SME V arm: dynamic VTF or straight weight

The other difference between the two SME 12" arms is that the 312S has a detachable headshell for easy cartridge swapping and azimuth adjustment while the V-12 has a fixed headshell for greater rigidity. I don't know if this difference is audible per se, but the possiblilty of adjusting azimuth is certainly a benefit.

Jea48, interesting idea. I've read somewhere that best results with SME is splitting the difference. In other words, apply half the track force with spring and half with weight.

If I had one here I would do the experiment. My 312S has no spring so no choice with it.

The flaw I see with the new SME V-12 is the non detachable head shell does not provide for azimuth adjustment of the cartridge. I don't know if I can give that up to achieve the (supposedly) extra rigidity.

Dear Peter: IMHO and due to my V and IV experiences the cartridge that you mount in the V performs better if the V is working in full static way where the " springs " are totally by-passed ( it does not make sense to " split ". ), in the static balanced way the spring can't resonate/vibrate and can't affect the cartridge quality performance.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

I have read that the spring is damped so it should not vibrate much anyway. But Jea48 raises an interesting question. I had assumed that the spring would be compressed, not streched out at the 0.0g setting. I wonder which is which. I have set my dial to 0.0 and will listen for a few days and than switch back and report if I notice any improvement. My PC-1 is on the heavier side, so the counterweight does move significantly in toward the arm's pivot point now that it is balanced statically. And that must be better for the arm's enertia, even if it isn't audible.

Hi Peterayer,
I'm also a SME-V user (previously SME-309) on a SME 10 tt.

It was mentioned above, that the VTF spring is 'damped'. That is correct according to SME and you should feel that the dial moves VERY reluctantly -- a sure sign of the presents of heavy silicon damping.

Having said that, go feel the way the phono-plug connector at the bottom of the arm swivels. Also pretty reluctantly. The relevance?
I had to remove this connector some short while ago for some repair issue, so I could look inside ---- it is plug full loaded with silicone of the viscosity used for the damper trough. I understand the spring for VTA is filled with the same stuff.

As to your arm-weight issue, I'm familiar with this. I use a PW cart speced at 13g and actually reported to be 13.6g (I have not yet confirmed this with my own).
So, the PC 1 is ~13.5g to my recollection, which gives us a similar situation. You can get the heavier SME counter-weight at ~ 400$, or go to your local tire shop and ask for two 15g flat stick-on lead balancing weights for mag wheels (I have done this and it works fine). Stick them on the bottom of the tungsten weight (the screwed in incert), side by side the long way, so nothing will touch the arm post if you use a slightly lighter cart --- e.g. ~ 11g.

In my case the added 30g (as is the heavier SME weight) brings the counterweight into the middle of the adjustement range. I have also tried even heavier added weights to bring the counter weight just up to the pivot-post and can tell: IT MAKES ZERO in difference in my system, YMMV. So I stuck to the 2x 15g added weight, 'cause it looks more balanced to my eye. The old adage applies: What looks good, works well... YMMV.

I also have listened to a REGA 300 (with a Dorian) on a 1/2 & 1/2 static/dynamic setting ,and at least I could not hear a difference to a full dynamic setting, what so ever.

It seems a similar issue, as is with some SME arm owners encouraging to take off the arm post-bridge --- for yet more superior sound?
Tried that, been there, got the cap and the T-shirt --- it does sound slightly different but in no way any BETTER (in my system) i.e. a little bit less bass so you hear a bit more top end.

Greetings,
Axel