SPU Royal N on an SME V arm?

Hi Dgad,
I'll truly have to ponder throwing my SME-V for some Ikeda, or FR, good as they where and as scarce as chicken teeth to boot.

Thanks for sharing though,
Axel

The FR64S has the highest mass, while the FR64-fx has somewhat lower mass. Both FRs are long out of production. The S-series is more sought-after, but tends to sound worse unless you need the extra mass (damping the armtube helps significantly).

The Ikeda IT345 is closer to the fx than the S, and it can be had in a detachable headshell version (like the FRs) or with integrated one-piece armtube. Build-quality is better than that of the FRs, and I like the sound better, too (even the detachable headshell version). The Ikeda is currently in production, so you simply need to locate a dealer.

All of these have dynamic (helical spring-loaded) VTF capabilities. hth.

Thanks Jcarr,
I have a notion that these are truely very good arms, but then so is an SME-V, right?

Since I also have an SME tt, I count on synergy here and will spend money on music rather.
Thank you for the info though,
Axel

Maybe one more item of interest to report. It seem not to well known that SME makes a higher mass (+30gr) counter weight. This ain't exactly cheap being tungsten and all plus it comes in the actual housing, even though one might argue that the tungsten insert alone could do just fine (it would stick a bit out of the cover though, not perfect enough for SME? I guess so.)
I have followed the DIY advise of my SME dealer and got some Mag-Wheel (lead) balancing weights, flat lead pieces with double sided stick tape. Made some to fit, easy enough and added 30g to the standard weight -- seems to work just fine, till I get the notion to spend some 400$ on the real thing.
It has the effect to increase the effective mass of the arm and it might be somewhere plus ~ 2gram now. The standard weight, depending where it happens to sit, renders the effective arm mass between 10 - 11 gr.
Greetings,
Axel
PS: once a V arm user always a V arm user? Well, we'll see...

It has the effect to increase the effective mass of the arm and it might be somewhere plus ~ 2gram now. The standard weight, depending where it happens to sit, renders the effective arm mass between 10 - 11 gr.

Assuming you can balance the cartridge with either of two counterweights, the higher mass counterweight does not raise the effective mass (moment of inertia) of the cartridge/arm system. It reduces it.