Shure Exits the Phono Cartridge Business

Shure Statement Regarding the Discontinuation of Phono Products

For more than 90 years, Shure has been committed to manufacturing and delivering products of the highest quality, reliability, and value. This commitment requires consistency in materials, processes, and testing, as well the capacity to react to fluctuations in demand.

In recent years, the ability to maintain our exacting standards in the Phonograph Cartridge product category has been challenged, resulting in cost and delivery impacts that are inconsistent with the Shure brand promise.

In light of these conditions, and after thorough evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue production of Shure Phono products effective Summer 2018.

Given our decades-long history of participation in the Phono category, we recognize that this decision may come as a disappointment to our channel partners and end users.

We are grateful for the support and loyalty demonstrated for Shure Phono products through the years and we are proud of the impact that these products have made on our customers’ lives and the reputation of the Shure brand. We believe that the proud legacy of Shure Phono is best served by exiting the category rather than continuing production under increasingly challenging circumstances.

Shure will continue to bring reputable, high quality products to market and we look forward to meeting and exceeding customer expectations on our current and future offerings. As Shure expands into new markets and product categories for audiophiles, our enduring commitment to premium performance and technological innovation will remain at our core.

Leigh Sherwood
Business Technology

COMMENTS
volvic's picture

In this day and age they should have put their know how into bringing back the V15 mk v of which I own three. A great cartridge. A pity this decision and one that shows how little they cared for their phono business.

Anton D's picture

I was hoping they's soon be announcing the joyous return of the V-15 line.

"V-15 VI ultra MR" with ruby/sapphire cantilever, etc.

Nah gah happen, I guess!

Well, at least we have JICO to carry the torch!

atomlow's picture

I just saw this announced from the Needle Doctor. Seems like a very odd time for Shure to bow out. Hopefully my two M97's last a lifetime. JICO SAS replace the stock Shure needles in both my cartridges. Long live JICO and I saw their prices finally dropped a little, which I hope is a trend.

volvic's picture

Trouble is jico hasn’t made or sold any replacement styluses in at least five months for the.V15 Mk V. Every time I email them for an update they say they are swamped and plead for patience.

Ortofan's picture

... the M44-7. Will DJs be hoarding them?

Wonder if Audio-Technica's recent introduction of a pair of relatively lower cost DJ cartridges had any impact on Shure's decision to exit the phono cartridge business?

pessoist's picture

all that comes in waves - goes in waves

Jay's picture

While the news may be unfortunate it does seem to be indicative of where Shure seem to think their future lies, in the professional arena rather than quality home audio.

my new username's picture

Ms. Sherwood,

I think you mean "Financial Technology," or some other non-sequitur. How ironic it is to read that "the ability to maintain our exacting standards in the Phonograph Cartridge product category" has mysteriously been unattainable, when Shure helped invent the ability to create "exacting standards in the Phonograph Cartridge product category," decades ago.

Maybe the files got lost. That would be "business technology." Perhaps no one cares anymore. That would be "financial technology," yeah? Highly valued by such nobodies as Sony and Library of Congress, Shure seems to have decided that what they've invented isn't worth maintaining or expanding.

Drop us a line when sales of the SM57/SM58 dip below whatever threshold deemed "necessary" to retain their business technology, also.

P.S. Since the tech is apparently worthless to Shure, how about selling the assets to someone who cares, for a pittance?

Slammintone's picture

Shure, thanks for all the many decades of fine phono cartridge designs and products. Without you where would us analog hard core devotees be?

Aussie0zborn's picture

I've never read such a banal press release before. What a cop out and absolute load of baloney.

Unfortunately, big companies don't have the goodwill to pass their technology and technical know-how on to others when exiting an industry and so the technology is usually lost forever. All that work for nothing...

X