Shure V-15 TYPE II User manual

THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANCE
IN PHONO CARTRIDGES SINCE
THE ADVENT OF STEREO . . .
THE TYPE SHURE V-15

new genre of cartridge,
rn
analog-computer-designed, and measured against
a new and meaningful indicator
of total performance:
TRACKABILITY:
The radically new V-15 TYPE 11 heralds a new
epoch in high performance cartridges and in
the measurement of their performance. We
call it the era of superior Trackability. Be-
cause of it, all your records will sound better
and,
in fact, you will hear some recordings
tracked at light forces for the first time with-
out distortion.

THE PROBLEM:
Although audiophiles prefer minimum tracking forces to mini-
mize record wear and preserve fidelity, record makers prefer to
cut recordings at maxlmum levels with maxlmum cutting ve-
locities to maximize signal-to-noise ratios. Unfortunately, some
h~gh
level recordings are cut at veloc~tiesso great that even
excellent cartridges have been unable to track some passages,
particularly the h~ghand midrange
transients. Hence, high-level
recordings of orchestral bells, harpsichords, planos, etc., cause
the stylus to part company with the wildly undulating groove
(~tact~iallyceases to track). At best, this produces an audible
click; at worsi, susta~nedgross d~stortionand outright noise
results. The "obvious" solut~on
of increas~ngtracking force is ~mpract~cal
because this calls for a stiffer stylus to suppo
the greater weight, and a st~fferstylus
w~llnottrack these transients or heavy
low-frequency modulat~on-to say noth~ng
of the heavier force accelerating record and
stylus wear to an intolerable degree.

Shure has collected scoresof these demandinghigh level record-
ings and painstakingly and thoroughly analyzed them. It was
found that in some cases (after only a few playings) the high
velocity high or midrange groove undulations were "shaved"
off or gouged out by the stylus
. . . thus ellmlnating the high
fidelity. Other records, which were off-handedly dismissed as
unplayable or poor pressings were found to be neither. They
were slmply too high in recorded velocity and, therefore, un-
trackable by existing styll.
Most significantly, as a result of these analyses, Shure engineers
established the maximum recorded velocities of
various
frequencies on quallty records and
set about designing a cartridge that
would track the entire audlble
spectrum of these maximum
velocities at tracking
forces of less than
1'12 grams.

ENTER THE
COMPUTER :
The solution to the problem of true trackability proved so
complex that Shure engineers designed an analog-com-
puter that closely duplicated the mechanical variables and
characteristics of a phono cartridge. With this unique de-
vice, they were able to observe precisely what happened
when you varied the many factors which affect track-
ability: inertia of tip end of the stylus or the magnet end of
the stylus; the compliance between the record and the
needle tip, or the compliance of the stylus shank, or the
compliance of the bearing; the viscous damping of the
bearing; the tracking force; the recorded velocity of the
record, etc., etc. The number of permutations and com-

binations of these elements, normally staggering, becalne
manageable. Time-consuming trial-and-error prototypes
were eliminated. Years of work were compressed into
months. After examining innumerable possibilities, new
design parameters evolved. Working with new materials
in new configurations, theory was made fact.
Thus, the first analog-computer-designed superior track-
ability cartridge was born: the Shure SUPER-TRACK V-15
TYPEII It mainta~nscontact between the stylus and record
groove at tracking forces from
3/4 to 1'12 grams, throughout
and beyond the audible spectrum (20-25,000
Hz), at the
highest velocities encountered In quality recordings.
It also features an ingenious "flip-action" built-in stylus
guard.
It is clean as the proverbial hound's tooth and musical as
the storied nightingale.

TRACKABILITY AS A
NEW SPECIFICATION:
This chart depicts the new performance specification of
trackability. Unlike the oversimplified and generally
misunderstood design parameter specifications of com-
pliance and mass, trackability is a measure of total per-
formance. The chart shows frequency across the bot-
tom, and modulationvelocities in
CM/SEC up the side.
The o~~tlineof the yellow area represents the maximum
theoretical limits for cutting recorded velocities; how-
ever, in actual practice many records are produced
which exceed these theoretical limits.The smoother the
curve oithe ind~vidualcartridge being studied and the
greater its distance above the yellow area, the better the
trackability. The trackability of the Shure
V-15 TYPEII is
shown by the top (solid black) lines. Representative
curves (actual) for other cartridges $80.00, $75.00,
$32.95, $29.95 are shown as dotted, dashed and dot-
dash lines for comparison purposes.

