New turntable SRA questions

rwkn22:

SME is a manufacturer/brand.

My various models have/had adjustable tonearm height (seems yours does not), but they (my older models) are tedious to adjust.

I'm picky, but also practical (meaning old and lame), thus using a shim mat for thinner LP's works for me.

The thinner LP's sound brighter (lighter in the LF's) if I do not use the shim mat to raise them.

You may experience the same (fuller sound) by trying a shim mat (an LP under the current thinner mat in your case - as it's an easy zero cost experiment).

The Grado cartridges I use are more sensitive to VTA VS the old Sure V15III cartridges I used to use.

Anyway, if it sounds good it is good.

DeKay

Holmz: Yes it is elliptical and it sounds great to my ears. Both L and R are clear and it's tracking well. I really can't compare it to anything other than spotify though.. 

If it sound as good or better than Spotify, then you are doing good.

DeKay: I am unfamiliar with SME. Is that the type of tonearm I have? I will definitely experiment with a lp under the mat and see if it sounds better then go from there 

Thank you all for the great advice. I'm learning a lot 

I would suggest that you clean the oily old mat… That may work better for the standard LPs.

The new mat being thinner would be good for the thicker 180gr jobs… and then both thicknesses would be at about the same level… in case you shim or otherwise get a perfect SRA.

Like this @dekay  fellow:

As adjusting the arm height on my current SME 3009 non-improved is a PITA I set it up for average thickness LP's and I use a lifter/under mat for thinner LP's (the thinner one's are generally "import" LP's from Europe issued in the 70's/early 80's).

Well that's great because it sounds substantially better than Spotify. And that is a good idea to use the old mat as a shim for thinner records. I will definitely experiment with all this new information. 

My records will be spinning. I appreciate all the help.

This weight, 3 grams, acts as a spacer, lowering your cartridge, thus raising the active end of the arm,

IF you can back off your counterweight enough to start with an extra 3 grams weight, it could work quite well.

I suggest you invest in a headshell, new cartridge

, and this as a spacer, 1. i.e. headshell allows azimuth adjustment, gray or black, full access to wires from sides .. https://www.ebay.com/itm/303574519597?hash=item46ae738f2d:g:SKUAAOSwGjpexst0 2. at microline stylus https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/vm540ml 3. the weight/spacer https://www.ebay.com/itm/303971279932?hash=item46c619a43c:g:-eMAAOSwGAJggimB note: 4. later, if/when you move to a different turntable, get one with an arm with removable headshell, then this $300-$350. investment moves to any future upgrade.