Customer Rating: 
Summary: Very Nice Cartridge
Comment: I bought this cartridge to put on my temporary turntable set-up (JVC QL-A220) while my Music Hall MMF 7.1 with an Eroica H cartridge is put away for storage. That being said, I purchased this because it was a recommended buy from The Absolute Sound as well as other resources I found on the internet. After several hours of use, I can already hear the cartridge starting to open up with sound. The highs are crisp but not too bright and the bass is strong and not muddy sounding. As it continues to break in I suspect that the mid-range will also continue opening up as I hear signs of that already. In other words, for the money I am very pleased. I anticipate putting it on the Technics SL1210 M5G turntable that I am expecting to receive next week. Vinyl rules.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shure M97xE High-Performance Magnetic Phono Cartridge
Comment: This is the most fantastic magnetic phono cartridge I have ever owned. I used to have problems with records skipping intermitently while I was trying to record them to my hard disk to make CD's out of the old music which has never been available on CD's. After buying the Sure M97xE, I can play the record and walk into the room without skips in the finished product. The clarity and separation of right and left channels is remarkable. No distortion is detected. Only smooth true sound is produced. In fact, the sound is so clear that I hear instruments now where I never remembered hearing them before. The true reproductive response from the Shure M97xE is an audiophile's dream come true. Now that I have a new standard of excellence in playing vinyl albums, I am going to look for more of the great music of the past that is no longer available.
Customer Rating:
Summary: shure M97xE
Comment: For the money this is the best buy I ever had . Just replaced a less than a year old Orto Samba $250(can not change the needle on Samba). The Shure was easier to install on my Revox B791 and the sound is great( not as detailed as the Samba) but more full and well ballanced with better bass.
Do not skip getting the replaceble needle !!!WHo knows how long they will be arownd at that price...
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Shure M97xE well worth the price
Comment: I picked up the Shure M97xE to use as a back up to an AT95E. I really like the sound of this Shure. It is broken in now and I have a hard time deciding between it and the AT95E. The brush also does a good job of cleaning the track before the stylus comes across. Well worth the purchase price.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not what I'd hoped for
Comment: I chose this cartridge to replace my AT PC440LC on a new Technics SL1200MKII based on the many positive reviews I've read on the net. Back when I bought the AT, I really wanted to get a V15, again, based on all of the favorable reviews. But the AV shop where I worked didn't carry Sure. So, when I won a sales contest that covered the cost of the AT I hesitantly bought it without hearing it, nor reading anything about it. Well, I count that as a huge stroke of luck, as I have absolutely loved the AT compared to the other cartridges I've owned, and, if the M97 is any indication of the performance of the V15 (I've read that it has similar qualities), then I am very glad that I didn't throw down the considerable amount of cash for one back then.
The M97xE is not as warm sounding as the Grado (forgotten the model, but retailed around $100.00 in 1981) I owned, but it does have better high freq. response, and it certaily does track better. Sonically, I'm more inclined to compare this to the Ortofon M20FL that originally came with my Dual CS-622 turntable, except the Ortofon had better midrange detail. The base is decent and tight, and after much fiddling aroung with the TF/VT/AS adjustments I was able to get the mids to a point where I could stand them at lower levels. However, this cartridge completely lacked the midrange sweetness and detail that I am used to. Midrange instrumentation and vocals lacked detail and was very forward. This translated to a very irritating midrange edginess/harshness that I could not tolerate. I even switched out my new Martin-Logan Preface speakers, thinking that they were too bright and were causing the problem. But it persisted, although slightly reduced, with my Acoustic Research speakers installed. To me the cartridge displayed the sonic detail reminescent of a mid-range cd player, at least in my system. The soundstage was someshat restricted compared to the other cartridges I've owned, but it seemed more precise. Finally, I've read that some have claimed the cartridge to be somewhat dull sounding. To that I will have to agree. I would describe the as significantly less "live" than the AT. It definately lacks the guttural involvement. Obviously, there are many fans of the M97. I am not one of them.
Equipment List:
Onkyo M504/P304 Amp/Preamp
Technics SL1200MKII Turntable
Acoustic Research 328PS/Martin Logan Preface Loudspeakers
Audioquest Cables
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