far away from there.

 

I'm listening: Audio Technica AT-ML160-LC/OCC (MM), Audio Tecnica AT 36 ( VLOMC ) and the surprising LOMC Empire MC5.

 

Both AT are " something "and the AT 36 has new cantilever and stylus due that my original one had not by a mistake from me but its cartridge motor is just a beauty..

Everthing I do in my system is in favor of MUSIC enjoyment always. 

 

@lewm  "  what is striking in comparison to any home audio system is the dynamics of live music, as opposed to pinpoint imaging, which was the subject of that discussion.  "

 

Absolutely rigth an that dynamics is developed thank's to the very fast transient response of instruments in a live MUSIC.

 

R.

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