I've been using the Shure V15-VMR since '92. It replaced an olderMicro Accoustics 530MP, which I also liked. I think this is a very nice
cartridge. Very smooth. Could be more detailed. Cartridge came with a
great duo-point setup template and a test record. I hope they continue
to make replacement styli, too.

I just got back into vinyl after a 30 year absence- with a Rega Planar 3 & a Shure VR15 xMR cartridge. The Shure was recommended by my dealer as being a good match with the Rega & boy was he right! Smooth & musical- coming from a velvet black quiet background! The Shure is a reall winner & well worth 5 speakers. Some friends told me that a good analog system sounds better than cd's & I have to agree.

The Shure V15VmXR is an excellent cartridge & sounds great with my Rega tt.It's a very sturdy cartridge & can survive rough handling, which cannot be said for Blue Points & Blue Point Specials which are relatively fragile in conmpison. The Shure is a moving magnet type cartridge which means that it has an easily replaceable stylus. In my modest system the Shure is extremely quiet as far as pops & static-like noises go & produces sound at least as good as any cd! I'm sure that you can find better sounding cartridges for more money- but they are are hard to beat for the price & for the compatibility to Rega turntables!

I have compared this cartridge (the V15V-xMR) to the previous version, the V15V-MR. I honestly don't feel that it has an advantage over the older model. In fact, it has lower output and (to me) less detail. Also, Shure has cheapened the package by deleting the form-fitting protracter which made alignment of the MR such a snap. Now, all you get is the cartridge, a crappy paper protracter with parallel lines on it, a couple of nuts for mounting, and one of those fuzzy red cases (which is useless but looks luxurious). All this at twice the price of the older MR. Hmmmm.

Having worn down my last stylus for a 20 year old Grace F9, I was in a quandary for a new moving magnet cartridge with better trackability then the Grace, and one with a good supply of replacement styli. I did not want a moving coil cartridge or any other type requiring retipping in lieu of accumulating replacements. Both Stereophile and the current review page gave the Shure V15VxMR mixed reviews, though the former has the product in its “C” class or recommended components. I have to admit it does have a rolled off high end, but out-tracks any cartridge on the market. I cannot be sure (pardon the pun) if the Shure is superior in detail to my defunct Grace, but though it does not possess the Grace’s sense of “air,” it does not have the tracking problems with resultant listeners’ fatigue experienced with the Grace. (I have a DB Alignment Protractor, but did not install the Grace using it, though did use it to install the Shure. I cannot vouch for what improvements the protractor could have accomplished with the Grace cartridge.) Several months ago I had to send one of my Vandersteen 2ce’s to California for repair and purchased a pair of Polk RT800’s to hold me over. The later are not as warm as the Vandersteen’s, so sound well balanced with the Shure. Perhaps with the Vandersteen’s the system will be too dark, but I’ll have to live with this for a few years since I purchased four replacement styli for the Shure. My analog equipment is a Linn Sondek LP-12 with only the Vahalla and Nirvana mods, and a circa 1985 Magnapan Unitrack I tonearm.

Flat and extended frequency response, unparalleled tracking ability, and a dynamic stabilizer

None

Ok, let's clear this up right now. But first! Hmm...some interesting phrases have been used to describe this gem. Let's see, "Soundstage and imaging are vague. Lacks sparkle and dynamics. For use with mid-fi only." "Could be more detailed." Here's a good one, "The Shure is overly smooth, undynamic, and synthetic-sounding." How about this? "It's just too soft up top. It also lacks liquid. It simply does not possess the juice of real life that some better moving coils can reveal." Liquid? Ok, if he says so! The Shure V-15 has, essentially, a flat frequency response ranging from 10 Hz to 25,000 Hz. Also, distortion isn't an issue. And, of course, it has very good channel separation...30 dB at 1kHz. So I guess what these negative folks are telling us is that $1000+ moving-coil cartridges that emphasize certain parts of the audio spectrum (aka inaccurate), oh, and also mistracks when strained, somehow sound more "musical"? Well, they're wrong. Period. I agree with the positive reviews from people who are far more realistic. The V-15 is as accurate as they come, and if that means it's less "musical" or whatever else others call it, then so be it. Many of us, myself included, enjoy true high-fidelity. By the way, I'm sure that those who think the V-15 is not quite up to par also think that $600 cables made with exotic materials sound more "musical", that they provide an "air" around the instruments, and also have more "presence", etc, etc. I'm not saying that they're stupid, but...has anyone ever heard of the "placebo effect"?

