SME IV vs V

If you have both then why not mount both and find out. Sorry just couldn't help myself.

Anyway I do have the V and have never heard the IV but the only diff is that the V has the spring VTF dial which gives you dynamic balance and also the damping trough is standard on the V.

The bearings are a little better in the V:

"Many of the component parts of the Series IV are similar, if sometimes less rarefied, to those in the V. For example, bearings of ABEC-3 tolerance are used instead of ABEC-7."

This link has a pretty detailed difference list:

http://www.sme.ltd.uk/content/Series-IV-1342.shtml

I had both and agree the differences arent to big

Thanks for the link Mofimadness.

Rccc, could you give your impression of the subtle sonic differences?

OK, so I started reading the link Mofimadness supplied, and the IV uses copper wire, instead of the silver wire found in the V. If I wanted to upgrade wire, what are my options and how difficult is it?

I've just had my V rewired with Audionote Kondo from the VDH silver that SME supplied. Definite upgrade for me but there are other alternatives. I know the US supplied arms are wired with copper, can't remember the name of the cable.

Jonathan.

Valves, I am using a clearaudio stradivari. It seemed to track a little better in the V and a have a little more detail in the highs. I also could be imagining it as those differences were subtle. I used several preamps. I had also used several other cartridges with both arms and found less of a difference with for example a denon 103d. Would have happily lived with the IV but having the V decided to keep it.