Recently I had a styli failure on my very respectable sounding Shure M95ED but decided to fit a new cartridge system with a new styli - the Shure M95ED is now an "orphan" - fit and able, ready to give more lovely audio but no turntable tonearm to call home!
Many forums discuss these cartridges online but if you cannot be bothered hunting around, here is a link to a reputable review of the M95ED
https://phono-cartridge-reviews.co.uk/reviews/shure-m95ed/
So, to make it VERY CLEAR, this offering is for my Shure M95ED but WITHOUT the styli
Shure does not manufacture M95ED styli any longer, sometimes you can find them online but the 3rd party copies abound anyway although they vary wildly in price.
My personal recommendation is NEVER to buy an elcheapo, you will not be happy with the sound quality. It might be cheaper but you will not be happy with the sound, and yes it does produce a different sound between different styli makers.
If you can, get an ORIGINAL Shure but thats unlikely (or stupidly expensive) so then go for a JICO
A very good styli for this cartridge is the JICO but like all good styli these days, they are not cheap! I had a quick look around at the current pricing and it seems the best deal is around A$120 for a M95ED from JICO (Soundring) NEW
NEVER EVER buy a second-hand styli (it doesn't matter how cheap it is), you don't know where its been, how many hours it has clocked up - always start your audio experience with a high quality new styli and keep it in good condition - not to do so is foolhardy, you will not get a good sound experience AND you will gradually be degrading your vinyl record collection!
So please keep the cost of a new cartridge in mind - check out the many forums online discussing the pros and cons of the various styli available - almost unanimously JICO (Japan) will come up as the best choice, unless of course you can find yourself a GENUINE ORIGINAL Shure M95ED styli.
Shure M95ED turntable tonearm cartridge
Original Marantz 500
NO STYLI is fitted - very easy (but care must be taken) to fit a new one yourself
NO headshell
NO mounting hardware - I used the bolts for another cartridge
Technical Information
Tracking Force: 0.75 - 1.5 grams
Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
Channel Separation: >25dB at 1,000 Hz
Channel Balance: Within 2 dB of each other
Output Level: 4.7mV per channel at 1,000 Hz, 5 cm/sec peak recorded velocity
Optimum Load: 47,000 ohms per channel/400 ~ 500pF per channel
Stylus: Elliptical 0.0007 x 0.0002 inch
These cartridges are considered to be pretty good value for money (even if the styli is so expensive) but those technical specifications are just numbers to many, its the sound that really matters!
Read up online (search Google "M95ED Review) because LOTS of Shure M95ED users love their cartridge and I must say it sounded pretty damn good to me as well.
We are not talking "high end - audiophile" here, but its certainly not a "bottom feeder" and quite affordable although I must say, cartridges and styli prices have gone through the roof since we used Shure gear in our audio production facilities 20 years ago! You need to have pretty loose pockets to afford the likes of an Ortofon Black for example (up around $1000!)
I look after my audio gear and this lonely old cartridge is no exception. Since parting it from the tonearm, I have placed it on a foam backing and then within sealed plastic to protect it from dust/dirt in particular
CONDITION:
Used (but loved/cared for), clean body with undamaged gold plated audio output pin contacts
TESTING:
Used many times in past years for "average listening" demands and some archival transfer work, which was one of the professional audio services we provided. We used many turntables ranging from the rugged, broadcast turntable Technics SP-1, LP-12's and Rega's - so this cartridge used to sit amongst some great company, it is now time to find a new home for this baby!
