SME V and Technics EPA-100

[shahsy]

Just replaced an SME V tonearm on a Technics SP-10/Obsidian combo with a newly acquired Technics EPA-100 and I'm a little gobsmacked at how much better everything sounds.

Granted that the EPA-100 was part of the original SL-1000 offering from
Technics but how very bloody right did they get it!

A bit unfair on the SME.......

Maybe it'll wear off so I'll enjoy it while it lasts?

s

[Spectral Morn]

Just replaced an SME V tonearm on a Technics SP-10/Obsidian combo with a newly acquired Technics EPA-100 and I'm a little gobsmacked at how much better everything sounds.

Granted that the EPA-100 was part of the original SL-1000 offering from
Technics but how very bloody right did they get it!

A bit unfair on the SME.......

Maybe it'll wear off so I'll enjoy it while it lasts?

s

Hi Did you get rid of the awful VDH arm cable. Replacing this makes the Arm leap in quality. Its not in fairness as amazing as some would have you believe, I prefer the Graham 2.2 to it or even The Graham Phantom, which is better than both IMHO. I suppose it could just be a compatibility issue Arm to Deck or Cart to Arm. I would have thought that the SME 5 should be better than what you have changed it to ? I could be wrong though.

Regards D S D L---- Neil

[Marco]

How very interesting, Shahsy! I've always thought that the SME V was pretty overrated, particularly considering its cost. It's a good tonearm but doesn't offer the highest SPPV (sound-per-pound-value) available in my opinion. The 312 is excellent, but so it should be! I don't think I'd entertain using any other SME arm.

I've discovered that many Japanese tonearms, particularly the S-shaped ones, both current and classic, are generally superior to the Regas, Linns, and some of the SMEs sold in large quantities in the UK.

The Jelco SA-750D (as reviewed in this month's HFW) fitted to my modified SL-1210 was for me a revelation

Marco.

[MartinT]

The Jelco SA-750D (as reviewed in this month's HFW) fitted to my modified SL-1210 was for me a revelation

Hi Marco, I finally got a copy of that HFW review of the 750. It's a good review, although perhaps a little grudging when comparing with other arms that were obviously not directly compared. I was also annoyed at the throw-away remark on the 250 when it also seems that it was not directly listened to. What did you think?

[Marco]

Glad you got a copy at last, Martin. Yes, I agree that it was an excellent review of the 750, but when I was reading Adam's comments about the 250 I was thinking the same thing you were.

I guess that reviews will never be perfect but I thought that Adam should've just concentrated on the 750, since this was what the review was obviously about, and if he was going to mention the 250 to do it in such a way as just to mention it is as part of the range without making any other remarks about it without comparing it to the 750 properly in a sonic sense.

Little does he know that the 250ST you've got (as confirmed by your own ears) is as good as an SME IV you used to have!

Both are exceptionally good arms and quite obviously can hold their own with much more expensive designs.

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

Little does he know that the 250ST you've got (as confirmed by your own ears) is as good as an SME IV you used to have!

I know somebody who won't be happy about that

[shahsy]

Hi Did you get rid of the awful VDH arm cable. Replacing this makes the Arm leap in quality. Its not in fairness as amazing as some would have you believe, I prefer the Graham 2.2 to it or even The Graham Phantom, which is better than both IMHO. I suppose it could just be a compatibility issue Arm to Deck or Cart to Arm. I would have thought that the SME 5 should be better than what you have changed it to ? I could be wrong though.

Regards D S D L---- Neil

Hi,
The VDH arm cable is in a drawer and I've been using a pure silver ebay one for a few weeks.

The only difference in set up was a new armboard but as the main difference there was the location of a hole and the colour of the armboard, I think that can be discounted.

So, same motor unit, same plinth, same cartridge, amp, speakers etc

To be honest I think it's a synergy thing.

I won't be getting rid of the SME as I could put it to good use on another deck when space permits.

That Technics crowd certainly knew what they were doing when they threw together the SL-1000 combination.

Cheers

Syed

[pure sound]

I have the SME and also a J7 rebuilt Alphason Xenon. Both are wired throughout with Audionote silver from headshell tags to phono plugs. Both have a very different way of presenting the music. The SME does some things better, the S shaped, titanium tubed Alphason does others. I don't think I could say which was more correct & fortunately I don't have to. I can happily live with either. It very much depends on an individual's listening priorities.

I would say that I don't think it can help the SME to be mounted in wood. It rather goes against SME's own design ethos & may mean it loses some resolution at HF. That's been my experience anyway.

[Yiangos]

Guys,there is no such thing as a "better" arm or any component for that matterunless it is defective or of really low quality.It took me many years but finally i've realised that the actual performance of a particular component is linked to the rest of the system and the acoustics of the enviroment/room.I won't go further into the subject but i'll give you an example regarding the sme v vs the epa100. For any particular reason,the epa100 performs better using a denon 103 or shure m75 cartridge.Now,substitute the denon with a koetsu and you'll see what i mean.For other reasons,it is also impossible to make a Grado gold work with a Rega rb250/300 arm.

[Marco]

I have the SME and also a J7 rebuilt Alphason Xenon. Both are wired throughout with Audionote silver from headshell tags to phono plugs. Both have a very different way of presenting the music. The SME does some things better, the S shaped, titanium tubed Alphason does others. I don't think I could say which was more correct & fortunately I don't have to.

Yes, but think of this: how much is an SME V brand new now, and how much do you think the Alphason would be now brand new if it were still made?

Once you've established those figures, which offers the highest SPPV?

No offence, Guy, but when there are arms around of the sheer quality of the Jelcos (and offering very near SME performance) selling for not much more than pocket money it makes you realise that you're paying an awful lot for that SME badge!

Marco.