Hi Marty, I recently restylied two 20 plus year old carts, a Shure M91ED and Ortofon TM20U, at the same time. Useful Shure info/facts at:
http://shure.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/shure.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
Good service and OEM styli from authorized Shure/Ortofon dealer at:
www.garage-a-records.com/cart.html
Guaranteed genuine and ten percent off the second stylus was hard to beat. Good people too, no relation.
Having only one headshell I ran the Ortofon first because in my case it has the higher pedigree/cost more. Of the two the Ortofon has a more refined and extended sound. The Shure is more robust and dynamic with a deeper midrange. Plus the M91ED is higher output at .5v than the .4v of the TM20U.
FWIW and all things considered, especially the phono stage in the Threshold FET nine/e which has extension to spare, the Shure works better for me. It simply has a rightness the Ortofon lacks. The Ortofon might be smoother but it's drier too, close but not quite limp in comparison to the bold Shure. Once again system matching is the key.
So, for the moment the Ortofon is back in it red velvet casket for the day my system returns to the dark side and its lighter tone is once again required. According to Shure their MM carts don't wear out. Yep, sounds unbelievable but mine sounds better than ever!
http://shure.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/shure.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
Good service and OEM styli from authorized Shure/Ortofon dealer at:
www.garage-a-records.com/cart.html
Guaranteed genuine and ten percent off the second stylus was hard to beat. Good people too, no relation.
Having only one headshell I ran the Ortofon first because in my case it has the higher pedigree/cost more. Of the two the Ortofon has a more refined and extended sound. The Shure is more robust and dynamic with a deeper midrange. Plus the M91ED is higher output at .5v than the .4v of the TM20U.
FWIW and all things considered, especially the phono stage in the Threshold FET nine/e which has extension to spare, the Shure works better for me. It simply has a rightness the Ortofon lacks. The Ortofon might be smoother but it's drier too, close but not quite limp in comparison to the bold Shure. Once again system matching is the key.
So, for the moment the Ortofon is back in it red velvet casket for the day my system returns to the dark side and its lighter tone is once again required. According to Shure their MM carts don't wear out. Yep, sounds unbelievable but mine sounds better than ever!