Installing it in the head shell, aligning it correctly and dialing it in with the tonearm presented no undue challenges outside of the norm.

In the 1930s, the company ventured into microphone development and production, garnering several patents and, by the mid-1930s, they were building and supplying phono cartridges to several major turntable manufacturers.

Within a short time, Shure Brothers became the largest manufacturer of phono cartridges in the US, producing upwards of 28000 cartridges per day at their peak.

Among Shures noted developments and philosophies, in regard to phono playback, is the concept of Trackability while minimizing record wear.

Specifically, Shure pioneered several developments in their cartridge designs to maintain positive stylus contact with the vinyl, under a variety of conditions, with a lower amount of tracking force to ensure record preservation.

Featuring an increased level of channel separation and a lower noise floor than what was standard at the time, Shure continued to develop and refine Moving Magnet technology and the concept of Trackability into the 1980s and 90s.

With the introduction of the V-15V-MR in 1983, Shure created what a number of audiophiles and industry experts described as the ultimate phono cartridge of the time.

The single cartridge in Shures Audiophile line, the M97xE is what will be garnering our attention and scrutiny today.

It features an elliptical shaped diamond tip mounted to a low mass, thin-wall aluminum alloy stylus cantilever.

The cartridge features a damped Dynamic Stabilizer brush which is said to help the M97xE successfully play warped and otherwise difficult records.

The brush also has the additional, and more significant benefit, of damping low frequency tonearm resonances that one would otherwise need a dedicated tonearm fluid damper to effectively suppress.

Another nice little touch is the cueing stripe marked on a small extension, attached to the Stabilizer Brush.

When not in use, the stabilizer can be pushed up and safely stowed in a locked position if it is undesired for playback.

The M97xE is packaged in a sturdy metal box and comes with a screwdriver, stylus cleaning brush, mounting hardware and a stylus alignment guide included.

Speakers are Bamberg Engineering Sound Labs Series 2 Monitors and a pair of sealed DIY 15-inch subwoofers.

Tracking force was set using a digital tracking force scale and anti-skate was set with the aid of the anti-skate band track of the Shure An Audio Obstacle Course LP (TTR-101).

Tracking Force was set to the optimum levels as recommended by the manufacturer, in this case 1.25 grams with the stabilizer brush stowed and 1.75 grams with the brush engaged.

After some experimentation, I settled on the brush being down for listening tests as there was a minor subjective lowering in surface noise and an overall quieter (some call darker) general background, which I found desirable.

The fluid damper was removed in specific tests to highlight the effect of the brush on a typical undamped tonearm.

Shure specifies that playback may show improved sound quality, under ideal conditions, with the brush stowed but I did not find its use to be detrimental at all under any circumstance.

It was about 4 months old and has seen moderate usage at the time of its testing.

Nothing feels loose or unduly fragile when handled appropriately.

Brunswick Model 117 Remove Turntable