SME IV.Vi or V tonearm: different internal wiring

Do not take you SME arm apart to change the wiring. You will nver get it back together. I have had both and both sound wonderful. I think the Vi might be a better arm becuase it is a much simpler design the V does have better wire

Actually, I would never think of tampering with the arm myself. If something has to be done, it will be taken care of by someone who's in the business of dealing with rewiring arms. I've also had both the V and IV.Vi, and like you, have preferred the sound of the IV.Vi, probably in part because of the Magnan Vi wire inside. The Vs have been factory wired typically with Van Den Hul, which, based on what I've gathered so far from comments of some of the others who have owned it, is not exactly the "cat's meow".

So that there is no misunderstanding, my comment above refers specifically to the Van Den Hul internal wiring and not the SME V arm itself.

I can here very little difference so I assuming the wire in the V and Vi is very similar? I would not bother changing the wire on the Vi. a better phono cable would make a bigger difference. If you decide to have the arm re-wired have SME do it. I know a great tech who modifies and re-wires Rega and other arms but he will touch an SME arm!

To my ears, the Magnan Vi wire inside the SME IV.Vi offers more top end extension in contrast to the Van Den Hul wire found in the SME V. I also feel it helps provide a better balanced sound top to bottom. I'm ignorant, however, as to whether or not the V's damping mechanism contributes to any significant sound impovement relative to the IV.Vi in standard form without damping. You also advise a better phono or tonearm cable. I'm extremely pleased with my Purist Proteus Provectus tc. Regarding the idea that SME would best be suited to do a rewiring, I was told by someone at Sumiko(who imports the SME arms)that SME undertakes a thorough job with checking, refurbishing and replacing parts if necessary in addition to rewiring the arm, and that the total cost for this is...I won't mention the figure...what I feel,obscene. Besides, there are quite a few positive feedbacks here on Audiogon for at least two services that offer to rewire SME arms at a "slightly" better cost.

My arm is the standard V with a Purist Audio Venustas Rev C. I have used the damping function with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and it helped a lot. I now use a ZYX 4D W/Gold coils, and I like it with out the damping. The damping is a good option to have because it can help the sound with the right cartridge. I have been toying with selling the SME V and purchasing a Vi. I think the Vi is a better arm because it does not have the spring for setting the weight and it does sound a little better balanced. I do not know if it is the wire or the lack of the spring weight set up?

As of 2007, SME uses the Van den Hul monocrystal silver inside the V tonearm. One Audiogoner(Clabe)who had his V rewired by SME did not care for its sound, so undertook on his own the job of replacing it with Magnan Vi, and was very pleased with the result. If I was in your position, I would keep the V. It is an excellent arm. But, it's obviously your call. Like me, you might try to gather some information about other brands(Cardas, Discovery, Kondo silver,etc.)of internal tonearm wire before making any kind of move.

Thesoundhouse - If I am not mistaken, when the dynamic VTF force of the spring is set to zero, the arm can be balanced statically just like the Vi. You can make the V as simple as the Vi by turning off the VTF adjustment. With the V you have the option of either dynamic or static balancing, or both. Some set up the arm by applying half the tracking force statically, then adding the other half dynamically with the spring mechanism of the VTF control.
The internal wiring is a different issue. The best SME V internal wiring is MCS150 silver, an optional upgrade and sonically better than the standard V silver wiring. I have no experience comparing the V with the Vi.