V15xMR or Blue Point Special


I would like some opinions as to which cartridge would be the better choice for my table, the Shure V15xMR or the Sumiko Blue Point Special. My table is a SOTA Saphire with an MMT arm. I currently switch between a Shure type IV and a Sumiko Talisman Alchemist 1A. Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance!
mouse_doc

Showing 2 responses by tommy_in_sylmar

hi,
between those two, the blue point is not the winner. the top isnt very refined, and the bottom doesnt reach down as nicely as the shure. i have an original bp (a pmount with adaptor) with the lyle aluminum block mod which did extend the top and bottom but it isnt that good in those areas even with the improvement. the boxcar version is ever so slightly better than this.
i paid either $75 or $100 for mine new, its not worth any more than that. now theyve raised the price to something like $230. WHY?
the shure V is verrrry accurate and musical. tracking of course is exemplary. it lacks some of the excitement of a mc but that may be in its favor.
an affordable mc thats worth going for is the AT OC9. at $200, its a true bargain with xlnt mids and a nice springy bottom.
id also be more likely to spend $200 on a grado than the bp. the lowest priced wood body grado lists for $300. i dont know what they can be had for but even at $300, it would be a better buy than the bp, and just might sing on that sota/mmt.
.......regards.......tr
as you may have realized by now, i misread the heading. i was referrring to the std blue point. im surprised that nobody challenged that. the price i stated should have been a tipoff.
i apologize. the bp special is another animal as i understand it. i personally have not heard one. the remainder of my advice still stands though. the oc9 is a steal at the $200 it goes for. that it needs a stepup is a cost adding factor but if you already have mc capability in your pre, theres no problem there.
aalternatively, sumiko offers a phono section with mm and mc for about $120. thats still less than the $350 list for the bps.
once again, i apologize for misleading you.
......regards......tr