Re-Wiring my SME tonearm accordingly

[tlscapital]

I have to re-wire at least the "blue" wire that I just split broke while dismantling the arm lift & dash pot of my SME 3009 tonearm. They all are original SME's copper ones. Hopefully I still have the old spare from the (fixed head shell) conversion that I intend to use to replace the single broken "blue" one. I'll just make sure they're all at the same length still.

I first thought to replace them wire silver ones as they're hyped about all over. Only after some more digging on the net, I understand that they are mainly appreciated for "brightening up" the sound and by doing so bringing in more "clarity" (details...) to the sound. On the other hand some still prefer the copper quality with more "color" in comparaison and a "lower bottom". They are describing the copper as "warmer" as opposed to the silver "metallic's" texture.

If such is the case, the "upgrade" to silver won't suit me one bit. I have gained a lot in clarity, detail and power with all my upgrades, conversions and improvements that I don't need anymore. I'd best stay with those original SME's copper to one day maybe buy "higher end" copper ones to hear the difference with fresh ones. Unless someone have better tips...

[CornishPasty]

Sorry to read you broke one of the wires. I rewired my 3012 with Audio Note silver wire and wouldn't say it was bright at all. I usually attribute that trait to silver plated copper wire.

[tlscapital]

Sorry to read you broke one of the wires. I rewired my 3012 with Audio Note silver wire and wouldn't say it was bright at all. I usually attribute that trait to silver plated copper wire.

Hi Ralph, I had to change my vintage speaker's capacitors last month and found to have been very well advised (even if above my original budget) by ONE reputed UK dealer after explaining him what I have phono wise and what am after sound wise.

Even if we worked 4 hours setting and soldering them new caps, totally not going by the book to trial as many configurations and playing 30 times the same 45 to be safe ear wise on our inventive set-up, the result in the end is rather good IMHO. Better than ever actually. Not even only IMHO...

So I've just asked that same dealer (HiFi Collective) about tonearm wirings. I'm about sure he'll propose me the same as you. But they are pricey at £15 for one ! So it's £60 for the 4 of them +P&P...

Cheers, Tim

[Gazjam]

Tim,
Have an SME arm myself and been mulling around the same thoughts as yourself...

High quality silver plated copper seems a good balance of the sound aspects your talking about, my old stock Technoarm I found bright and a bit bass light with the stock silver external cable.
Swapping it out for silver plated copper warmed up the balance but kept the open top end and clarity - on my Gyro it just made it a touch sweeter and less clinical.

On my SME arm though (which is already internally fully wired with silver) I don't notice any brightness or glare at all.
That said I'll be rewiring it with the best quality silver I can find when funds allow.
Having compared the two arms its obvious arm hardware makes a really big difference even on the same deck so what a particular type of cable brings to the table can be different depending on what its used with.
Current stock SME wiring isn't making the best use of what the arm is capable of, so want to make it the best it can be.

Silver cabling (in my experience) although it has a reputation for being bright n shiny, is really only that when the systems balance is out.
An open highly resolving system shows the extra clarity and detail for what it actually is and for me is the way to go.

But as always, in the real world, its all about system balance and synergy.

[CornishPasty]

I bought the AN silver wire for my 3012 from HiFi Collective. It's a fair while since I did mine and I see the price is still the same :)