Sme tonearm rewire

[stevieboy]

Hi Reuben,

If I remember right, and you would do well to Google this instead of taking my rusty memory for this, the fixed headshell one had a lighter tonearm weight so this means it could handle a different set of lightweight carts. So that's more the difference It's probably a less versatile arm due to the availability of carts that fit it. There are simply more carts that fit the heavier removable headshell arm, which is made more versatile by the fact that you can vary the headshell weight itself to your intended cart.

Regards

Edit: I think the bearings were also changed and some plastic introduced which might affect the sound quality.

 

[G401fan]

The fixed head shell version is called the 3009 Series II Improved and has an effective mass of 6 gms. The removable head shell variant is 3009 S2 Improved, with effective mass of 9.5 gm. The former is more suited to higher compliance cartridges which track between .75g to 1.25 g. The latter is better suited to carts that track between 1g to 1.5 g. Neither is meant for low compliance MC cartridges, though I have run an OC9ML ( recommended VTF between 1.3 - 1.8) on an S2 with good results. There is also great convenience in cartridge fixing and installing with the removable headshell. Both models need a constant check on azimuth, which tends to go slightly out of alignment at the slightest pressure on the headshell. Neither is meant for cartridges that track beyond 1.5 g, tho' SME does supply a larger counterweight for those who'd like to try higher VTFs.

 

[anilva]

Hi Anil!

like a bear! I saw this cos someone sent me a PM so I chanced upon this thread hehe. How about a Bangalore meet? It's that time of the year... :licklips:

I haven't been into music for a year now, other personal things. Gonna be moving to a new place this month and will finally have space to take up the Altecs again and set up my turntable! No vinyl for more than a year now so once that happens I guess I'll be more regular here...

Regards

Let's plan something. Will check with George as well. One year of not listening to Vinyl is criminal considering that you have Gerald on your side.

Hope you will get back soon into the groove in all respects.

Cheers

 

[reubensm]

stevie, I can understand your frustration, I am living that phase of my life currently, lots of food and drink, but no vinyl

 

[jls001]

The Series II Improved is too light for my liking. If I were to acquire an SME today, it definitely won't be this model. Of course, YMMV.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

SME series II is a real pain when it comes to changing cartridges with the fixed head shell. I sold one of my Garrard 301 with this arm as I was not a great fan of this arm. But with the right cartridge it's a good performer

 

[zeds]

nice share,.

 

[G401fan]

Despite its removable arm wand, the SME III is as big a pain with cartridge fixing as the 3009 II, because of the smallness of the headshell and the limited length of the wires. I've snapped off a few lugs in my time, and gone through the trauma of re-soldering those fine wires and affixing them on to the cartridge pins with the fear of it all happening once again. Even worse was the fixed headshell of the Grace 707 which I had on a Thorens TD 160 Super for a few years. Here there were 4 small wires soldered to four points on the inner side of the fixed headshell, so you ran the risk of breaking them off at both ends. That said, all three arms are/were superb performers, and while I continue to use the first two, was sorry to part with the third when selling off the Thorens.

 

[reubensm]

I agree on the SME III, I let it pass when I got an opportunity to buy one. Also it looked over complicated, a bit over the threshold for me. Love the 3009 Series II Improved as this was "The Must-Have Tonearm" back in the day. Superb performance too. Personally prefer the fixed head shell as I don't change carts often. Back to Stevie's original thread, I'm planning to re-wire, again with the assumption that its easier to rewire my fixed headshell versions. Lets see when I'm back.