Shure catalogue 1979

Page 2

The
all-important
source of sound

8 urg can 'dges orig
t e U Factor

Trackobility is the measure at a cartridges total performance
High Trackability enables the stylus tip to follow the hyper-
complex record groove up to and beyond the theoretical cuttln -
limits of today 5 modern recordings - not only at a select on
discrete frequency, but across the entire audible spectrum - at
light tracking forces that are below both the threshold of
audible record wear and excessive stylus tip wear

~rr.-_.A;.rr

r .m. ,
* irmouiw. Culvr hr smug v i 5 'yiJa Iv carvings (a v or new: cm
In the graph above the shaded area represents recommended
theoretical limits of record cutting velocities The scattered points
are the "hottest" recorded velocities actually measwed on
difficun-to-track records Although a cartridge with moderate
trackabrllty will be able to track all the recorded velocrties
encompassed within the theoretical cutting stylus limits.
substantially higher trackability is needed to track recorded
velocities actually found on todays discs The V15 Type IV tracks
more of the hottest points at a low stylusforce than any other
cartridge, The curve shown is for 1 gram tracking torcer By
increasing the tracking force tot-l 4 grams, even more at these
points - virtually all records produced thus far - will be trackeb

MI ,1

The above left photomiciograph shows a record of musical
material cut at todays hotter " velocities after only one play with
a well-known competitive cartridge at its rated tracking force
This cartidge mistracked the record Clearly, critical damage
resulted, Notice the deep gouge marks on the groove walls.

The above right photo shows the same groove [on an identical
record] played 50 times wrth a Shore High Trockabitity Cartridge
at a record- and stylussavrng force of only one gram, The stylus
never lost contact with the groove, and never damaged

the record

A single mistrack can result in MORE damage than 25, 50 or even
100 plays at a recordl Record wear is a gradual but constant
phenomenon, like tlre wear every time you drive, But a mistrack
rs like a blowout Once your cartridge mistracks a record
passage, the damage has been done and that passage Will
never sound the same

TRACKABILITV is the single most meaningful yardstick by which to .
measure cartridge performance, TRACKABILIW encompasse
the effects of Virtually all the design factors tcomptiance,a
effective mass. resonances, damping, etc ] that ultimately
determine cartridge performance And unless the stylus
maintains intimate contact with the record groove walls - the
essence of TRACKABlLITV ~ other performance factors
are irrelevant