In praise of the sme v (chapter two)

[Joe]

Sure, I agree. However, let me put it this way:

There are two tonearms that you're considering buying, one (to you) looks absolutely gorgeous, but sounds (to your ears) 10% worse than the other arm, which sounds utterly stunning, but merely looks 'ok'. Both are built well, function faultlessly, and price isn't an issue. Which one would you buy?

Me? I'd go for the latter EVERY time, without even a moment's thought!!

Marco.

I doubt very much whether I'd be able to gauge whether something was 10% better or worse, so I'd go for the cheaper option. I'm not made of money!

[Marco]

Lol.... Forget about the percentage rating - just think of it along the lines of the better looking arm sounding *notably* worse to your ears than the other one. Would you still choose it simply because it looked better, even though it sounded worse, given that both arms in question are built well, function faultlessly, and price isn't an issue?

Marco.

[Mika K]

<offtopic>

Btw, during the years with this interest I have met several people claiming that aesthetics and other values do not mean anything to them and they concentrate only to sound quality while doing decisions. However as per my view only few actually qualify and from their listening rooms and systems would not prefer to share any pics '

</offtopic>

[Marco]

Yup, I can believe that! Here's a couple of pics of my 'big old wardrobes' (Lockwood Majors with Tannoy 15"MGs), shown demonstrated at a hi-fi show in the UK, which I can assure you were not chosen for their looks [even though I dig retro]!






Big and ugly? Perhaps, but fookin' ell do they sound good - and way better than anything 'prettier' I've heard that's made today!!

Marco.

P.S Most of my system was used in that demo, including the Sony DAC (shown in the first pic under the smaller Bel Canto CDP), Technics T/T, Copper amp and Croft preamplifier.

[Mika K]

Well that doesn't look so bad to my eyes for what comes to the equipment. Not big nor ugly. In proper room and set up might actually be quite nice

Anyway perhaps ten or twenty+ years ago I was thinking bravely I make my choices solely based on sound quality but the years have taught me otherwise. It is good to know who you really are and what do you actually want as that will make your life much easier..

[Marco]

Well that doesn't look so bad to my eyes for what comes to the equipment. Not big nor ugly. In proper room and set up might actually be quite nice

It does (for me), although you haven't seen it on Phase 17 Mana, which you could also say is, aesthetically, an 'acquired taste'!











The racks weren't chosen for their looks either!!

Marco.

P.S Those pics are from 2009.

[Joe]

Lol.... Forget about the percentage rating - just think of it along the lines of the better looking arm sounding *notably* worse to your ears than the other one. Would you still choose it simply because it looked better, even though it sounded worse, given that both arms in question are built well, function faultlessly, and price isn't an issue?

Marco.

Well, obviously I'd choose the better-sounding item. In any case, my tonearm's in a dark corner of the room and thus almost 'invisible' anyway.

[Marco]

Well, obviously I'd choose the better-sounding item.

Nice one. There's no 'obviously' about it, though. Trust me, some dafties wouldn't. They would sacrifice that '10%' of sonics for looks!

Marco.

[thankyoumisterman]

Marco, did you have your Lockwood cabinets built to order, or were they already installed? If you did choose those, what drove your decision?