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What Does It Take To Surpass A SME V?

Thinking about the possibility of searching for a new tonearm. The table is a SOTA Cosmos Eclipse. Cartridge currently in use is a Transfiguration Audio Proteus, and it also looks like I will also have an Ortofon Verismo if a diamond replacement occurs without incident. 

The V is an early generation one but in good condition with no issues. Some folks never thought highly of the arm, others thought it quite capable. So it's a bit decisive. 

The replacement has to be 9 to 10.5 inches. I have wondered if Origin Live is worth exploring? Perhaps a generation old Triplanar from the pre owned market?

 Any thoughts on what are viable choices? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

neonknight
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,604 posts
 

😁 funny thing about that...

peterayer
1,382 posts
 

Raúl, I compared the SMEV – 12 to the SME 3012R both on the SME model 30/12 turntable over a period of about a month.    I built a standalone arm pod so I could have both Tonearms on the same turntable. I could not use the vintage tonearm on the modern turntable so I switched the modern tonearm onto the arm pod and I compared both arms on the same arm pod with the same cartridge on the same turn table under the same conditions in the same system.   
 

to me the SME V tonearm is over damped and colored sounding.   The vintage 3012R sounds much more natural in my system.  

dgarretson
2,592 posts
 

I have a similar impression comparing a SME 3012R to a Kuzma 4P. The 3012R sounds livelier in a pleasing way, the 4P over-damped. Comparisons made with a Lyra Etna and two ART 7s on a Luxman PD444 with three arms and two 3012Rs, one stock and the other(better one) with silver wire and a bronze bearing.

dover
2,182 posts
 

two 3012Rs, one stock and the other(better one) with silver wire and a bronze bearing.

I don't know why anyone would use bronze for a knife edge bearing, it is too soft and will wear quickly.

dover
2,182 posts
 

The 3012R sounds livelier in a pleasing way, the 4P over-damped. 

The 3012R has a charm to the sound.

I have set up multiple cartridges on the 4Point11 and have never heard it sound over damped. It is very quick, and quite neutral. I don't use the damping troughs on the 4Point.

As always with tonearms, the results can vary depending on the actual  TT used and mounting.

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