What are good options for re-wiring an SME 3009 tone arm?

I sent my SME 3009 S2 (Non-Improved) off to “Robert Graetke”, at Analog Tube Audio. The Website is http://www.analogtubeaudio.de

I had it rebuilt and rewired with his silver wire, which I believe you could possibly purchase from him separately?

I cannot comment on the sound changes as, I unfortunately never got my TD-124 back together and running….

Eliminating the original SME connector block and getting an RCA or 5 pin Conversion kit, is a good option to take.

Verses running litz or other wiring, all the way to the pre-amplifier. Which I feel, would lock you in to whatever sound that cable provides.

On doing the tonearm wiring yourself…take a look at this site and see what is involved with the re-wire SME 3009 first: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/sme-3009-series-ii-tonearm-rewire-tutorial.989728/

@d-vinyl-3009

Thank you so much! The audiokarma thread is very informative. My biggest fear has been reconnecting the ground (black) wire inside the arm tube using that little floating nut! Gluing the nut to the cable eyelet makes sense.

The Vinyl Source claims the capacitance of their full-length Litz cable is too low for them to measure. This length is the tone-arm plus one metre. They supply a strain block to replace the SME DIN block.

If I just replace the tone arm cabling, I would prefer to keep the SME DIN block and the original DIN block to RCA connector block cable, which is where those two connection points are located in each wire! This is using the engineering principle "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it".

I started down this path because the original SME head-shell connectors have oxidised and I broke one from its wire.  Looks as if they are tinned copper, not the gold plated items common today!

In general, I am not a fan of spending big money on cables, but I reckon the tone arm cable should be the most important in the whole reproduction chain for vinyl playback.

Yes, the original SME tinned connectors were not that great and SME of Canada actually are on the side of removing those old SME DIN block connectors. Their postion on it, was that "the best type of connection, is no connection at all". 

That appears to be why SME of Canada and some other rewire services. Remove the SME DIN Block connectors and rewire out fully to the RCA connectors. Using custom designed cable stand off and strain relief systems.

On my side of it, after first having the SME Canada setup. I heard about what Analog Tube Audio was doing tonearm rebuild wise and internal silver cabling wise.

So, when I decided to rebuild and upgrade my beloved TD-124 turntable. I had them rebuild by SME 3009 S2 tonearm, install silver wiring and add in the RCA conversion kit setup. 

I went this way, as cables do matter to me and I wanted option to change out RCA cabling, as needed based on my system configuration (which does change), using my desired cable builder and needed cable length.

I found this at SME Tonearm Rewiring : SME Tonearms, SME 3009 Turntable Parts Templates & Manuals

It is on the side of the fewer connectors the better.  They seem to use Cardas Litz wire and charge GBP-400 for a complete rebuild:  The following is from their website:

"There are so called professional / expert SME rewiring services both here in North America & in Europe that will try to sell you on the idea that by pulling a piece of wire through the arm tube & replacing the vintage SME lower four pin horizontal DIN connector with an RCA termination will solve all your problems.

"All we can say to this is, that is nonsense & pure lies.

"This is nothing more than the easy way out, involving the least possible amount of work & the highest possible profit. This is basically a $49.00 rewiring job. Anyone that even knows the most basic amount about electronics & sensitive audio components will clearly tell you that the best type of connection is no connection at all.

"All these alleged professionals are doing for you is swapping one problem for another problem.  We on the other hand believe that the correct solution to the problem is the more difficult and time consuming road. No one else in the world employs two independent continuous runs of 4 X 33 fully RF shielded wire further encapsulated in an additional outer fully shielded RF jacket.  We actually use almost 10 feet / 3.04 Meters of 4 X 33 to accomplish a 4.25 feet/ 1.25 Meter run of cable.

"Our custom bottom end completely eliminates the original SME bottom end.
With our custom stand off and strain relief system all mess & clutter on the bottom of the tonearm are eliminated.  And miracle of miracles, there is no longer a connection point there ...
"By employing the system we have perfected over more than twenty one years, you will achieve far greater sonic improvements than by just pulling a wire through the arm wand , sticking a set of RCA connectors on the bottom of the existing SME screening can and buying a $1,000.00 phono interconnect cable to run from the bottom of the tower to your phono preamp.