Upgrade From SME IV to V - Worth It


I currently use an SME IV, fitted with a Clearaudio Maestro V2 Ebony cartridge, on a Michell GyroDec. The combination works very well IMHO. Does anyone have any experience upgrading from an SME IV to a V?

mgattmch

Showing 2 responses by mijostyn

@mgattmch The Gyrodec is a fine turntable. You can not do better without spending insane amounts of money. I know your cartridge well. What I would do is keep the IV and replace the Maestro with a Soundsmith Voice.  The Voice is as good as many highly touted MC cartridges. It is high output so you will have an excellent signal to noise ratio and it's tracking ability is unsurpassed and it is much less expensive to re-tip. 

@dogberry I agree with @ pindac. There will be cartridges that actually work better in the IV, but the differences are minor. Both are very good arms. I think the Tri Planar, the Reed 2G and the Schroder CB would be significant steps up, but again that money might be spent to better effect elsewhere.