SME V arm: dynamic VTF or straight weight

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

Dear all, does anyone like to answer and clarify the 2nd question raised by Peterayer's very interesting thread?

***Is there a sonic difference and what is the theory behind one versus the other?

I would think that using the latter method moves the counterweight closer to the arm's pivot point and effects how the bearing is loaded and possibly also the moment of enertia of the arm. ***

Because there is a very special dynamic behaviour involved here - one which goes far beyond counterweight vs. spring loaded VTF.

I just do not want to go ahead and being the "theoretical / math guy" again.

But there is a detail here, which has a very significant influence on the sound of the cartridge.........

I've talked with the SME people who say they cannot hear a difference. Maybe their hearing is not as acute as some on this forum........

Hi DerTonarm,
if you read my post you will find that I have addressed the point from a sound response point of view.

I have tried counter weight as close as can be, in the middle and pretty much at the extreme end of the weight adjustment.

There is NO difference in sound between the middle and very close up. Someone with 'bats-ears' MIGHT just make a case for not using the very outer end of the adjustment (I'm sure I have said as much i.e. what looks good works good...

Here again we run into an issue of maths vs hearing.
Let me hasten to mention, that I have just done another upgrade step on my crossover and I can hear VERY DEFINITAVELY a change from a 5R6 5watt Kiwame (carbon film) resistor to a Mills MRA5 5R6 (5watt) in the tweeter resonance compensation, which is NOT in the signal path as such. So, I guess my hearing is jolly good to be able to hear this (it was the right thing to change the R BTW :-)

So, I say NO discernable difference between dynamic and non-dynamic, and also no discernable difference between middle or close to the pivot post counterweight. The maths would surely come up with something other than my hearing, so be it.
Greetings,
Axel

Hi Axel, the difference between the dynamic balanced status and the static balanced (.... I will not bore you or anyone else with the maths here - promised!) status will not be heard on "first sight". However - if you play a record which is warped, you will notice the difference much sooner.

The sound is more relaxed and more stable (reason why so many people address the dynamic balanced status as being less dynamical, less lively). Opera-recordings with large soundstage and a lot of action on stage will give another good example. The "picture" is more stable there too. The focus of the individual voices is better and the timbre always stable.

In the static balanced tonearm the moving mass of the tonearm puts a very dynamic force on the cantilever/suspension system as soon as the stylus begins a hill-and-valley rally on a warped LP.

In other words: - in a static balanced tonearm the VTF is always changing if there are ANY vertical differences in the surface of the LP (and there are in EVERY LP - to a larger or lesser degree).
It may sound more dynamic to some - but is in fact just "unstable conditions".

This applies to a dynamic balanced tonearm to a MUCH lesser degree. Thats why a given cartridge/tonearm combination does always sound comparatively "quiet" and more "relaxed" in dynamically balanced status.

Thats the reason why most of the top-of-the-line tonearms from the "big" companies of the 1980ies did feature dynamically balanced designs.

From the pure technical point of view the working conditions for the cantilever/suspension (...VTF) are much better (read: more constant VTF) if mounted in a dynamically balanced pivot tonearm.

This must NOT mean however, that all audiophiles will find the sound in their specific set-up better with dynamic balanced status. Some may prefer static balanced.