SHURE V-16 TYPE I1 DIMENSIONAL DRAWING
t
(6 4 mm)
TOP VIEW
OPTIMUM PLAYING
POSITION

MOUNTING
The V-15 Type 11 Dynetic Cartridge has standard '/z"
(12.7 mm) mounting centers. Hardware is supplied with
each cartridge for mounting purposes. In some tone
arms and plug-in shells, the cartridge sits so deep that
the stylus cannot be conveniently replaced. For these
applications, spacers are provided to insure adequate
clearance for stylus removal.
For optimum vertical tracking angle, the cartridge
should be mounted so the top of the mounting block
is parallel to the record playing surface. (See Page
11)
SHTJRE-SME MOUNTING
To mount the V-15 Type IT in the Shure-SME or the
SME Precision Pickup Arm, Models
3009 and 3012, refer
to the paragraphs on Cartridge Installation and Bal-
ancing in the Instruction Manual supplied with the
up a
--
:ON
ended needle forces for optimum results
are listed under "Specifications." Forces greater than

the indicated "Maximum" should not be used.
The
V-15 Type I1 cartridge should be installed in any
arm especially designed for low tracking forces and
having low friction at all bear~ngsurfaces such as the
Shure-SME arm. Although the
V-15 Type It cartridge
will track records at
3/4 gram, it may be necessary,
when used in certain phono arms, to increase the
tracking force for optimum results.
The
V-15 Type Itcartridges play monophonic LP as well
as stereo records.
The
V-15 Type It Styli incorporate a new retractile de-
sign that prevents audible record-scratch or stylus dam-
age when excessive force
is applied to the stylus.
NOTE: For playing 78 R.P.M. records the Model N75-3
0027") Diamond Stylus is available.
1110 make solder connections to car-
ridgeterminals. Makeall solder connections to terminal
jacks provided. Soldering should not be done while
jacks are on cartridge terminals.

The Shure V-15 Type Cartridge utilizes a 4-terminal
arrangement for connections having a separate ground
terminal for each channel. (See illustration).
For Stereo reproduction terminal "R" and its ground
terminal
"RG" represent the right channel (outside
groove wall). Terminal
"L" and its ground terminal
"LC" represent the left channel (inside groove wall).
The metallic cartridge shield may be disconnected
from the right channel ground by the removal of the
ground tab.
4-LeadStereo Connecfion: To use a4-leadarrangement,
connect the "hot" lead of the right channel to terminal
"R" and the shield or ground lead of the right channel
to terminal
"RC." Connect the "hot" lead of the left
channel to terminal
"L" and the shield or ground lead
of the left channel to "LC." To prevent "ground loops"
and hum, no common connection should be used at
the cartridge terminals.

3-Lead Stereo Connection
I
When a 3-lead stereo Input
system IS used, the common
(RED
lead should be connected RING)
to both of the ground ter-
m~nalsat the cartr~dgeNo
other common ground con-
nectlon should exlst A
"double loop" p~njack IS RIGHT CHANNEL
prov~dedto make a conven- GROUND TERMINAL
lent connectton between
GROUNDED TO CASE
BY GROUND TAB
the two ground term~nals-
s~mplysl~dethe loop ends
onto the ground
terminals Th~sconnect~onshoy
be made before connecting the regular termlnal jacks
to the
cartridge Connect ground pln jack to e~ther
termlnal

