SME M2 Tonearm - Any Good?

Hi,

Just wondering if any of you have experience with this arm? Is it substantially bettered by any others near the price?

Rgds,

DT

 

Roksan nima?

Word on the street is that the M2 is an update on the performance of the sme arm it replaced but is a bit off the modern pace still in some respects. I suspect an original live or nima or a morch would show it a thing or two.

I have seen one on the MF deck but havent heard it. I have seen a couple of these decks for sale already used which is never a good sign.

 

Well, I've not heard anyone singing its praises, nor anyone enthusing about the MF M1 either (not the deck I'm after btw - waaaaay too much acrylic going on there).

Anyone directly compared the M2 to the competition?

 

I've had an M2-9 for 18 months, ok so I didn't choose it, it came via
an insurance new for old claim but having said that I am not at all unhappy with it, it does everything you would expect from an SME arm very much in the mold of the more expensive models which considering it has very standard wiring is not bad,
compared to my Incognito'd RB250 it leaves it standing,
the only other arm I've had recent experience of is an O/L silver which in my opinion if that is better it's very difficult to tell, certainly the SME is much better built

 

Funny how little info there is about it. I'd have thought a 'budget' sme like that would have been more popular, good or otherwise. I never liked the look of the MF M2 in any way (hasn't it been discontinued already? Couldn't find anything on the MF site) but had a feeling the M2 might be a pretty decent arm. Looks better built than the OL. Would like to hear one sometime.

 

Has anyone heard the MF deck yet? It looks like a joke!

The nima is a great arm, very good for the price.

 

I have seen one close up - didnt float my boat.

 

Shame - the M2 graces a couple of the decks I'm looking at buying (Avid Diva and T+A G10S). I really, really can't be arsed to get it changed either.

Anyway's, I better start a new thread as I'm not entirely sure what I should put the budget towards. New speakers would be the obvious choice, as monitors don't really suit my 845 SET's. Trouble is, I'm head-over-heels with the Signums and can't face selling them. The thought of a new TT really gets my juices flowing too....

DT

 

I'd have thought the diva goes well with the M2 if the other decks and SME V are anything to go by. Its a cool looking deck too but I've only heard it through Chord electronics

 

Oh yes - it is a looker. Complete sucker for pretty TT's

 

The factory is great, TTs in various states of undress all over the place

 

Yep, i've heard it with the SME and an Ortofon MC10 Super. Very nice sounding unit if a little "safe" sounding and didn't dig as deep in the bass as i would have liked.

But what the hell, it looks fantastic IMHO!!

 

According to Stereophile the MF deck has been discontinued - by all accounts it was a bit of bomb. No wonder looked like it had copied too many ideas of other better decks.

The problem with the M2 arm, imo of course, is that the Michell Technoarm is better and good bit cheaper, also when it comes to budget arms the Rega RB300 still reins supreme. The price hike from an M2 to the 300 series would for me worth the extra cost to go for a 300.

There are some very good arms below the £700 mark, including the Roksan Nima and Morch UP4 as well as the ones I've mentioned above. I'm not sure the M2 is competitive and is more for people who want to own an SME arm on the cheap.

 

I havent heard the deck but rumour has it sound quality was very poor and there were engineering issues. I didnt like the look of it close up.

 

the arm on the VPI is very good, and is one of the very good reasons to choose that deck instead.

The VPI is also very upgradeable (power supplies etc).

A NAS Interspace would also be upgradeable (heavy kits/power supplies etc).

Those are the best decks you've got a shot at under £1k IMO.

Also worth a look is the Kuzma Stabi/Stogi S.

I'd pick it above the other 2, but you'd need ex dem as they are about £1800. You see them sometimes going cheap because they are less well known.

It all depends on what price you pay.

An interspace with a Morch, a VPI, a Kuzma - they are all good enough for life.

Im just not convinced the M2 is anything more than a relic of a design cobbled together for a crappy MF turntable.

 

The SME M2 is also an option on the T+A turntable.

Apparently - and I may be wrong, but the MF deck could ONLY have the M2 on it. Not sure where I read that but I'm sure the reviewer complained that he couldn't try a better arm on the deck.

The Kuzma decks are very good. Problem is Audiofreaks, the distributer, deal with so few dealers it's hard getting a demo which is a shame.

 

It looks like a chopping board