Sme Iv

All I can say is WOW. I wasn't expecting this arm to be much of an improvement over the OL Silver, but its in a different league. Note that I'm using the standard VdH wiring too. Getting deeper bass and a more "solid" sound than before. The soundstage is fractionally narrower, but much deeper than before.

I know the design is a bout 3,000 years old now and people (naturally) find very little to get excited about, but it really is a great arm with this deck.

Also, the set-up of the arm is rather ingenious and very flexible.

Highly recommended for Acoustic Signature TT owners. Thanks again to The Fen for selling it to me.

DT

 

Well, that's good news. I heard you were selling your Rondo Bronze - so what are you planning to put on it next?

 

No - keeping the Bronze for the time being. Seems to be a decent solution for the money and I've always thought four figures for a "consumable" was a bit mad. This hobby is expensive enough.

Anyway, I'm just enjoying the system too much now to consider changing anything.

DT

 

Having once changed from the OL Silver MKII to a Tecnoarm and then to an SME V I can appreciate what you've discovered.
The SME is beautifully designed/engineered and built, it does benefit greatly from better internal and external wire though. The OL in comparison is a very average tonearm IMO. I found the Tecnoarm comfortably bettered it in both sound and build quality for £180 less.

I wouldn't recommend the OL Silver to anyone looking to drop £600 on a new Rega-derived arm (i'd recommend the Audio Origami-modded RB250).

 

I have had the SME V on my SME20 .. it's a good arm but compared to the Triplanar and to the Graham lacks air .. powerful low frequencies but limited highs
Obviously you can't compare a SMEIV or a SMEV to the Origin Live or the Tecnoarm .. another price fascia
The setup is easy by its paper template but unfortunately you can't easily use the magical MintLP Best Tractor

 

Papa lazarou .. I have had also the Origin Live Silver arm (look at my avatar) .. while now I'm using the Michell Tecnoarm ..
The Tecnoarm ia a very serious mod. over the good Rega RB250 .. so serious the O.L is a toy compared ..

 

Well I wouldn't sell the OL silver THAT short. Given that you can buy a MkI for £200-£250, I think it offers very decent performance for the money.

The SME IV is in a different league though, in both price and performance. Can't quite belive that better cabling will make that much of an improvement, because it already sounds so damn good. What do Audio Origami charge for their upgrades? £250?

DT

 

j7 should be able to rewire internally with Kondo and supply a Cardas copper/silver hybrid leadout for around £300.

He just serviced and rewired my current arm - it isn't subtle.

 

OK, maybe something to ponder when I get the upgrade bug again in the summer. Might be worthwhile changing it to balanced output while it's there....

 

Or of course you could try the V 12". I shudder to think what it costs but on paper it'll sound great.

 

The SME 312S is half the price and sounds very good indeed.

 

You can regain some of that air by removing the bridhe, its cosmetic to cover a screw on the arm tube. I have done this and it does indeed improve matters. I read about it in Hi Fi + many moons ago.

Tonearm cable is worth doing too I guess, though differences are subjective I use an XLO Reference tonearm cable on mine, a little difficult to dress though.

 

Makes sense - the air having been trapped under the bridge. Taking the bridge off allows the air to escape, in an airy way.

[SME recommend you leave the bridge on - but what would they know? I don't suppose they have tried it.]

 

Agreed, I also owned the SME 5 its a great arm but something is lacking in the mid. The breur and brinkmann arms while a little more coloured in the treble were much more expressive in the midband and with even better bass and timing.

 

Maybe, but you have the added hassle of setting up and using a unipivot correctly. TTs are already a total nightmare to use and I frankly wouldn't be interested in complicating matters any further.

And don't get me started on adjusting VTA for every record. Not even if I were disabled, homebound and retired...

DT

 

Ignore the negative opinions on the SME tonearms. The alleged problems they refer to don't show up at all in independent reviews, nor in lab measurements.

You have chosen a superb tonearm, and are rightly very pleased with it. The only weakness is the vDH cable, which is microphonic and susceptible to RFI. Change this ASAP.

 

I have just ordered the new SME 12" 'V', release at the beginning of April, I am looking forward to it! Keith.

 

After all the things you've said about SME, I'm surprised they sold you one.

Still, at least you've seen sense now! :moony:

 

My one isn't glued together either!

 

Nor is mine!