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Shure M44E

The Shure M44E belongs to the famous M44 family prized by DJs for its grip. This MM cartridge pairs an elliptical stylus with a high 9.5 mV output for any standard MM phono input. Tracking force is allowed from 1.75 to 4.0 g. The replaceable stylus is the N44E, and Phono Culture lists 4 compatible replacement styli.

Home Brand

Stylus: N44E
Series: M44 Series
Type: ММ
Stylus Shape: Elliptical[ radii (mil / µm) 0.4 × 0.7 mil ]
Class: Entry-Level

Mounting: standard 1/2"
Weight & Dimensions (H×W×D): 6.5 g
Output Voltage: 9.5 mV
Frequency Response: 20–20 000 Hz
Channel Separation: 20 dB
Recommended Load: 47 kΩ || 400–500 pF
Tracking Force: 1.75–4.0 g

Additional Info

The Shure M44E prioritizes tracking stability and resistance to abuse over ultimate resolution. Bass feels solid and warm, vocals sound natural and full-bodied, while fine inner-groove detail and pinpoint imaging take a back seat to workhorse durability. DJ mixing, beat-matching and well-worn records are its natural habitat. The elliptical stylus is replaceable, and N44G, N44-7 or N44-3 inserts swap in, the last covering 78rpm playback.

Replacement styluses for Shure M44E

Shure	N44-3	Conical
JICO	N 44 E NUDE	Elliptical
Shure	N44G	Conical
Shure	N44-7	Conical

Sound × Setup

Detail

42%

IGD Control

40%

Noise Suppression

38%

Dynamics—Attack

48%

Soundstage/Imaging

45%

Bass Density

52%

Vocals/Midrange

55%

Forgiving Character

78%

Tonearm mass medium 44%

light 44%·heavy 11%

Capacitance from 200 pF 60%

up to 100 pF 10%·100-200 pF 30%

Phono gain 35–38 dB 100%

39–42 dB 0%·43–46 dB 0%

Shure M44E (MM) suits medium-mass tonearms (8–12g). Requires 35–38 dB preamp gain—standard for MM. High capacitance (300+ pF) demands short cables (<1.5m) to minimize treble rolloff. Ideal for DJ/portable setups. Verify preamp specs before pairing.

Collectors

add 02/04/2026 · upd. 08/02/2026