What is the best cartridge match to SME 3012/II?

[anubisgrau]

Just curious to see what are the AoS thoughts?

MM, MI, MC, anything!

Thanks



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXU-BNLCyy0

[Barry]

The SME 3012 (/II) has an effective mass of 14g, so is ideally suited to cartridges having low to medium compliance, regardless of generator.

The original 3012 was designed for the Ortofon SPUG (which is why SME adopted the bayonet coupling designed by Ortofon). I have used several cartridges having a compliance of no more than 15cu in a 3012/II arm and now in an M2 -12R arm, with satisfactory results.

Your video clip shows an Ortofon MC20 used in an SME 3012 arm. I used to use a MC20 in a 3009 arm, but was not happy with the result - but that was due to the cartridge; other Ortofon MCs (SPU, S-15TE and SL15E) sounded better to my ears.

[Shovel_Knight]

I recently got a Goldring 2500 for my SME 3012/II and the combo sounds amazing.

[audioblazer]

I love how SPU Century sounded with SME 3012R especially jazz music

[mbic]

Have a word with SME.
I heard some time ago that due to the use of ‘knife edge bearingsk, moving coil cartridges aren’t suitable.
I used to run a SME 3009 and always stuck to moving magnet designs.

[walpurgis]

I heard some time ago that due to the use of ‘knife edge bearingsk, moving coil cartridges aren’t suitable.

I'd take that with a pinch of salt.

[Barry]

So would I.

The usual tale is because MC cartridges have a lower compliance than that of MM (fixed coil) designs, more energy is transmitted through the arm tube which can cause the knife edge bearings to 'rattle'. However if one considers the dead weight of the arm, including the counterweight, I would think it impossible that the excess energy would be able to lift the arm off one of the bearings!

As a point of information, Alastair Robertson-Aikman designed the SME arm for his own use to use either an Ortofon SPUG or a prototype EMG cartridge - both moving coil designs.

[mbic]

Yes, the arm was designed around the SPUG, however attitudes change. Who would have thought that Garrard 301 and 401’s were any good?
Like with all pastimes fashions come and go.

SME are only an email or phone call away, worth getting their opinion.

[walpurgis]

Who would have thought that Garrard 301 and 401’s were any good?

I don't recall their being underappreciated.

[Barry]

SME are only an email or phone call away, worth getting their opinion.

You can try, but SME is not the same company it once was. It is quite likely they are no longer interested in the earlier arms: they certainly won't service them any more. :(

[Barry]

I don't recall their being underappreciated.

Nor do I.

The same applies to the Goldring G99 TT.

[anubisgrau]

So would I.

The usual tale is because MC cartridges have a lower compliance than that of MM (fixed coil) designs, more energy is transmitted through the arm tube which can cause the knife edge bearings to 'rattle'. However if one considers the dead weight of the arm, including the counterweight, I would think it impossible that the excess energy would be able to lift the arm off one of the bearings!

As a point of information, Alastair Robertson-Aikman designed the SME arm for his own use to use either an Ortofon SPUG or a prototype EMG cartridge - both moving coil designs.


EMG?

[Barry]

EMG?

Yes, the Expert Gramophone Limited company (which may, or may not, have been connected with the EMG Handmade Gramophone Company).

This is what I wrote in 2016:


And to complete the cachet, track down an EMG moving coil cartridge with an integral SME/EIA fitting bayonet. A couple of these appeared on eBay a few years ago, quite likely the same couple commissioned by Alistair Robertson Aikman during development the SME arm.

To which a correction was made by:


I'm not sure they were EMG Barry, but are certainly right for the period. The Expert moving coil was sold by Expert Gramophone Ltd which had a different registered address to EMG Hand Made Gramophones.

The ones you saw on ebay, 78 & LP versions were supposedly from ARA.

http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/expert-pickups.html

http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/images/Machines/EXPERT%20ELECTRIC/MC%20Pickups/Expert%20MC%20Pickup%20LP/expert-MC-pickup-lp-1.jpg

http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/images/Machines/EXPERT%20ELECTRIC/MC%20Pickups/Expert%20MC%20Pickup%20LP/expert-MC-pickup-lp-19.jpg

http://www.gramophonemuseum.com/images/Machines/EXPERT%20ELECTRIC/MC%20Pickups/Expert-CE-5.jpg

Clearly not to be confused with EMT.

[mbic]

You could contact John Townrow the boss of Five Ways aHigh Fidelity here in Birmingham, see https://www.fwhifi.co.uk/ he is my go to authority on the earlier kit, I have known John for years.

[anubisgrau]

Thanks Barry, amazing writing! Never too old to learn something new on AOS?

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 using Tapatalk

[Barry]

Thanks Gordan - I have a good, but unnecessary memory for 'trivia' (or so my partner tells me!)

But thinking of EMT cartridges for use with arms having the SME/EIA bayonet coupling (the EMT XSD), whilst have I have some samples of the latter, I have only ever listened to them in a 9" SME arm.

Perhaps I really ought to try them out in either an SME 3012/II or SME M-12R arm, both of which I have.