SME 309

[MCRU]

Been hunting around a while, why are there never any good deals on the SME arms, they cannot sell that many that dealers hold out for high prices?

I am sure its an exceptional piece of kit but nearly a grand for a piece of metal all be it a well engineered piece of metal, what comes closest in terms of performance for less dosh 2nd hand?

Origin Live OL1?

[Stratmangler]

Tonearms are but a miniscule part of SME's operations - they are a serious player in high end engineering, full stop.
Their tonearm backup service is legendary and second to none.

That is why you won't find their products heavily discounted - if you want the best you'll pay the asking price.
And finely toleranced mechanical engineering has never come cheap.

OL1 ?
Dream on........:lolsign:

[Rare Bird]

get yourself a Funk F•XR II

[Techno Commander]

If I couldnt afford the 309, I would go for one of their "lesser" arms. Either new, or second hand you would have an arm for life and one that is easily sold on without too much loss.

[Spectral Morn]

There was an SME 4 on PFM recently for £800...now sold though.

Keep your eyes open and bargains do come up


Regards D S D L

[Pete]

Dave Cawley has been known to offer some very good deals on SME arms

[DSJR]

Don't think that the average SME dealer makes a fortune on them, 'cos they don't - just the standard third or possibly a bit more if they pay quickly within time.

My ONLY gripe with SME is the prices they charge - I mean, nearly £200 for a phono conversion kit for the older series 2 arms. I'm sure that if this price was halved, they'd sell more than double the amount worldwide and could do a neat little sideline in updated signal leads too. Of course, SME's largest dealers may be able to squeeze a bit more out of them, so a call or email to Dave Cawley may be in order, as he tells me he sells significantly more SME's than Jelco's these days.

At the end of the day in these troubled economic times, the Jelco arms still are by far great value. Beautifully made and finished and with a consistency in construction, I'd look here first if funds are tight..

[chris@panteg]

I agree with that Dave , even though i have plumped for the 309 ! i think i would have been just as happy with the Jelco SA750 and saved a few quid .

I do love the SME though :)

[Wakefield Turntables]

Been hunting around a while, why are there never any good deals on the SME arms, they cannot sell that many that dealers hold out for high prices?

I am sure its an exceptional piece of kit but nearly a grand for a piece of metal all be it a well engineered piece of metal, what comes closest in terms of performance for less dosh 2nd hand?

Origin Live OL1?

What happened to your technoarm? Is the 309 for your garrard 401??

[MartinT]

What happened to your technoarm? Is the 309 for your garrard 401??

It's hard to keep up with our David :)

[kininigin]

he's got more arms than Vishnu :lol:

[DSJR]

I agree with that Dave , even though i have plumped for the 309 ! i think i would have been just as happy with the Jelco SA750 and saved a few quid .

I do love the SME though :)

Don't worry, the 309 is a truly lovely thing to behold and use. I even liked it with a Troika (SME kindly made a headshell with the third hole for me as I don't think it was a readily available option. Less "jangly" than an Ittok and far less "clanky" the early Ekos could sound - at the time ;)

[MCRU]

Dave Cawley has been known to offer some very good deals on SME arms

too expensive (for me anyway)

[MCRU]

What happened to your technoarm? Is the 309 for your garrard 401??

The technoarm sounds very, very good, I PICKED UP THE GARRARD TODAY, it is mint, 1 owner from new, I am the 2nd owner! Has an AT arm on and shure cartridge.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I'm in the process of getting a garrard 401 and valve system setup at some point. Guesss where my Technoarm is going :scratch: i'll try it on the 401 and see what happens!!:guitar:

[MCRU]

I'm in the process of getting a garrard 401 and valve system setup at some point. Guesss where my Technoarm is going :scratch: i'll try it on the 401 and see what happens!!:guitar:

Excellent, please report back.

[Wakefield Turntables]

The technoarm sounds very, very good, I PICKED UP THE GARRARD TODAY, it is mint, 1 owner from new, I am the 2nd owner! Has an AT arm on and shure cartridge.


Any chance we can see some pictures?? :eek:

[MCRU]

Yes mate I will take some tonight, looking for a slate plinth for it now, £250 delivered for a single layer one, not bad I suppose, I just need to find a cartridge now that suits Garrards as I have plenty of arms!

[Rare Bird]

Sorry for repeating myself but i'd buy the funk arm if i was into vinyl.

[DSJR]

The sad thing about "me too" arms like this, is that despite the performance being possibly superb, I doubt it would get the magazine or enthusiast clout to become truly desirable until long after Arthur stopped making it, by which time it would be re-discovered as a lost gem :(

[hifi_dave]

Why would you do that to a perfectly good arm ? Rega go to the trouble and expense to make a totally rigid, all one piece arm from end to end and someone takes a hacksaw to it...:doh:

[MCRU]

The problem as I see it is these arms cost £1k+, I wouldn't spend that on a car without test driving it first? Are there demo versions available?

[tim_bissell]

You are right about demoing the FXR (assuming you are prepared to buy it if you like it, as you'll be disappointed if you do and can't!) It might be worth asking a dealer local to you, or the Funk Firm themselves (they have a dealer list on their site).

I was lucky enough to get a demo FXR2 on a Saffire 2, and I was sold on the sound - it also looks better in the flesh than in photos. Normally I am a sucker for precision engineering, and I had been thinking of a second-hand SME IV/V on my Pink Triangle, but now I have the FXR2 on my PT, and it sounds superb, which (when all is said and done) is really what listening to vinyl is about.

-- Tim

[Marco]

Hear, hear, Tim! :)

David, you know my views on this ;)

Marco.