SME V and Technics EPA-100

[Gerry]

I reckon my HS-100 can chew up both the SME and the EPA-100.

Stan

Would that be an Alphason HR-100s/MCS???

If so IMHO yes. I have one and it certainly is better (IMHO) than a EPA-100 and more musical, with the same analytical abilities, as a SME IV.

I had a Jelco 750 derivative....Sumiko MMT. It was so so (IMHO), much better than a Rega or any of those clones. But not in the league of the Alphason, Audiocraft, Fidelity Research etc.

Problem with the Alphason is the mounting distance espcially on the SP10. 211mm is very tight, without having the arm half way down the side, or at the rear ala BBC.

(Sorry the above is just my opinion and I don't mean to upset, or offend anyone. I know Marco feels that all this expensive stuff is over-priced by comparison to his SL & 750 etc. I'm sure his set-up is perfect/the best value for money.)

Regards
Gerry

[MartinT]

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!

Hang on there, that's not quite true. The Jelco is a very well made arm and performs well. It has poor adjustments, few tools, no accessories and absolutely no documentation to speak of.

The SME has engineering of world class, and I mean that. Having owned a II, III and IV, there is nothing to touch their quality of finish, level and ease of adjustments or sheer beauty. They come with everything you need, a comprehensive manual written in proper English and superb presentation. They also have superb service - I had a major cueing problem repaired on an out-of-warranty arm for the princely sum of £1. They actually brought the whole arm up to latest spec.

Your SPPV may well say that the Jelco offers better value for money, and I won't necessarily argue with that, but it doesn't tell the whole story and we should be grateful that a British company like SME exists and beats the world in its niche expertise.

[StanleyB]

Would that be an Alphason HR-100s/MCS???
.

.

[pure sound]

Problem with the Alphason is the mounting distance espcially on the SP10. 211mm is very tight, without having the arm half way down the side, or at the rear ala BBC.

It goes on alright Gerry. Sounds good too!



As with the SME you need to get rid of any of the godawful vdH cable (internal or external) that Alphason were spoiling their arms with.

[Marco]

I agree with your last point, Martin. However:

The SME has engineering of world class, and I mean that.

So have Jelco "world class" engineering. You're letting your 'Britishness' get the better of you. Have you seen some of the tonearms they make other than the one you use? Also, there is a marked difference in the fit and finish of the 750D to the 250ST. You need to examine the two side by side to understand where I'm coming from.

Having owned a II, III and IV, there is nothing to touch their quality of finish, level and ease of adjustments or sheer beauty.

I disagree. I've owned a Series II, III, and (briefly) an M2, and used at some length, a IV and V. The Jelco SA-750D I've got is every bit as well engineered as any of those arms, and the V aside, sounds as good as or better than any of them!

They come with everything you need, a comprehensive manual written in proper English and superb presentation. They also have superb service

I care not a jot about comprehensive manuals in English or any other language. They're unnecessary with something like a tonearm - it's not a Blue Ray player, AV amplifier, or something of that complexity we're talking about setting up. And besides, Dave does all the initial setting-up and also supplies excellent service - it's called having a good dealer, so I don't worry about such things. I can do the rest myself without a manual

Nice pic, Guy!

Marco.

[MartinT]

I have a Longines watch bought for me by my (sadly departed) wife back in 1990. It is beautiful and very accurate, a thing to behold and priceless to me. It is definitely an object to cherish, something I could not do with a £15 watch.

[MartinT]

I care not a jot about comprehensive manuals in English or any other language

Fine and good, but don't say that people are buying an SME for the badge. There's a lot of cost in tooling up everything they supply in the price, including the manual. Production runs are probably smaller than Jelco too.

[Marco]

Martin, please don't be so naïve. The sad fact is some people do buy SME for the 'badge', just as they do with Linn, Naim, Krell, and a host of other hi-end brands. You make a valid point about production runs, but at the end of the day most people (who aren't badge conscious) will simply go with whatever offers the greater SPPV, and care not about which company has the highest overheads - that's the bottom line

Marco.

[MartinT]

Martin, please don't be so naïve. The sad fact is some people do buy SME for the 'badge'

Whoa Marco, no need for that. I really don't believe any but a tiny minority of people would buy an SME for the badge. Vinyl buyers are discerning and would listen first. Perhaps a rich banking investment manager (are there any left) would buy, say, a Michell Orbe with SME for its pose value, but there won't be many of those.

[Marco]

Whoa Marco, no need for that.

LOL! No need for what, Martin - realism?

I really don't believe any but a tiny minority of people would buy an SME for the badge.

Do you believe that people buy, say, Linn and Naim gear for the 'badge' - if so, why should SME users be any different?

Vinyl buyers are discerning and would listen first.

Haha... Now that definitely is naivety of the highest order!

Perhaps a rich banking investment manager (are there any left) would buy, say, a Michell Orbe with SME for its pose value, but there won't be many of those.

Well I can think of a reasonably well-paid physician, who used to post on forums a lot, and who bought an SME20 for its 'badge'. You may have heard of him. If not, I'm sorry, but I can't name names. I also know of someone else directly out with of forums who bought and SME20 mainly for its 'badge'.

So who knows how many others have done the same?

I'm afraid that 'badge snobbery' happens in SME-land the same as it does anywhere else!

Incidentally, I hope you're not getting terribly upset about all this because we usually get on quite well. However I will always tell it as I see it, directly and to the point, so no offence!

Marco.