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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
pindac's avatar
pindac
4,006 posts
 

No Secrecy 

I have seen posts from neonknight and the info' offered may be well suited to their outlook on things.

If the contact is made, all that will need to be made know to learn more will be offered for their own evaluation and appraisal.

It is not hard to supersede in performance a Glorified version of a early Tonearm Design from the Company Rega.

If Rega had the collateral in the early days of their becoming a Business, there 'may' have been Patents Present that would have stop most plagiarist's in their tracks.

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,991 posts
 

an sme is easy to beat why no azimuth

 

a triplaner or graham or kuzma are all superior 

 

Dave andTroy

audio intellect nj

petg60
1,486 posts
 

an sme is easy to beat why no azimuth

I am afraid that this is not entirely true, you can always make slight azimuth adjustments on SME V.

If not then throw away the cartridge.

Now, yes it is a hard to beat arm, not perfect but close.

 

rauliruegas
13,384 posts
 

Dear @neonknight : You can up-grade your " old " V with a new silver ( Audio Note UK silver wire.. ) internal rewirig that this time goes with connectors directly to your phono stage.

 

Other alternative and very hard to beat is that with the same recomended " treatment " look for the MAX -237 with the J removable headshell, an excellent tonearm.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

lewm
14,707 posts
 

Just to throw another name brand into the mix, Reed tonearms are very good. Schroeder tonearms are also superb but have a reputation for long wait periods if you order a new one. I have no basis to claim that any tonearm is "superior" to the SME V, because I don't own one and have heard it only in audio salons and at shows, which experience I judge to be a poor way to choose gear.  Also, keep in mind that the cartridge (matching to the tonearm and SQ), the turntable, and the downstream system have everything to do with how we perceive the performance of a tonearm. Instead, I would look at features, like how easy is it to adjust overhang, VTA, VTF, azimuth, etc., along with quality of construction and design execution.

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