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?
This is true. We ran Kimber cable for years with no problems at all- both on the SME5 and Graham 2.2. But if you're running balanced, if the cable and preamp are properly set up you'll find that the 'sound' from one cable to the next is very similar. |
@neonknight My friend with the modified Schue TT > OL Illustrious has been very impressed with the set up, and has now come to the conclusion there is more to be discovered. The Schue will soon be coupled with a OL 'Conqueror Mk IV' > Sumiko Pearwood. It would seem the arm upgrade will bring something new, the Conqueror is one that has superseded the use of the SME IV and V, this is a demonstration I am looking forward to. It also puts another level of Tonearm in the lineup for the upcoming Tonearm Comparisons to be carried out. |
@pindac I have looked at the Origin Live arms and thought these could be a candidate. I understand SOTA has to fabricate a board specifically for the Enterprise in order to stay in the weight requirements of the suspension on a SOTA turntable. I may yet end up going this route. The only oddity that i dislike is why they feel the need to use a hanging antiskate weight in this day and age? A TOTL tonearm should accomplish this task in a more elegant way. A minor quibble for sure, but at that kind of money it should not present as an afterthought. |
@neonknight I was informing you that the owner of the Schue TT, feels the TT was worth the additional investment, hence the more expensive Tonearm is being acquired. As for the design of OL Tonearms above a certain price level, I can only say I have been impressed during the demonstrations and look forward to this next one to take place. |
I am trying the added mass modification suggested by @JCarr for SME V with a Lyra cart, with promising results; sound seems a bit fuller and deeper, with no obvious problems, mistracking etc. Total mass ca 35g (5 on the headshell, 30 on the counterweight). Maybe best with a little bit oil reservoir damping too. Atlas at 1.71g weight. |
