Ancient Shure Cartridge

[Wagner]

Hi,
Anyone here own, and more importantly use, the old Shure M3D?
If so, where are you sourcing your styli?

Thomas

[Wagner]

................small, but perfectly formed Sh..........

with all the old farts here at this place, SOMEONE'S got to be runnin' one of these.

what are the odds..............

Thomas

[Hoerninger]

Maybe this is helpful. I did't go read it all.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17658

http://www.hifi-phono-house.com/Orig....html?refID=gb
____________
Peter

[Wagner]

google doesn't turn anything up ...pickup something new ...m97xe ?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=REG&A=details

they are cheap / good / new and about what you would expect to pay for just a stylus on that old cart...

• Price: $54.95

I am intimately familiar with the M97xE. It is a decent performer and one I have installed on tables for my adult children as well as what I often use on tables I am restoring for others. Good, but nothing to write home about. And definitely not the old classic Shure sound.
The M3D is a different experience all together. It tracks too heavily for my comfort though with the original N3D stylus as supplied.
I do not own the ideal arm for this cartridge. It came to me last week on an old table I picked up at my favorite thrift. I cleaned it up and mounted it on an old Garrard changer this weekend. Idler drive.
The compliance on the needle that came with it is about shot, truly a "low rider".
Still, I fooled around with VTF and achieved a fairly clean output.
The sound? Man this thing sounds GOOD! First disc I played was "Peter Gunn" an original 1959 first pressing. It blew my mind.
But the tip is too iffy to put on anything but discs that I would not be too sad about if I damaged them.
I want to hear this thing on the heaviest arm I have with a tip that offers a bit more security and refinement.
Still, it's going to be a relatively heavy tracker.
My research has indicated that I go with the later released N21D. My quest is to find a verifiable known good source for one that comes with a nice jewel.
Lot of the replacements and generics out there are pure crap.

Thomas

[Wagner]

Maybe this is helpful. I did't go read it all.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17658

http://www.hifi-phono-house.com/Orig....html?refID=gb
____________
Peter

Thank you Peter.
Yes, many are selling them, but unfortunately without some feedback from someone that's running one currently it's pick a card, any card.
Pick the wrong card and an Lp bites the dust Especially at the relatively high VTFs required by this cartridge, even with a more compliant stylus.
I have no microscope or way to absolutely check a stylus out beyond a loupe.
I'd feel more confident if I could find someone to share their first hand experience.

Thomas