Which styli will fit Shure V15 Type 2?

[SupaWales]

I'd like to consult the various oracles here regarding styli that will fit my Shure V15 type 2 body.

I have been using a replacement Ed Saunders stylus for the last 15 months or so but it is now audibly worn.. definite sibilance and slight end of side distortion on certain records, others are fine. I estimate around 2 - 3 hours use per day over the 15 months, so 900 - 1350 hours playing time.

Anyway, the question is.. which styli wil fit the V15 type 2?
I thought it was a fairly unique stylus, but discovered that a N75ED type 2 from a M75 fits perfectly well ignoring the physical difference of the plastic carrier.
Not only does the N75 fit but audio quality and tracking & tracing ability is excellent, much better than the Ed Saunders stylus even when it was new.. and the N75 is not new 7 I have no idea how many hours' use it has had.
All I know is that it can easily cope with the 18cm/s band on HFS81 test record at 1.5gm VTF.

Are there any other Shure styli I should look out for?
I'm reluctant to buy another Ed Saunders because I don't think it is as good as the original Shure stylus, the Ed Sauders has a much bulkier cantilever compared to the original. The M75ED 2 stylus has a very similar thin cantilever to the original V15 2 original.

I am aware of the SAS / Jico's but I'd like to try & get a couple of NOS genuine Shures off the infamous auction site if possible, just need to suss out which ones will fit!
I also have a late 1970's Shure M97HE body only, stylus long gone.. any Shure substitutes that will fit it? The originals are expensive!

Apologies for rambling on..

[fscl]

Here's a thread I started a while back.

Seems the M55 might work also. Have not tried it yet.

viewtopic.php?t=40449&view=previous

mrow2 did you pursue?

Good luck.

Fred

[Bran Kulez]

The VN15E is the stylus you want...here are 2 generics that will work well...

http://garage-a-records.com/proddetail.php?prod=4763de

http://stylus.export-japan.com/product_ ... ts_id=1041

Be aware of corroded cantilevers on original Shures from way back.

The M97HE is an excellent cartridge, but it may be the hyperelliptical nude stylus that makes it sound so great and stand out from other Shure's. I would consider the SAS as a replacement for it.

The N55E will not work in the V15 type 2, it will only work in the V15 type 1 (or M55 and M44 series).

[Snead]

The 75 stylus will also fit the 97...no idea if it's technically appropriate but mine sounds very good.

P.S. recommend avoiding the Ed S. stylus. There's some circumstantial evidence that they're merely Pfanstiehls purchased from other retailers.

[Bran Kulez]

Hey Snead,
I just tried to put a N75 stylus on the M97 cartridge and it won't go. Did you trim the grip?

[Snead]

Trimmed, yes.

[Emref]

I´m very happy with the VN45HE JICO SAS, for my Shure V15IV cartdrige, far better than the Ed Saunders

Regards
Alberto

[hugo casassanta]

Alberto[/quote]

The 75 stylus will also fit the 97...no idea if it's technically appropriate but mine sounds very good.

P.S. recommend avoiding the Ed S. stylus. There's some circumstantial evidence that they're merely Pfanstiehls purchased from other retailers.

As for the E.S., I've had my share of dissapointment with them, too. 1st, a replacement for my VN45HE whose tip broke after a year running at 1.25g and sounding like sandpaper in the higher ranges...then came an N95 which surprisingly enough turned out to be the best one I could get from them as it now sounds practically on a par with the original shure 95-ED, after getting abuses from an old hard-to-settle Dual tonearm which made it bed-in by force, and finally a copy of his largely blabbed-about VN35 as the cherry on top of the cake: I've never heard anything so un-refined since the days I had a battery-powered Sonatta, with a ceramic cartrigde and a sapphire thorn tip.. . I guess it really pays to hold on a bit until you've got the guts to pop 100-odd bucks out of your savings to grab hold of a JICO, like I did about that 45, btw...

yeh, Alberto, ya betcha it is...
Cheers from Brazil!

[SupaWales]

OK guys.. many thanks for the info & comments.

I think I'll avoid Ed Saunders in future and invest in a Jico.

Will have to decide whether to get the N97HE for the M97 body or another V15 stylus.

The M97HE was excellent when it had a stylus too.

Perhaps I shall save the pennies and get both.

I also found 2 Shure M70CS cartridges and a used N70EJ stylus so might try the stylus in the V15 & M97 if it will fit.

Thanks for the corroded cantilever heads-up too, if I do see NOS Shures I'll be sure to ask for close up pictures.

[hugo casassanta]

SupaWales, those needles should both fit the 97 and the V15 II body (unless I'm very much mistaken) and the N70CS will track at 3 grams whilst the N70EJ will track at 2 grams.
All the best.

[Bran Kulez]

SupaWales wrote: I also found 2 Shure M70CS cartridges and a used N70EJ stylus so might try the stylus in the V15 & M97 if it will fit.

The N70, N72, N75 styli will fit the V15 type 2 cartridge body but will not fit the M97 cartridge body without trimming the plastic grip. Considering that there are soooo many options for Shure cartridges, there's really no need to alter the grip.

[Emref]

OK guys.. many thanks for the info & comments.

I think I'll avoid Ed Saunders in future and invest in a Jico.

Will have to decide whether to get the N97HE for the M97 body or another V15 stylus.

The M97HE was excellent when it had a stylus too.

Perhaps I shall save the pennies and get both.

I also found 2 Shure M70CS cartridges and a used N70EJ stylus so might try the stylus in the V15 & M97 if it will fit.

Thanks for the corroded cantilever heads-up too, if I do see NOS Shures I'll be sure to ask for close up pictures.

You will see nothing in a picture, the fact is that the suspension stiffs with time and the stylus becomes unusable (I have one of those),they can´t even follow the groove or maybe they sound, but can´t track anything a little loud..., stay away.

Regards
Alberto

[SupaWales]

Hugo, thanks for the info re: N70 styli.. very useful.
I will save the N70EJ for emergency use.

Alberto, also very useful info.. I was aware that the suspension can degrade over time. Perhaps this is climate related.. hot tropical climate is no good for rubber belts etc. but here in the UK it couldn't usually be described as tropical!

I spotted a genuine Shure N75HE-T2 stylus for sale in the UK at a reasonable price so I think I will invest in it.

Again, thanks to all for your comments and info.

[fscl]

Been keeping my eye out on the 'bay and came across a vendor selling Type 2 replacements. Took the plunge and am pretty happy with the styli purchased.

Installed it in the BioTracer arm to test the cartridge / stylus combination temporarily, however, it's been there since as the combination sounds very nice. The XV-15 is definitely on it's way out as far as wear is concerned.

Fred