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SME 20/2 Tonearm Ground Wire: Where in the table should be connected?

Dear Community,

I just purchased my first turntable, an SME 20/2 with the SME IV VI tonearm. For the cartridge I went with the AMG Teatro cartridge (I couldn't digest the idea of buying a more expensive one, at least not yet). Since I don't know much about this turntable and I couldn't find (neither online and/ or user manuals) information or instructions about where the tonearm ground wire connector should be plugged in the in table end: Please if any one of you remember where the SME 20/2 IV VI tonearm ground wire should be plugged in on the table end? I'm referring to the OEM cable which come with the table: There is a DIN connector and the ground wire one. For the DIN is very straight forward because there is a plug-in for it; but for the ground wire: I couldn't find the right place. Please any instructions, suggestions, pictures and recommendations will be much appreciated.  

Best,

T.

mememagno

Showing 1 response by mememagno

mememagno OP
2 posts
 

Dear @yogiboy, @pcosta ​​​​@dogberry,

Thanks so much for your replies with suggestions, instructions and attachments. They are much appreciated. Please before to continue, I would like to share that I purchased the 20/2 with its IV VI in pristine condition, with its original boxes, documentation, manuals, tools, etc. etc. Regardless of all of that, I'm still don't know how to connect the ground's wires; but the good news is: I don't have any hums. Additional: For this basement application, I don't have a dedicated phono preamp; instead I'm using the one from the MA12000 (I don't know if its good or bad; I don't have nothing handy to compare). 

Back to the ground's connection:

1. The SME 20/2 based in my observation, has a single ground connection point on the back right side, with a wire connected (maybe factory done?) from there to the AC motor. In other words: From point A to point B in the same table. That cable does not go outside the 20/2.

2. On top of the ground wire detailed above (point 1), There are two different wires running ground connectors: 

2.a. Tonearm: This is the one which runs from the tonearm, together with the RCAs. All of them should be plugged in straight to the back of the MA12000 MC inputs. That's easy; similarly to the DIN connector into the 20/2 DIN socket. But the ground wire is still disconnected (is a very small satin nickel colored (maybe silver)/ material with a closed rounded shape - wire is very short, maybe extends just 3 inches from the DIN connector). My question still: Where that ground wire should be connected to the 20/2, since the end is connected to the MA12000 inputs.

2.b. There is another ground wire, which is externally attached to the wire which runs from the SME Power Supply/ Speed Control Unit to the table. Its connector is maybe "gold platted" with a closed rounded shape The I don't know either where that ground connector should be attached to the table. 

Anyway, as I said before: I don't have humming of any kind, but I'm not comfortable with ground's wires unconnected, just hanging from behind the table. I took several pictures to better explain this case, but looks like that AG does not allows picture's attachment. 

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