Shure Cartridges: End Of An Era

Shure has announced that its cartridges will soon be no more, “…we have made the difficult decision to discontinue production of Shure Phono products effective Summer 2018.”

In a relatively brief press release, released today, veteran hi-fi manufacturer and long-time creator of respected cartridges, Shure has decided to pull out of  the “phono” market inferring that it can no longer keep pace with the intrinsic demands of cartridge design and production,”For more than 90 years, Shure has been committed to manufacturing and delivering products of the highest quality, reliability, and value,” it stated. “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.”

Which has resulted in a pretty prompt withdrawal, “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.”

The company is fully aware that the decision will come as a shock to many long-standing vinyl fans but it seems that Shure has realised that to plow on will result in either substandard or merely uncompetitive products, “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.”

It’s not the end of the company itself, though. “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.”

So what are your feelings about the decision? How will it affect you and what is your opinion of the withdrawal?

Shure can be found at www.shure.co.uk

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