F/S SME 3009 S2 Improved tonearm

[struth]

working models are getting rarer. i love mine. it has faults like most but its a lovely bit of engineering

[Barry]

Yes, and the Japanese just love them. I have five of them and they "ain't going nowhere"!

[stonehenge]

Although I have been into audio for many years, my main TT's (AR Legend and Linn LP12's) all had Linn arms. Now I am looking to thin out my substantial record collection I have sold the LP12's and bought a rather nice SL150Mk2 with a Rega RB250. Although I am aware the SME might be a step backward sonically from the more modern arm, I have always admired their engineering and visual appeal. I am looking forward to using it. Now what of my present carts to put on it: Ortofon VMS20Mk2 / VMS 30? Supex SM 100 Mk3 / Linn K9?

[struth]

imv its better than the rb250, and easy to use once you get your head round its various bits

[Simon75]

The SME S2 Non improved are fetching serious prices, £400-500. Not exactly sure why, I think it's because of the detachable headshell and more flexibility with tracking weight? I think they also suit the Garrads which seem to going for silly prices. I have one but the dash pot needs fixed, still sounds great though.

[karma67]

ive heard the arm in question and its not a step backward from a rb250,you are in for a treat

[Bigman80]

The SME S2 Non improved are fetching serious prices, £400-500. Not exactly sure why, I think it's because of the detachable headshell and more flexibility with tracking weight? I think they also suit the Garrads which seem to going for silly prices. I have one but the dash pot needs fixed, still sounds great though.

I think the non improved was heavier too, not by much but though. The detachable headshell wasn't the only difference. I think anyway.

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[DSJR]

The SME 'Improved' arms are lively sounding and a bit resonant and with a 'dry' bass quality, at least with period high compliance mm cartridges. If the original shell is to be used, I strongly recommend the headshell black-tac SME suggested (or instead, even a piece of card table baize between cartridge and SME shell) - a pea shaped amount of SME's goo, squashed between cartridge and shell. It really does 'calm things down' a good bit. I don't know what this adds, but Audio Origami also used to offer a foam fill for the arm tube, again to reduce the clanking in this low mass pipe. SME's FD200 damper *could8 work well, but with baby oil in it rather than the thick goo SME first supplied. I used to cut the smallest paddle down too but that would be sacrilege now.

If it's of any interest, I think the AT MM's and Ortofon 2M models (the further up the better) should be a good sonic and physical match as well as the Shure 97XE and surviving vintage models. I'd also try the bed-plate grommets with an open mind too, as 'we' removed them as an automatic knee-jerk after Linn 'told' everyone to tighten everything almost to breaking point!

P.S. The Mission 774 wasn't the be all and end all either as it could sound muted, not overly musical and dry *at the time* in the manner of a Rega RB but I accept that it may have been before its time and a modern cartridge and turntable set-up may transform it today, as I've heard suitable decks do for the Rega arms. It certainly sounded very fine indeed with a period Systemdek III...

[Bigman80]

The SME 'Improved' arms are lively sounding and a bit resonant and with a 'dry' bass quality, at least with period high compliance mm cartridges. If the original shell is to be used, I strongly recommend the headshell black-tac SME suggested (or instead, even a piece of card table baize between cartridge and SME shell) - a pea shaped amount of SME's goo, squashed between cartridge and shell. It really does 'calm things down' a good bit. I don't know what this adds, but Audio Origami also used to offer a foam fill for the arm tube, again to reduce the clanking in this low mass pipe. SME's FD200 damper *could8 work well, but with baby oil in it rather than the thick goo SME first supplied. I used to cut the smallest paddle down too but that would be sacrilege now.

If it's of any interest, I think the AT MM's and Ortofon 2M models (the further up the better) should be a good sonic and physical match as well as the Shure 97XE and surviving vintage models. I'd also try the bed-plate grommets with an open mind too, as 'we' removed them as an automatic knee-jerk after Linn 'told' everyone to tighten everything almost to breaking point!

P.S. The Mission 774 wasn't the be all and end all either as it could sound muted, not overly musical and dry *at the time* in the manner of a Rega RB but I accept that it may have been before its time and a modern cartridge and turntable set-up may transform it today, as I've heard suitable decks do for the Rega arms. It certainly sounded very fine indeed with a period Systemdek III...

Good post!

[Barry]

The SME 'Improved' arms are lively sounding and a bit resonant and with a 'dry' bass quality, at least with period high compliance mm cartridges. If the original shell is to be used, I strongly recommend the headshell black-tac SME suggested (or instead, even a piece of card table baize between cartridge and SME shell) - a pea shaped amount of SME's goo, squashed between cartridge and shell. It really does 'calm things down' a good bit. I don't know what this adds, but Audio Origami also used to offer a foam fill for the arm tube, again to reduce the clanking in this low mass pipe. SME's FD200 damper *could8 work well, but with baby oil in it rather than the thick goo SME first supplied. I used to cut the smallest paddle down too but that would be sacrilege now.

If it's of any interest, I think the AT MM's and Ortofon 2M models (the further up the better) should be a good sonic and physical match as well as the Shure 97XE and surviving vintage models. I'd also try the bed-plate grommets with an open mind too, as 'we' removed them as an automatic knee-jerk after Linn 'told' everyone to tighten everything almost to breaking point!

P.S. The Mission 774 wasn't the be all and end all either as it could sound muted, not overly musical and dry *at the time* in the manner of a Rega RB but I accept that it may have been before its time and a modern cartridge and turntable set-up may transform it today, as I've heard suitable decks do for the Rega arms. It certainly sounded very fine indeed with a period Systemdek III...

The original SME 3000 series arms were not 'empty', they were filled with jute 'Rawlplugs' to dampen the armtube. Later balsa wood inserts were used.

I use the FD200 damping dashpot with the viscous silicone fluid SME supply and the with the smallest (black) paddle. I don't find it over thick: cueing and tracking are not affected at all IMO. It is not used with all cartridges: only those having a very high compliance (> 30cu), and with Decca cartridges.

Clearly the SME series 3000 arms are not the last word in pickup arms, but are still very good and are sufficiently versatile for me to keep mine. The newer M2 series arms from SME take the basic SME detachable-hedshell design about as far as it can without a complete redesign. IMO the replacement of the knife-edge bearings (and the need to provide transversal balance) is a big improvement.

For further improvement one has to consider the SME IV and V arms, which with the removal of several mechanical interfaces, reduces some of the arm resonances.