SME IV Tonearm and Warped Records

@snackeyp Your tonearm is set up incorrectly. 

You may be right, but how can you se so sure?  I have followed the set up instructions to the letter, repeated several times, and finally felt like everything was dialed in.  I even exchanged several emails with SME directly.  On the topic of warped records, they simply told me that warped records do cause issues with the tapered tonearms and that tweaking it with spacers was the best way to resolve it.  

snackeyp

On the topic of warped records, they simply told me that warped records do cause issues with the tapered tonearms and that tweaking it with spacers was the best way to resolve it.

Both SME and its dealers know that cartridges having a shallow height can be an issue with their tapered arms. Some reviewers have also noted the problem, including AHC in Stereophile, here.

" The V can bring the rear of the tapered arm-tube a bit too close to the record with some cartridges and turntables, and can foul on warped records. This problem is not uncommon, and is probably the arm’s one really serious design fault. You should check carefully with your cartridge and turntable on a mildly warped record to be sure that the SME V will be compatible. This limited arm clearance at the rear, as the arm moves towards the inner grooves, could mean that the arm will cause problems with some future cartridge or turntable of yours. You can solve the problem in part by putting washers under the arm base, or shims between cartridge body and headshell ..."

I've never had this issue with my SME V, btw.