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| Shure M97xE High-Performance Magnetic Phono Cartridge | 
 enlarge | Brand: Shure
Category: CE
List Price: $140.00
Buy New: $52.37
You Save: $87.63 (63%)
New (24)
Avg. Customer Rating:  67 reviews
Color: black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 3 x 7 x 1.3
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: M97XE
Model: M97XE
UPC: 042406060370
EAN: 0042406060370
ASIN: B00006I5SB
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 It's not the answer for everyone July 31, 2008
I've installed (and reinstalled) this cartridge in two turntables. In my trusty Dual 1229, I drove myself crazy attaching and reattaching the headshell, using the included Shure protractor as well as other online protractors to align the cartridge, balancing and rebalancing the tonearm, trying brush up vs. brush down, etc. I still had an unacceptable level of sibilance and inner groove distortion. The best explanation I have for this phenomenom is the unconventional shape and of the mount - it just wouldn't align properly with this table. The middle tracks of LPs sounded nice and warm (though not remarkably detailed).
The second table is a less loved but nonetheless competent Pioneer PL-S40 - pretty standard design direct drive table from the early 1980s. In this table, the distortion issues were much reduced as the cartridge installed nicely (though I still had unacceptable levels of sibilance). On the other hand, I had a horrendously difficult time tracking my difficult records. I had to set tracking force to 2 (with brush down) to get it to stay on the record, and there's nothing more terrifying than watching the stylus bounce across your favorite records even after you've used Shure's stylus force gauge (which is a wonderful product, btw).
Many helpful internet vinylphiles insist my particular cartridge is defective, and with this in mind I've contacted Shure twice to no avail - this despite having the receipt and having bought from an authorized dealer. Not cool, Shure.
In short, this highly regarded budget cartridge seriously let me down. It does have a pleasant sound, but it's not the easy budget hi-fi cartridge it's made out to be. My easy recommendation is the Audio-Technica AT95E which does provide most of the hi-fi sound for around the same price as this Shure cartridge. The AT95E tracks like a champ though its recommended force of 2.0 grams is a wee bit higher than the Shure's. If the AT's particular detailed, involving flavor puts you off, Grado's black and green are also wonderful cartridges more in line with the Shure's warmth that might work better with your gear if you have these problems.
This might be the cartridge many say it is, but Shure won't support the product and I hope you all understand that I'm not going to blow my dough for another cartridge to test out the faulty product theory after this experience. Time's are tough, man. :)
 Extraordinary Value July 29, 2008
For a modest price the M97xE provides 90-95% (subjectively speaking) of the benefit of its now-deceased parents, the V15 and other V-series predecessors, which cost approximately seven times as much. The sound of this cartridge is almost indistinguishable from its expensive ancestors; but, to my ears, the V15 was just slightly better at tracking the most difficult bands on the Shure Era 4 test record; and I think I hear very slightly more mistracking by the M97xE on regular (non-test) recordings.
I noticed in one or two reviews on the Internet that some audiophiles experienced higher-than-usual surface noise with the M97xE. Other reviews contradict this, as do I; I hear no elevated surface noise; those who had a problem probably did so because of improper alignment of the cartridge with respect to the turntable platter. I heartily recommend this cartridge; and if you buy it, I suggest you check the Internet for instructions on how to use the included alignment adjustment protractor so that you can get the full benefit. (Although the cartridge comes very nicely packaged with mounting screws, screwdriver, and cleaning brush, the instruction sheet leaves something to be desired; that and the failure to match 100% of the tracking ability of the V15 are the only reasons I did not give the cartridge a full five stars.)
Shure M97xe July 29, 2008
I am pleased with the performance fo this cartridge for the money.The tone is good could be better and some of the lows are muddy. But for the price it`s a good buy if you are an audiophile or have a good ear then you will want a better cartridge, denon dl-103,110,160 or some others.Stay away from Grado black as its is about the same as the Shure!
 Great Cartridge July 27, 2008
Service was great! This is an excellent cartridge. It sounds very good and better than my old one which I've had since the early 80s.
Good cartridge for the price July 21, 2008
I purchased this cartridge to replace a shure m70ej which I had installed on a rebuilt sanyo tp-1030, as a good replacement stylus for the m70 can be hard to come by. The m97xe tracks excellently, and gives crisp highs, along with strong bass. I find the midrange to be somewhat lacking. Although this cart sounds good, it lacks the warmth of the cartridge it replaced. Those of you who use the LAST preservative might find an improvement in performance, I certainly did. To be fair, I haven't played this cartridge enough for it to be considered broken in, but some AT's I've purchased sounded great out of the box. Ease of installation and the included protractor helped with the score on this product. Most purchasers will be happy with this item, unless you're a hardcore audiophile with 3k dollar tube amps and moving coil cartridges.
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