I only wish Shure provided some instruction on how to use it for the uninitiated. HALLELUIAH! – a proper overhang gauge! It’s hard to believe so many manufacturers omit this simple, ten-cent piece of cardboard from the packages. Shure, by contrast, pulls out all the stops, including clear instructions, a stylus brush, screwdriver, mounting hardware (which was merely adequate) and even – For $225 (what I paid for my Elys), I expected at least some instructions other than a slip of paper that says ‘consult your dealer’ because we all know that’s often useless. While I applaud Rega’s minimalist box, their unpretentiousness about ‘putting all the money into the product’ is sort of pretentious in itself. Some people may think it’s overkill but to me, it’s perfect. Shure now packages the M97 in the same stylish metal box as the V15. Strapped for cash, or not that picky? Order the M93E. Need audiophile quality on a budget? Try the M97. Unlike the Grado Prestige series with no less than SIX variations on the same basic architecture, each one offering only minor (barely noticeable, I say) improvements as you move up the line, Shure offers only three distinctly different hi-fi cartridges. Refreshingly honest, don’t you think? And a big vote of confidence for a very modestly priced cartridge.Įven more refreshing is the lack of bullshit in Shure’s lineup. Shure even advises owners of older V15 models to buy a new M97 instead of replacing their worn styli, even though (a) the V15 styli cost more than the M97 body and stylus together, and (b) they still stock the parts in most cases, and would probably be happy to get rid of dead stock.

Not only that, but you’ll get a sensible, lucid answer from people who seem quite knowledgeable about analog – a rarity to be sure, and thrilling in an age when dealers and even manufacturers who purportedly specialize in analog can barely answer most phono-related questions. It ain’t.īut ask Shure Brothers (via e-mail) for advice on which cartridge to choose and, unless you tell them you have a VERY high-end system and turntable, they’ll recommend the M97圎. You can indeed pop a V15 stylus on your M97 though, as Shure is quick to point out, this is tantamount to pairing a black sport jacket with a pair of black pants and calling it a suit. Shure claims major internal differences between the two siblings.

In fact, their styli are even interchangeable.ĭon’t get your hopes up thinking the $140 M97圎 is basically a $400 V15VxMR with the exception of its stylus (elliptical vs. Especially when the two items you’re comparing – in this case, Shure Brothers’ V15VxMR and M97圎 cartridges – bear a striking resemblance. It’s always refreshing when a manufacturer or dealer recommends you spend LESS than you’d planned to.

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