Shure M97XE High Accuracy, Low Mass Turntable Cartridge

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I am getting back into vinyl. I had the M97ed. My thought is that SHURE is following me. The V 15 IV was the Hot setup back when I bought it. Couldn't afford it but it looks like they have really made a great product with the M97ex. It sounds very good and I couldn't have done better at my price point.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I put a new M97xe on a Technics SL-1200 and also tested it on a Technics SL-1700. Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Burrell, and John Coltrane sounded FANTASTIC. Compares well with an Audio Technica AT440occ (a great, but older version of the AT440mla) costing three times what the Shure did. Shure's famous linear (flat) response, clear, clean, and precise sound, great in all ranges. Can you tell I'm an enthusiast? You bet!

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

This is a wonderful cartridge. I have used a Grado Platinum 1, Garrott Brothers P77, Grado Silver, and Ortofon 2M Blue in recent times, and the Shure gives the most satisfaction. It is easy to set up, and is not overly fussy. The sound is musical, detailed but not in your face, good solid bass, with a tilt down in the trebble, a wide soundstage, and a fatigue free listen. It tracks well, and has no sibilance. It does have a 'darker' overall sound than the Ortofon, and less bloom in the midrange than the Grado. However it is a dynamic cart with a neutral balance overall. A relaxed listen with all types of music. Not much on the negative side other than soundstage depth is lacking, less separation between instruments, and trebble region can be a bit relaxed at times. Recommended for systems that have a neutral to bright balance. At this price there is nothing that can beat it.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

When I received this cartridge in the mail I was surprised to see it came in a really cool aluminum box. I thought to myself, Wow someone still has some pride in what they are producing. I had the cartridge installed in a matter of minutes and the instructions were easy to follow and even came with a setup ruler. The most impressive part happened yesterday when i took a brand new record out of the cellophane and played it. I have never heard such incredible sound quality. The system I have is not expensive but if I didn't know any better I would have assumed that it was. Im seriously thinking of replacing the cartridges on all the other turntables I have with this High quality unit. I have been told that vinyl records actually have better sound quality than cd but I never believed it until I bought this cartridge. Old and overplayed records sound great too but I will never forget the sound produced by this cartridge running across a brand new Bob Dylan record.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I used this Shure M97XE in comparison with 4-5 times more expensive MC cartridges and the performance is at par. It even had stronger points in the areas of dynamics and attack. Truly a no brainer.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

This cartridge is very clear. The dynamics are very good. This is as good as the 300.00 phono cartridges.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

Here is a good quality cartridge for a reasonable price. Shure u can spend more, but unless you're a dedicated audiophile, don't do it. The M97XE delivers smooth detailed sound with strong mid-range performance and it won't flatten your wallet in the process. Recommended for people that want a solid performer, that outperforms the price.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I have recently gotten 'back' into vinyl because last year I found a Technics sl-1400 turntable at a garage sale for a whopping three bucks. After fitting it out with an entry level audio technica Cartridge and not being terribly happy with the sound through my Technics sound system (also from a garage sale) I decided to upgrade the cartridge for the Shure.

Sounds fantastic! Again, I won't get into techical details because I do not consider myself an audiophile - but considering all the variables in a turntable sound system this cartridge performs very nicely. It faithfully reproduces sounds without seeming to color anything too much.

Obviously the quality of the vinyl pressing has a huge impact and having tested it on a few mint Decca and Columbia Jazz pressings the sound qualtiy is fantastic. You feel like you are in the studio.

Beyond that, I can't say. I have limited experience with Vinyl and there are so many cartridges and styli out there I can't even begin to compare.

It sounds great and the price was right. I love listening to music and this makes the music sound good!

Oh, and it comes in a REALLY nice box!

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I installed the Shure M97XE cartridge in a JVC Direct Drive QL-A7 turntable. Setting the cartridge up was easy and then playing recorded vinyl was a true Hi Fi delight. Bass was deep and very impacting, midrange reproduction of vocals and some lower brass instruments was very open and natural. The High end of music played with cymbals, stringed violins, and high singing vocals was a pleasure to listen to without straining to hear all the subtle nuances. This cartridge has to be listened to to truly enjoy the benifits of it's workmanship. I highly recommend this cartridge and it is a very good buy at the selling price. I have heard some very expensive cartridges in my time some costing 400 to 600 dollars and was hard pressed to justify the increased cost of the more expensive cartridges.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I am using it in an original Garrard 1000B turntable to replace another Shure cartridge that my grandson broke the stylus on. I couldn't find a replacement, as it was over 30 years old. I am 63 years old now, and wear hearing aids, so I don't know if what I am hearing is as good as when I was 25. It sounds better than the cartridge I replaced, and sounds extremely good to me. It handles all the frequency range excellent. I am running it thru my original Macintosh 1700. I will buy another one to use in my Garrard SL95B when I get it running again. [...] I highly recommend it. Also B&H was the lowest price.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

The cartridge is easy to install, and without the brush it only needs a lettle over one gram. Using the brush required 1.75 grams. Very smooth crystal clear sound, the cartridge looks great. I have owned several Shure V-15 cartridges and this one is very comparable. Highly recommend, I will probably buy another as a backup for my other turntables for use when those stylus' can't be replaced. [...] you can trust their store to deliver what they advertise.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I have this fellow set up on a Gemini table hooked to a NAD receiver. It cranks out clean tones, is relatively easy to dial in (is anything this small actually easy?) and being a Shure, you know it as bombproof as something this tiny can be. It has a handle little dust brush built in, and comes fantastically packaged in a swanky bullet proof aluminum casing. It tracks over all but the most ancient AND scratched records, so it's a good all arounder, in that regard.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

This cartridge went on my high-end home turn table, a Technics 1200-mk2. Very happy with it. Less than half the MSRP. Excellent packaging

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

Tracks well, nicely packaged and presented. Instructions are clear, stylus protractor a plus.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I think for that price it sure produce nice sounds and I'm happy to get this stuff and replace that one I got from Rega 1 Turntable - Orotofon.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

This is as close as you can get to the famed Shure V-15 - and I know as I have five of them. This is generally a neutral sounding cartridge and works best in good tone arms. Nicely packaged (looks like the old V-15 package.) The price is very reasonable. Cartridges can be extremely expensive today. I can't think of any cons.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

Sure always had quality cartridges and this one is also one of them. Cartridge has a brush mounted on the front which also has been on other classic Sure cartridges of the past. It works as it should but because of the light tracking force of this needle, you have to take into account this when setting up your tracking force. Stereo separation is good and overall playback frequency seems very even. The cartridge comes in a nice protective metal case with all the necessary items to do the installation.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

I don't buy new vinyl, but I have a few hundred LPs I've had for twenty to thirty years that I would like to continue to enjoy. With the M97XE my recordings sound as good as ever. Since Shure has discontinued the V15 due to the expense of the beryllium cantilever, the M97XE is now their top of the line, and an eminently listenable cartridge.

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

Using on an old belt-drive Pioneer, and on some worn records.. but considering it still sounds relatively crisp and clean.

I will definitely keep this cartridge once I upgrade my turntable and we'll see how it performs then...

:)

Comments about Shure M97XE High Accuracy Turntable Cartridge:

As the ad says, low tracking, high accuracy. Another outstanding purchase [...]