JICO SAS Question

[Bob in STL]

Hello all.

I recently picked up a used very clean Marantz 6300 with Shure V-15 Type III from Craiglist ($175). I just recieved a JICO SAS stylus for it and I am very pleased to say the least. Since my questions are for JICO SAS owners I don't have to go into detail on the sound quality. I have been playing it for hours upon hours and cannot get tired of listening.

I also have a Thorens TD-160B w/ SME 3009 and it has a Shure M97xE on it. I was always planning on buying a JICO SAS for the M97xE. I bought the Marantz mostly for the V-15 with the plan of putting it on the TD 160.

So my question is will the M97xE with JICO SAS sound as good (or better) than the V-15 type III with the JICO SAS? My impression is that the V-15 with it's old stock stylus sounded much better than the M97xE with stock. Has anyone out there had both cartidges with the JICO SAS stylus and can you provide you thoughts?

thanks, Bob

[sturgus]

Bob, I haven't heard the V15-III but I would think it sounds quit good with the SAS. You are more than welcome to borrow my SAS for the M97xE. That way you can hear for yourself if it's in the same league. Have you tried loading the M97xe? Is the Jolida adjustable? The M97 seems to like around the 62k point.
Sturgus

[Bob in STL]

Bob, I haven't heard the V15-III but I would think it sounds quit good with the SAS. You are more than welcome to borrow my SAS for the M97xE. That way you can hear for yourself if it's in the same league. Have you tried loading the M97xe? Is the Jolida adjustable? The M97 seems to like around the 62k point.
Sturgus

Hey Sturgus, I returned your call.

The V-15-III w/ SAS is excellent. I will take you up on the M97 SAS. I have two headshells for the Marantz 6300 so it should be easy to do an A-B test. The winner goes on my TD 160/ SME 3009. I suspect the V-15-III will win.

I have not ever loaded the M97 at 62K. My Jolida JD9 does indeed have dip switches for setting the cartridge loading and also the pre-amp gain. Unfortunately, the highest selectable load resistance is 47K. Short of doing a mod to the selectable load resistor bank, I do believe I can set all switches down (R = infinity) and then add the 62K parallel load resistor using some type of RCA connector Y-adapter. I have read about it somewhere.

Talk to you soon.

Bob