Clarity, tracking, frequency accuracy (no peaky sound)

Not as detailed as higher priced moving moving magnet or coils.

As a follow-up to my earlier review, having upgraded to a Bryston BP-25 preamp and Graham Model 3.0 tonearm, I can say the Shure has taken a quantum leap forward in performance. Never before have I listened to LP's with such satisfaction!!

I am aware such a modest cartridge in a Graham arm may be "bad taste," but I am satisfied with the superior sonics and great distortion-free tracking. With this equipment I can still upgrade to a "better" cartridge in the future.

Similar Products Used:

Grace F9 (very old)

Lowest distortion of any cartridge that I have used.

Could have a slightly higher output, channel balance could be better

I definately agree with Matt from MD on this one. Flat is Flat. This is the only phono cartridge that I have ever used that can track ANY record without hearing tracking distortion. I did a side by side comparison of this cartridge with the v-15 and a Benz Glider. The Glider was on a Merrill Heirloom-B turntable with a Grado Signature Arm, and I put the Shure on an old JVC direct drive table. The key thing I was testing for was audible distortion. So I put on 2 of the same records on the 2 different setups and what did I find? The Glider had at least twice the amount of distortion that the v-15 had! This really stunned me, as the V-15 was about 1/3 the price, and was setup on a much cheaper turntable at that time.
As far as sound goes, the V-15 is extremely FLAT sounding. What does this mean? I compared reproduction of the same program material from different program sources. The first was cassette (Nakimichi CR-3), and then from my cd player (Adcom). I used the same recording for the comparisons. If you switched from the cassette to cd and back to phono, you could not tell which was which. This is what "HI-FI" in my opinion should mean-perfect reproduction from any source without coloration and DISTORTION.
I think the channel balance and seperation could be better at times, but the lack of distortion makes up for this. I would also recommend a high quality preamp with this, as the output is slightly lower than most MM cartridges.
This cartridge is also very cheap. Did anyone know that if you bust off the tip, you can send it into Shure with a check for $20 to the service department, and they will send you a new stylus? $20 bucks!!!!! I could not believe this!!!! My Glider cost me $400 to re-tip it! Conclusion:
I sold my Glider on E-bay and bought an OBH-SE to go with the Shure cartridge. This preamp/cartridge combination solves most of the "Dull" and "lifeless" coments that I have read about this cartridge.

Similar Products Used:

Benz GOLD, BENZ GLIDER, (That's right, I sold the Glider and kept the V-15) Stantion 881-EEE Stanton 681-EEE

I purchased the latest Shure V15 after destroying an Ortofon X3 turbo and being completely disgusted with the Blue Point I bought to replace it. Let me say the Shure tracks like a darned slot car, it images and separates like a good CD player, it's rugged, the user can replace the stylus and it benefits greatly from proper VTA adjustment. Having said that, I must also report that it glosses over high frequency information. Cymbals just don't sound right. And if there is a triangle or other delicate percussion instrument in the mix you'll probably not notice it unless you know it's there. It's just too soft up top. It also lacks liquid. It simply does not possess the juice of real life (I wish I could explain that better) that some better moving coils can reveal. I bought a Ortofon X5MC and I like it fine in the tone and liquid department. Hard call but have to give the Shure 3 stars. I still listen to it occasionally and find it enjoyable. Wish it had the liquid thing goin' on.

Have been listening to this cartridge for more than 10 years, up-grading the stylus whenever Shure offered something better. I have not heard anything that makes me want to, quote, "up-grade", unquote. Have listened to cartridges which cost over $1,000 and can hear no substantive difference. Put the V15 on a good turntable with a good tone-arm and listen to music in analog mode, the way it is supposed to be.