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?
Triplanar can't compete vs MAX 237 and I know that you have not the Proteus but an old one but as with the V are audiophiles that like the Tri. as like Schroeder or the Reed or the Kuzma or the OL, or this one where M.Fremer in his SAT DD XD-1 100K TT/SAT tonearm compared vs the RP 10 that comes mounted with this tonearm and Fremer mated with Lyra Atlas, Anna by Ortofon and some other top cartridges:
https://www.rega.co.uk/products/rb3000
R. |
As there is no indicator the SME V under inquiry is owned, but only being considered and is a early version. A suggestion of alternatives is no harm. The used V Model being considered, if from the mainstream offerings is most likely $3500 - 5000ish There is a lot of options to be put on a list at this purchase point, even a New Model of another Brand in this price range. As said in previous Posts, if it weren't for the Rega Design being so successful and sought after, there would most likely not be a SME IV, V, 309, along with a host of others that poached the Rega Geometry and Design. |
@rossb kudos for the nod towards musicality :) @neonknight beaten surely but at what cost, right? Btw hello fellow Washingtonian! |
Dear @rauliruegas , I have the impression that the internal wiring is Kondo and not Audio note UK. In any case this wiring is very sensitive (though matches arm perfectly) and requires extreme care when installing. This is one of the reasons I have not committed to this internal wiring change. |
