SPU Royal N on an SME V arm?

Howdy Dougdeacon,
effective mass of a tone arm got zilch to do with a cart hanging off it. It's what the arm brings into the equation on it's own.
THEN you add the cart, etc. and figure out the resonance.

If an arm has more 'beef' to it (even at the back) it has increased mass. So my definition, and SME tends to agree, how nice of them.

The inertia bit is another item yet, and it is duly reduced, 'cause the weight is closer to the pivot, so we can agree on that, no problem.
Greetings,
Axel

It has the effect to increase the effective mass of the arm and it might be somewhere plus ~ 2gram now. The standard weight, depending where it happens to sit, renders the effective arm mass between 10 - 11 gr.

Assuming you can balance the cartridge with either of two counterweights, the higher mass counterweight does not raise the effective mass (moment of inertia) of the cartridge/arm system. It reduces it.

Maybe one more item of interest to report. It seem not to well known that SME makes a higher mass (+30gr) counter weight. This ain't exactly cheap being tungsten and all plus it comes in the actual housing, even though one might argue that the tungsten insert alone could do just fine (it would stick a bit out of the cover though, not perfect enough for SME? I guess so.)
I have followed the DIY advise of my SME dealer and got some Mag-Wheel (lead) balancing weights, flat lead pieces with double sided stick tape. Made some to fit, easy enough and added 30g to the standard weight -- seems to work just fine, till I get the notion to spend some 400$ on the real thing.
It has the effect to increase the effective mass of the arm and it might be somewhere plus ~ 2gram now. The standard weight, depending where it happens to sit, renders the effective arm mass between 10 - 11 gr.
Greetings,
Axel
PS: once a V arm user always a V arm user? Well, we'll see...

Thanks Jcarr,
I have a notion that these are truely very good arms, but then so is an SME-V, right?

Since I also have an SME tt, I count on synergy here and will spend money on music rather.
Thank you for the info though,
Axel

The FR64S has the highest mass, while the FR64-fx has somewhat lower mass. Both FRs are long out of production. The S-series is more sought-after, but tends to sound worse unless you need the extra mass (damping the armtube helps significantly).

The Ikeda IT345 is closer to the fx than the S, and it can be had in a detachable headshell version (like the FRs) or with integrated one-piece armtube. Build-quality is better than that of the FRs, and I like the sound better, too (even the detachable headshell version). The Ikeda is currently in production, so you simply need to locate a dealer.

All of these have dynamic (helical spring-loaded) VTF capabilities. hth.

Hi Dgad,
I'll truly have to ponder throwing my SME-V for some Ikeda, or FR, good as they where and as scarce as chicken teeth to boot.

Thanks for sharing though,
Axel

Get an Ikeda IT345, the 9 inch version. There is one here. I am listing my 12 inch but in your case the 9 inch is best. It should match. Or an FR 64 but I forget which is the high mass one, but I think the 64X is low mass. Also excellent and a few listed on Agon. You just need a high mass headshell w. it. Some like the FR arms better than the Ikeda, although I have no experience.

Thank you Dgad,
now we just gotta find one of these jewels :-)
BUT I'm sure no 12" arm is gonna go onto that SME 10 of mine... and both mentioned just happen to be right that.

I guess it's back to the drawing board.

You would be best off to match w. an Ikeda or SME 3012. Any high mass arm would be much better.

OK, no one out there...
Now how about a Ortofon Windfeld on an SME-V?
At 13,6 gramm that's pushing it, or?
There is a higher 'heavy' SME weight though, for ~ 450USD, hm.