Shure M91ED w/Hi Track vs. newer cartridges like Ortofon Red, etc.?

And it's not bad on a hi-end deck either

 

My example was included from the factory on my Realistic LAB 300 turntable. It outperforms 2M Red, and my LAB 300 outperforms under $1000 Regas and Pro-jects with low maintenance.

 

I popped a Shure M91 onto my Clearaudio Concept about a week ago, with a Jico stylus. Enjoying the overall sound, even though it’s kind of pushy, but it accentuates surface noise at a level I’ve never experienced. I doubt it’ll stay in the rotation. Maybe for drunk nights.

 

I've been reading up on and learning about proper cartridge electrical loading. I have an M91ED, and reading the specs, their recommended load capacitance doesn't make sense to me. It says 400-500pF as a recommended load capacitance, but for a cart with an inductance of 720mH, that puts the resonant peak between 8.4kHz and 9.4kHz, which is quite low. Is this just a case of the manufacturer getting it wrong, or do the simple models not account for something in this case?

 

Hi Guys

I just got a Pioneer PL-7 TT and found these carts in my stash from the old days, including the M91. What would you suggest for the PL-7?

Stanton 881S/D81
Shure M91ED/Hi Track
Stanton 680EE/D680
Shure M104E
R47XT/ Shure 5X
Empire 2000 E III
AT 91E
AT 88E

Thanks

bob

 

I have found the m75/91 carts accentuate surface noise without the specified capacitance. Ortofon Om and Concord specify up to 600pF with a similar inductance, 750mH. Conversely, my Fluance table came with an Om10 and it recommended 100pF. Ortofon does Say 200-600 though.

 

I'm currently using a Shure M91ED with JICO stylus on my 1960 Garrard Type "A" table. Tracking is set for 3 grams. I use this table for my Lps that are in compromised shape, and any that skip on my Rega . Sometimes, I am ASTONISHED at how good it sounds. just last night I played a somewhat compromised stereo LP of 'The Big Sound of Johnny and The Hurricanes" and the sound really, really surprised me.

 

Don't have any experience with a M91ED but I have this Jico HE equipped M95ED. It sounds great!

 

I prefer the sound of the M95ED over the M91ED, but the older M91 seems to be a lot more durable over the years.

 

(This is the post that bumped the thread. The M91ED question has long been answered.)

The Stanton 881S is the standout here if it has the D81S Stereohedron stylus, but some Stantons have concerns with aging. Also, the Empire is a gem, 10-35,000Hz with 0.2 x 0.7 elliptical nude stylus (but the 4000, a unique cut equivalent to a 0.1mil elliptical, would be pure gold find).

 

Thanks, Would the D81 stylus have an "S" on the end if it is that version?

bob

 

It seems there are Stereohedron stylii with both D81 and D81S printed on them. 1978 Stereo Review buying guide lists replacement stylus for them as D81, D810 for mono, D827 for 78s.

 

Shure N91ED review here (page 80).

I have one somewhere. Was bought new in the '70s. Don't remember anything about how it sounded (nor would I expect anyone to so remember) - which means it probably sounded ok.

Jeff

 

Having had one, it has the Shure "house sound", what one might think of as a 70s vinyl sound. Tubby in the mid-bass and dull.

 

I don't want to totally hi jack here but is the 881S a better than the (holy grail in my day) 681 EEE?

 

Well, the 881S (Which I have on my Rega) was certainly promoted as their top of the line cart,

 

Maybe that was above our rasin' at the time Thouth it was standard for radio stations, etc.

Does your original stylus have the "S"?

bob

 

Hi Bob. I dont have the original stylus, I'm using NOS Stanton DJ styli.

 

I prefer the sound of my M91/93 (depends on which stylus you're using; the carts are electrically identical) over most everything else in my collection, including my ADCs. Agree that the original US-made stylus is key to getting the most out of one of these, though the later Mexico-made styli perform respectably too. I have also had good luck with Tonar-branded styli from a Canadian reseller, most of which have thin cantilevers with JICO-style black dots on the underside.

 

Do you have a link? I found this on ebay which claims .2 x .7 but the standard stylus sites all seem to have .3 x .7?

RECORD NEEDLE TURNTABLE STYLUS for SHURE N95ED N95EJ M95EJ RS9E M95HE 4767-DE 796175102686 | eBay

 

That's simply the Pfanstiehl replacement stylus 4767-DE. They are the largest aftermarket makers/resellers of replacement stylii still around, from back in the days when the record store had a display with 100 needles. Some are repackaged OEM (used to be ones not starting with 4), some are mystery replacement, and the "manufactured in Switzerland" are their own source from an undisclosed manufacturer.

It is somewhat suspicious that the only ones that specify 0.2 x 0.7 are Shure cartridges that originally shipped with that exact specification Hi-Track stylus. Why wouldn't they used a superior cut on others also?

Jico-made, sold by EVG, identified by "made in Japan" and with the black dot on the cantilever, were the stylus to have. Now that Jico has cut off most resellers, one must hope that a "Japan" Tonar or EVG PM3155DE "Japan" is one of the remaining Jico-sourced stylii.

 

The link I have for this reseller: NEW: SHURE N91ED (Japanese high quality stylus / needle) M91, N93, etc. | eBay

I have purchased from him several times and can vouch for the quality of the styli I received from him.

Another Tonar-branded option, from France: Tonar stylus elliptical diamond for shure m91ed n91ed n91e dual dn345 dm103_m-e | eBay

 

My current M93 setup:

 

I've had multiple M95 carts experience coil failures -- no more of those for me. The leftover N95 styli I have will mount just fine to an M91/93 body, so they won't go to waste.

 

The original oem stylus is called an N95? has the Hi-Track logo?

bob