SME Tonearm

I have the same Empire 208 in my collection! And three other ones! Great TT's! All have the original arms. An easy recommendation is the venerable Denon 103 and 103R. For the money (about $300) can't be beat! A truly fine sounding mc cartridge from the Golden Age of Hi Fi! A long-time favorite of Art Dudley of Stereophile! The conical stylus makes setting the SRA easier than a line- contact. And sounds just fine - regardless of what the naysayers think!

For more money ($750) one of the low-output Hana MC's would work well in the SME. I have owned that arm. It's a good one!

2M Black!

Thanks I have a Hana on my other Empire. For the money its wonderful. Have not heard the Denon for sometime but will consider

Best to confirm the effective mass of your SME...

From memory, the 3009 "improved" is 6.5-7.5 grams for the fixed headshell version and 9.5 grams for the detachable headshell version.

They also have plastic knife edges, instead of the metal ones used in the older "non-improved" versions.

DeKay 

Dekay the arm I purchased has the detachable headshell Thanks

Here's a link to a chart to use as a basic aid/guide.

You will need the compliance and weight spec's of the cartridge you are considering (we have already established that the effective mass of your SME 3009 is 9.5 grams).

https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php?eff_mass=9.5&submit=Submit

DeKay

Thanks DeKay, The chart will be a lot of help.