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S.M.E. 10 owners

I'm giving the S.M.E. model 10 table serious concideration however I have not listened to it in a system,yet.
The dealer has the model 20/2 and 5 arm which I have heard on several occastions and love the model 20s dynamic living presents with recorded music.
The model 10 will arrive to his store sometime into the New Year.

My question to you owners of the model 10 is.

The 10A tonearm that comes with the table do you like it and have you upgraded the tonearm wire? or even the arm? I understand the standard Van Den Hul wire S.M.E. uses is not verygood according to Roy Gregory editor of Hi-Fi + magazine.

What type of music do you listen to and what brand of m.c.cartridge are you using with the model 10.

Are you using any particular brand of platform under your S.M.E.?

I'm using two differant pairs of speakers in my system depending on what I would like to hear ,music wise.

S.M.E. uses Quad electrostats to voice their range of tables and arms.
I have a pair of refurbished Quad 63s.this is one of a few reasons why I'm concidering an S.M.E. table.

I also like the idea there is not a constant upgrade path with their arms and tables.

Thank You for your comments.

stiltskin

Showing 3 responses by peterayer

peterayer
1,382 posts
 
FiveTable,
Could you please describe the sound of your SME 10 with the Mapleshade platform and footers and how it changed when you replaced the rubber/cork footers with the granite slab? Do you use the Mapleshade brass footers between the turntable and maple slab or do you just place the stock TT on the 4" maple platform? I have the same SME/Mapleshade platform with brass footers combo and it sounds tighter and more focused than the stock SME sorbothane? footers. I never tried the 4" maple slab without the rubber/cork footers underneath. Thanks.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
I have a SME 10 with upgraded V arm and Sumiko Celebration cartridge all on a Mapleshade 4" platform with brass footers. Excellent combination. Details on my system page.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Mark,
I just looked up your system. Have you compared the Superscoutmaster to the SME 10? I would be very interested in your impressions. I have not heard the new VPIs or compared my SME to other tables. I heard the SME 30 once in a completely different system. The VPI is a newer design and may sound close to the SME 10 and to your scoutmaster. The SME V or IV.vi arm is a big upgrade and may be worth the cost to you. SME build quality and sound are excellent, as you know, but I wonder how competitive SME is with the newer designs out there, ie. Raven AC, etc.

I like my Music Groove II phonocable, but your Nordost has me intrigued. Expensive though.
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