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Best Koetsu for SME V

I have a SME V with a Benz Ruby 2. I want to jump into the Koetsu club. What would be the best Koetsu to match the SME V. Some say that the "stone" ones (Jade-Onyx) would be too heavy for the V although there is now a new SME specially design weight to accomodate the heaviest cartridges like the Clearaudio Goldfinger at 16g. Anyway, any thoughts much appreciated. Anything Urushi and above. Gain is not an issue. I can go as low as .1mv
smoffatt
milimetr
152 posts
 
Two friends of mine uses 9" SME V with Rosewood Signature and Jade Platinum.
This is good match but in my opinion not the best possible.

I was trying Urushi Vermillion with higher mass arm - 12" Origin Live Enterprise C (21 grams eff. mass) and got very good results.
hifier1958
9 posts
 
Thank you the information. I am concern about the resonance problem with the combination of SME 312S (14g) & Urushi (9g). So, I am trying the effect of adding about 5.5g more weight to the head shell by heavier screws and a metal plate.
Need sometime to test the result. BTW, what VTF do you use? Thanks.
milimetr
152 posts
 
I was using 1.95 g.
mafuta
10 posts
 
I used a number of sequential Koetsu Onyx carts on an SME V for more than 10 years,having moved from the temperamental Goldmund T3 to the V. I had the heavy counterweight and headshell spacers for the V. I thought it was wonderful.

Then I tried the Koetsu on a FR 64S. I cannot believe that I stifled those Koetsus for such a long time.In hindsight I was probably just so relieved to have an arm that could repeatedly make it through one side of an LP that I missed the SME V/Koetsu sonic mismatch.

The SME V is a great arm but not with Koetsus.
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