Shure V15 type III upgrade

Yes usually Europe house are smaller than in USA, but fortunately my living room isn't too small 35m2.

I sit 3.5 meters aprox. far fro the loudspeakers.

Well the problem is that rest of Spain thinks that Catalonia isn't supportive economically when really is, but our money don't arrives to the rest of Spain because Madrid keep it and don't distribute the money. So the rest of Spain hate Catalonia because that & we supported Spain a lot of time so that's all folks....

I completely understand your point. BUT, my point is that political statements in DIYaudio are not... ahem.. appropriate.

Your room is good sized then, we sit about the same distance from the speakers.
 
I had a Shure V15 type IV that I enjoyed for many decades until it finally gave up the ghost last year. I replaced it with an AT cart with a micro linear stylus. I am very pleased with it, better in every way than the Shure.
 
I'm a big fan of Shure V15VxMR cartridges, I have two in use in my system:

Thorens TD-125 MK 1
SME 3009 series 2 improved
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
Pete Millett's LR phono preamplifier

Thorens TD-321 Mk 2
SME 3009 Series 3 (This tonearm was designed with Shure for the V15 cartridge)
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
FSP phono preamplifier by SALAS

I bought 4 of the JICO neo SAS needles the last time I was in Tokyo at the Akihabara district, they were $100 USD each, very cheap. The Shure V15 is revered in Tokyo.

The biggest change to sound quality in my system was when SALAS gave me instructions to remove the input resistor and install a couple of pin sockets and install a 100K 25 turn Bourns pot in place of the input resistor. While playing a record, I adjusted the pots, one per channel, until I found the sound quality to my liking.
I ended up with 56K on the FSP preamplifier and 64K on the LR preamplifier instead of the 47K, it made a HUGE difference I sold my $3500 Soundsmith cartridge on my other turntable and haven't looked back since.

Before you buy anything, try SALAS's input resistor hack!
 
I'm a big fan of Shure V15VxMR cartridges, I have two in use in my system:

Thorens TD-125 MK 1
SME 3009 series 2 improved
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
Pete Millett's LR phono preamplifier

Thorens TD-321 Mk 2
SME 3009 Series 3 (This tonearm was designed with Shure for the V15 cartridge)
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
FSP phono preamplifier by SALAS

I bought 4 of the JICO neo SAS needles the last time I was in Tokyo at the Akihabara district, they were $100 USD each, very cheap. The Shure V15 is revered in Tokyo.

The biggest change to sound quality in my system was when SALAS gave me instructions to remove the input resistor and install a couple of pin sockets and install a 100K 25 turn Bourns pot in place of the input resistor. While playing a record, I adjusted the pots, one per channel, until I found the sound quality to my liking.
I ended up with 56K on the FSP preamplifier and 64K on the LR preamplifier instead of the 47K, it made a HUGE difference I sold my $3500 Soundsmith cartridge on my other turntable and haven't looked back since.

Before you buy anything, try SALAS's input resistor hack!
To adjust the resistance on the input is one of the best tricks you can do on the Shure V15 models this I have done for a long time currently I have 73K but there is a trick to it is not to follow the manufacturers recommendation on the capacitance to our modern RIAA is it completely wrong. You should try your hand because up to 700p is too much, on my phono stage max 100p but currently I have no capacitor at all and the sound image is probably the best I've had. The V15 I've tried it on is my type 3 and the model V stylus is Jico He and SAS even though SAS is better I prefer HE. A small note about HE to type 3 the suspension is a little stiffer is the original and can have needle pressure without problems of 1.5g and also a slightly heavier tone arm.
 
Hi, listened to those in a couple of separate occasions in the past. In different systems. The Goldring is the better defined one it seemed to me. You can't go much wrong as it can be bought for around 350 Euro discount price in EU. In the US its rather expensive. Around $700. I would rather go for a Hana SH high output MC with Shibata stylus if to spend in this price range.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vgeorge
I'm a big fan of Shure V15VxMR cartridges, I have two in use in my system:

Thorens TD-125 MK 1
SME 3009 series 2 improved
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
Pete Millett's LR phono preamplifier

Thorens TD-321 Mk 2
SME 3009 Series 3 (This tonearm was designed with Shure for the V15 cartridge)
Shure V15VxMR
JICO neo SAS fine line needle
FSP phono preamplifier by SALAS

I bought 4 of the JICO neo SAS needles the last time I was in Tokyo at the Akihabara district, they were $100 USD each, very cheap. The Shure V15 is revered in Tokyo.

The biggest change to sound quality in my system was when SALAS gave me instructions to remove the input resistor and install a couple of pin sockets and install a 100K 25 turn Bourns pot in place of the input resistor. While playing a record, I adjusted the pots, one per channel, until I found the sound quality to my liking.
I ended up with 56K on the FSP preamplifier and 64K on the LR preamplifier instead of the 47K, it made a HUGE difference I sold my $3500 Soundsmith cartridge on my other turntable and haven't looked back since.

Before you buy anything, try SALAS's input resistor hack!

Yes I did in my Salas Valve Itch🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: Salas
To adjust the resistance on the input is one of the best tricks you can do on the Shure V15 models this I have done for a long time currently I have 73K but there is a trick to it is not to follow the manufacturers recommendation on the capacitance to our modern RIAA is it completely wrong. You should try your hand because up to 700p is too much, on my phono stage max 100p but currently I have no capacitor at all and the sound image is probably the best I've had. The V15 I've tried it on is my type 3 and the model V stylus is Jico He and SAS even though SAS is better I prefer HE. A small note about HE to type 3 the suspension is a little stiffer is the original and can have needle pressure without problems of 1.5g and also a slightly heavier tone arm.
I don't have capacitor, as Salas said, in my system is enough with tonearm cable capacitance & Miller Salas Valve Itch input capacitance.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: K.A.B
I'm not only looking for definition, I own Denon DL-103 & Linn Arkiv, by far I like a lot of more the tone of Shure V15 TYPE III with original HE stylus.

Do you remember what cantiliver material was the Jico SAS you listened?

Jico says SAS have better contact than Shibata.

https://www.jico-stylus.com/sas/
Boron it was. The Goldring Gyger-S is line type but not a better tracing profile than the best of Jico's. Also uses a small aluminum cantilever. (Shibata and aluminum in some other carts are chosen to make a warmer tone in expense of top tier resolution).
The Goldring's body, moving parts, and magnetic design, is different and arguably bit more clever than the older Shure's design IMHO. Fit and finish is meh though. And not so easy to align and mount. Because of rounded edges and shelf style top. So If you love the Shure V15 then you will not find exactly Shure vintage sound in other makes, thus just put a Jico stylus on it, that's the best you can do in that case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: merlin el mago
Maybe not better, just different. Tonearm choice could be part of it. What arm are we talking about?

I can't consciously remember hearing a V15/iii.

jeff
I remember the V15-III. To me it was just an M-91ED. OK but nothing special. I went to the V15-IV
and it was the first time it was an actual improvement. The V15-V was an even bigger improvement
from the type 4. The only problem with the type 5 is it's no longer made - and NOS (new old stock)
is worthless because the rubber parts harden up ruining the stylus. Then again there was a reason I
abandoned LPs back in '83 and that hasn't changed.