My M97x is my daily driver. I put a LP Gear Vivid Line stylus in it. Gets rid of the treble droop and wakes her right up! Use it mostly for jazz and rock. For classical music,I use one of my V15xMR carts. Dan
I have an M97XE with original stylus, bought it NOS a few months ago. I know it has a rolled-off top end according to the response chart, but I love the way it sounds. I play it through an outboard phono preamp built around the circuit from a Marantz 2275, but with better, quieter transistors.
@@johnstuchlik5828 I used the BC182 PBFREE, sold by Mouser as part number 610-BC182. BTW, it's based on the Marantz 2235B, not the 2275. Sorry for the error.
I have to say that your xe sounds a lot better than the one I own. I also have a 681 with the eeeIII stylus. It's rather harsh and forward sounding compared to the original eee stylus. I've read that some of the diamonds were actually mounted in the wrong orientation, i.e., sideways!
Sorry,but there is nothing "audiophile" about this cartridges. Both are a matt shine of older products from firms that for decades made REAL top class cartridges,but also cartridges with very consumer friendly price/quality relations - and than binned the whole know how and production capacity.
The XE is a dog with the OEM stylus. You need a Jico SAS to bring it to life, but at $300-400 for the stylus, you're better off buying a better cartridge altogether.
Bought a M97XE about 8 months before they announced the shutdown of manufacturing. It was a steal at $79. I should have bought 6 of them, lol.
Not a fan of the rolled off treble of the M97XE, it always sounded muddy too me. I've heard changing the stylus improves things.
My M97x is my daily driver. I put a LP Gear Vivid Line stylus in it. Gets rid of the treble droop and wakes her right up! Use it mostly for jazz and rock. For classical music,I use one of my V15xMR carts.
Dan
Wow! I grew up with stanton,pickering and shure! Greetings from geir Røssaak, jessheim Norway!
I have an M97XE with original stylus, bought it NOS a few months ago. I know it has a rolled-off top end according to the response chart, but I love the way it sounds. I play it through an outboard phono preamp built around the circuit from a Marantz 2275, but with better, quieter transistors.
What transistor are you using in your marantz clone?
@@johnstuchlik5828 I used the BC182 PBFREE, sold by Mouser as part number 610-BC182. BTW, it's based on the Marantz 2235B, not the 2275. Sorry for the error.
Got a serviced Technics 1600mk2 withM97 with new NE , sounds good to me. Thanks for info
I have to say that your xe sounds a lot better than the one I own.
I also have a 681 with the eeeIII stylus. It's rather harsh and forward sounding compared to the original eee stylus. I've read that some of the diamonds were actually mounted in the wrong orientation, i.e., sideways!
Sorry,but there is nothing "audiophile" about this cartridges. Both are a matt shine of
older products from firms that for decades made REAL top class cartridges,but also
cartridges with very consumer friendly price/quality relations - and than binned the
whole know how and production capacity.
hi..much better Stanton..the Shure on the highs has a muddy sound
The XE is a dog with the OEM stylus. You need a Jico SAS to bring it to life, but at $300-400 for the stylus, you're better off buying a better cartridge altogether.
better stanton...