Over Rated Vintage Equipment! What do you think?

[Ali Tait]

Very good from what I heard, but there was a problem with the cart, so we only got to listen for a couple of minutes. hopefully next time we'll get a better listen. Lovely looking deck too.

[John]

Ahh thats a real shame Its a really fantastic deck
It really loves Decca cartridges but a Denon 103 with a decent headshell will sound pretty good too

[Ali Tait]

Yes, love the thick slate chassis.

[DSJR]

They're (SME) not just "better performing", but in a completely different class, IMHO.

Is that in the way they look, or do they actually sound better? If the latter, WHY??????? Is it the wiring (easily changed on the Rega). It can't be the resonances, as both are pretty benign and the bearings are world class on both the SME's AND the RB300 series - the 250 not being as good in absolute terms (sloppy - in comparison - brass loc-tited shafts etc...)

[Rare Bird]

Since whens this topic been about modern TTs??

[John]

Thread drift lol Sorry

[Ali Tait]

Have a listen Andre, it may surprise you.

[Rare Bird]

Nay fanks

[Beobloke]

Is that in the way they look, or do they actually sound better? If the latter, WHY??????? Is it the wiring (easily changed on the Rega). It can't be the resonances, as both are pretty benign and the bearings are world class on both the SME's AND the RB300 series - the 250 not being as good in absolute terms (sloppy - in comparison - brass loc-tited shafts etc...)

With all due respect, anyone who says an SME V sounds the same as an RB300 needs a new cartridge, more revealing speakers, a box of cotton buds or a visit to a naughty nurse with an ear syringe!

Another thought - I had a long chat with a certain gentleman who knows more about tonearms than the rest of us have forgotten about them a few years back and he does some spectacular things with Regas. However, the only thing he's ever done to an SME V is to change the wiring - his observation was that he would struggle to improve on the rest of it.

[Marco]

The SME V is a great tonearm, providing:

A) The cartridge and T/T you're using suits its somewhat dark and 'over-damped' sonic signature (or vice versa). 'Toppy' sounding MC cartridges, such as OC-9s and Lyras, work a treat!

B) You're willing to pay for the 'prestige value' that comes with owning anything which has an SME badge on it. The 'sound-per-pound value', sought by most, therefore, is considerably diminished.

It is, however, an unquestionably superbly engineered tonearm.

I am not a fan of most stock Rega tonearms, for reasons that I have documented here on many occasions. I'd have a Pro-Ject 9CC, Roksan Nima, any of the Jelcos, or a Hadcock, before I'd have any Rega tonearm, short of an RB1000.


Marco.

P.S Got your PM. Soz for not replying yet - will do later. I've been loaded with the cold the last few days, so all I've been doing is sleeping and drinking hot toddies!