Sme arm "Bridge Removal"

I never installed my SME V fingerlift. I have not done an a/b listening comparison, but I figure it is one more thing at the headshell that can vibrate. I simply move the headshell into the right location and then slowly lower it using the damped arm-lever/lift. Very simple with no fear of damaging the cantilever. I prefer the fixed headshell for the same theoretical reason, though azimuth now needs to be adjusted by slightly tilting the base of the arm before tightening the set screws. Works fine, but is less convenient. Also can't easily swap cartridges.

Dear Sme10: If " bridge removal " is a synonymous of finger lift then I agree that the IV/V/cartridge performance improve a little maybe due that the " connection " between the tonearm and the cartridge is more direct.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

The Bridge Removal indeed refers to the brigde across the main bearing.

To understand why this has a sonic effect, one should know that the bearings are preloaded very high with SME IV,V,309 tonearms (and their siblings). And then the vertical bearing is very sensitive sonically, a lot more than than the horizontal bearing, in my experience. If you remove this bridge, you lower the preload, and thus gain treble air and lose some harshness. But, at the same time, you lose some bass power. From what I have tried, it is best to losen the screws of the bridge, then retighten it again. With this you lower the preload, but don't lose much bass power.

best regards, Hartmut

Dear Hartmut: Thank you for your info, everyday is a learning one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Hartmut -- could you please explain what 'preload' means (in terms of the mechanism itself.) Sounds interesting.
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