MONAURAL CONNECTION
For single channel reproduction of Monaural or Stereo record-
ings, connect the "hot" lead to both "R" and "L" terminals and
connect the ground or sh~eldlead to both of the ground terminals
marked "RG" and "LC." Double loop pin jacks are provided to
make convenient
connections between the "R" and "L" terminals
and between the two ground terminals. These connections
should be made before connecting the regular terminal jacks
to the cartridge.
ECIAL NOTE
~nexereo uynerlc srylus assemoly used in these cartridges is
the most critical component. To ma~ntainthe original perform-
ance standards of your cartridge, be certain that any replacement
stylus you buy bears the following certification on the package:
"This Stereo Dynetic stylus is precision manufactured by Shure
Brothers, Inc." Avoid inferior imitations. They will seriously de-
grade the performance of your cartridge. All genuine "Dynetic"
styli are manufactured by Shure Brothers, Inc.
The stylus assembly, when Installed in the cartridge, is practically
immune to damage during normal usage. However, care should
be taken to avoid bending or distort~ngthe stylus assembly when
it is installed or removed.

STYLUS REPLACEMENT
Stylus replacement is very simple and fast. To replace-grasp
stylus guard between thumb and forefinger. Gently withdraw
stylus by pulling forward out of cartridge. Grasp guard of re-
placement stylus between thumb and foref~ngerand insert into
stylus socket. Press stylus Into socket until the molded housing of
the stylus touches the cartridge case. Care must be taken not to
allow the finger to slip off the stylus guard, resulting in damage
to the stylus tip or shank.

GUARANTEE
The V-15 Type E Stereo Dynetic Car-
tridge is guaranteed to be free from
electrical and mechanical defects for
one year from the date of shipment
from the factory, provided all instruc-
tions are complied with fully. The
Guaranteedoes not cover stylus wear,
nor does it cover damage to the stylus
assembly from abuse or mishandling.

Typ~calTrackabil~ty(at I gram).
400
Hz (cps)-22 cm/rec, 5,000
Hz (rpsl-30 cm/~ec;
1.000 Hz (cps)-30 cm/sec; 10,000 Hz (rps)-22 crn/sec.
rrequency Response. 20 to 25,000 Hz (cps)
Output Voltage. 3 5 mv tier channel at 1,000 Hz (cps)
Channel Uaian~e.Output from each channel with~n2 dh.
Channel Separat~onOver 25 db at 1,000 Hz (cpi)
Over 17 db from 500 to 10,000 Hz (cps)
Track~ng Foicr. 3/4 to 1'12 grams.
Load Irnpcdancc: 47 k ohms (per channel)
Inductance. 720 m~ilihcnr~ei
D.C. Resfitanre. 630 ohms
Terminals 4 terminal (w~thloop p~njarkfor 3-term ronnect~on)
V-15 Type Stylus. VN15E Bi-Radial Elliptical Stylus, Diamond
I lp.
18 microns ( 0007 inch) frontal rad~us;
5 mlcrons (.0002 inch) side contact radll,
25 mlcrons (.001 inch) wide between record
contact points
V-1511-7 Stylus. VN7 Sphcrical Stylus, D~amondTip
18 mlcrons 1.0007 inch) rad~us.
Mounting Standard '12 inch (12 7 mm) mounting center.
We~ghtNet welght-6.8 grams
Manufactured under
U 5 Patents 3,055,988, 3,077,521, and
3,077,522. Other patents pcnd~ng.

QUALITY ASSURANCE_CEPTIFIQTE -i
SHURE V-15 TYPE II STEREO ?
DYNETIC HIGH FIDELITY CARTRIDGES 3
The V-15 Type 11 Stereo Dynetic Cartridge '
has been manufactured under the Shure Mas- $
ter Quality Control Program. This program 5
embraces stringent safeguards and standards 2
to assure you that your V-15 Type I1 is in
perfect operating condition.
Shure qual~tycontrol not only covers incom-
5
ing parts and the finished product, but Inter-
;
mediate sub-assemblies as well. For example:
every individual cartridge and every Stylus-
f:
Magnet Assembly is tested and microscop-
ically examined. Each finished cartridge is g
agaln tested electrically, mechan~cally and 3
acoustically against quality and tolerance spec- 6
ificat~onsseldom achieved in the High F~delity ,Z
industry. m
iD 0,
SHURE BROTHERS, INC.
7
-
222 Hartrey Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60204
6
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Shure Performance, a o
Quality, Reliability
U