General Description

Shure cartridges can be used in DJ or Hi-Fi applications.

The M70BX is not recommended for heavy scratching.

Install Your Cartridge

  1. Carefully remove the stylus from the cartridge. See Figure 1.
  2. Use needle-nose pliers to connect the colored wires from the tonearm headshell to the corresponding pins on the cartridge. See Table 1 and Figure 2.
  3. Table 1. Cartridge Wiring
    HEADSHELL WIRE COLOR PIN
    RIGHT "HOT" RED R
    RIGHT GROUND GREEN RG
    LEFT "HOT" WHITE L
    LEFT GROUND BLUE LG

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

  1. Attach the cartridge to the headshell using the screws supplied. See Figure 3. Tighten the screws after positioning the cartridge (and headshell weight, if desired) according to one of the methods described below.
  2. Carefully insert the stylus into the cartridge.

Choose a Method for Cartridge Positioning

HI-FI Setup: For maximum fidelity and minimal record wear, position the cartridge using an alignment protractor or the overhang gauge supplied with your turntable. Level your tonearm (See Figure 7). Use Table 2 and "Setting a Precise Tracking Force", below, to set the typical tracking force for your cartridge. Set the anti-skate control to the same number as the tracking force.

Figure 4

Standard DJ Setup: Mount cartridge at rear of headshell. Set tonearm height to 4-5. Set tracking force to 3 grams. Set anti-skate control to 0.

Figure 5

Unorthodox DJ Setup: Reverse the counterweight and mount it flush with the end of the tonearm. Mount cartridge (with headshell weight) flush with the front edge of the headshell. Set anti-skate control to 0.

Figure 6

Level Your Tonearm

Figure 7

Extra Skip Resistance for DJ's:

Mount the cartridge at a 23 degree angle as shown, so that the cartridge points to the tonearm pivot. Set anti-skate to 0.

Setting a Precise Tracking Force

  1. After mounting the cartridge on the tonearm, rotate the circular weight at the back of the tonearm until the needle floats evenly above the record.
  2. Hold the circular weight in place and rotate the calibration ring to read zero. The tonearm should still float evenly above the record.
  3. Rotate the weight until the calibration ring indicates the desired tracking force.

Care and Cleaning

  • DJs: Don't use more tracking force than necessary to prevent skipping. Excess force will burn records, damage needles, and reduce sound quality.
  • Clean the stylus with the supplied cleaning brush.
  • Brush from the back to the front only, as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9

Cartridge Specifications 

Table 2. Cartridge Specifications

Cartridge Replacement Stylus Stylus Color Stereo Output (1 KHz at 5 cm/sec peak recorded velocity) Frequency Response in Hz Tracking Force Range (grams) Typical Tracking Force (grams)
M44-7 N44-7 White 9.5 mV 20 to 20,000 1-3 3
M44G N44G Gray 6.2 mV 20 to 20,000 .75-1.5 1.5
M35S N35S Chartreuse 5.0 mV 20 to 20,000 3-5 4
35X N35X White 6.0 mV 20 to 20,000 1.5-3 3
M70BX N70BX Beige .0 mV 20 to 18,000 1.5-3 3
SC35C SS35S Light Blue 5.0 mV 20 to 20,000 4-5 4.5

All Cartridges and Styli

  • Standard ½ inch mount for DJ turntables
  • Wide diameter styli for reduced record wear
  • Optimum Load:
    • 47 K Ohms, M44: 400-500 pF
    • M35, M70BX, SC35C: 200-300 pF
  • Inductance:
    • M44: 720 Mh, M35
    • SC35C: 425 mH
    • M70BX: 600 mH
  • Channel Separation: 20 dB at 1KHz