Cartridge - sweet spot on the cost/sound curve?

richardbrand

"Just a word of caution - there were several series of Shure V15 made, and they do not necessarily share compatible stylii."

correct, Jico makes that clear in writing:

"There is NO interchangeability between VN5MR and VN5xMR. Please confirm your cartridge / stylus number and select suitable stylus."

they list which body the new Jico VN5MR stylus I posted (for the used V15V body I linked) fits:

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btw, another advantage made possible by SAS on lighter/stiffer cantilevers is LIGHTER TRACKING, these track avg. 1.25g,

the AT33PTG/II Microline tapered boron rod tracks avg. 2.0g. Larger contact area combined with lighter tracking: This is the major reason these advanced stylus have longer life, and of course less wear on the grooves.

V15Vx used body, $158 usd;

Jico new VN5xMR, $282 usd

$440. total

exactly what I did to mine. shure orig tracked at 1,0g, I use 1.25g with this combo

Soundsmith makes excellent cartridges. If you can find a low hours used one it’s well worth the purchase. They also offer a very generous rebuild policy.

Recent splurge, like a Cicada, I’ve got to go dormant for a long while now.

I made an offer, seller agreed to $338 for NOS unopened V15V-P which is P Mount version of V15Vmr (can be used as P or via 1/2" adapter) (same as V15Vmr except no brush)

New Unused Beryllium MicroWall Tube Cantilever with MicroRidge Stylus

If I live long enough to wear it out, or whoever inherits it can put a Jico Boron SAS in it.

used UA-7082 arm in transit; two used AT160ml Berylliums with two azimuth adjustable headshells;1 set of 4 AT616 TT Feet (arrived last evening, very nice, bigger than I realized); lastly this new V15V-P OEM Beryllium Tube.

found this:

"Post by dlaloum » 18 Jun 2012 00:36

If you have an intact V15Vp stylus there is nothing available today to match it...

Look after that stylus - the beryllium tube cantilever achieves an effective tip mass of around 0.17mg.

The nearest available current stylus is the Jico SAS which works out at around 0.3mg effective tip mass. - Still very good but not nearly as good as the original

The V15VP and V15VMR are electrically completely identical (I have both) - also the Jico SAS VN5MR stylus fits both, and works well on both."

Have you considered a Hana EL low output mc cart? The first generation ones can be had for around $475.00 which is within your range or the newer mark 2 version for $600.00 or so I believe. I have the Hana EL and it’s a very good cart for the money even though it has an aluminum cantilever which you said you weren’t fond of. I like boron cantilevers also but I don’t think you would notice on the Hana if you didn’t know. But the sound is rich, good timbre and detailed in the bass through the highs. Midrange is sweet, at least I find it so and it tracks well on my SME 309 arm. Just a thought if your looking for a good reliable cart for not to much money.