This single-piece headshell made of graphite is the best I have yet found, even better than the UWE Ebony headshell that I also own.  Its main characteristic is that it doesn't have one!  Ultra-clean and transparent, it's the closest thing I've found to mounting the cartridge directly to the arm.  The optional cue bar screws in and the connecting leads as supplied are very good, as good as my standard Nerve Audio litz ones.  There is also an azimuth adjustment grub screw which requires a small hex key.

Having mounting slots allowed me to utilise both sets of mountings in the Shelter 5000 cartridge, the through-bolt holes as well as the tapped holes.  I used plastic washers to spread the load and avoid cracking the headshell (I'm not sure how brittle the material may be but I'm not going to push it).

Any comments about sound are going to be largely the characteristics of the Shelter as reviewed, so all I can add is that the Schick allows more of the Shelter's speed, dynamics and clarity through than I had previously heard.  The detail resolution is simply superb yet there is no trace of sibilance, so the graphite is not resonating in any way.  A nice, specialised and beautifully designed item.

Supplier: Cala Mighty Sound (France).