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SME V arm: dynamic VTF or straight weight

I am using an SME V arm and wonder if anyone has compared the sound using the dynamic VTF (i.e. setting the dial to 2.0g) versus setting the dial to 0.0g and simply using the counterweight and an accurate scale to set VTF at 2.0g. 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.

I have briefly tried to hear a difference, but couldn't and plan to do a more controlled comparison. Anyone's own experience would be appreciated. Thanks.

Peter
peterayer
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Thanks Daniel,

now what about that D-103 I mentioned?

Lightweight body 4.8g , Low compliance ~5CU in a 'modern' medium-mass arm?

Axel
peterayer OP
1,382 posts
 
Daniel and Raul,
Regarding your advice about damping: I have not used damping on my SME V since I got the Air Tight PC-1. In fact I removed the damping trough and cleaned out any silicone residue. I used the resonance calculator and my cartridge/tonearm combination seems pretty good at 10.5 Hz.

SME V eff. mass = 10-11g
PC-1 weight = 12g
PC-1 compliance = 10cu
Resonance = 10.5 Hz

Settings: no damping, 1.0g antiskate, 2.1g VTF, VTA level with 150g LP, loading at 22ohm with Pass Labs XOno phono amp. Cartridge aligned using MINT Tractor made for specific arm/cartridge combo. Azimuth, zenith and null points all correct.

The PC-1 is a fairly heavy cartridge with low/medium compliance. The math seems to work and it sounds wonderful. Is this because the arm is quite rigid with good internal damping?
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Dear Peter, the SME V is VERY rigid and has good energy transmission. The PC-1 is not that heavy and the SME V is a 9" tonearm with fairly loss mass at the end of the lever (the armtube widens towards the bearing - very good to lower effective moving mass and enhance rigidity).

Your settings seems fine to me - especially the antiskating being only 1/2 value of the VTF.

Enjoy your music,
Daniel
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Dear Axel, the DL-103 is a very simple cartridge with a lousy body. There have been a number of body modifications in the past 30 years - some by Denon, some by others. There even are several lead-body DL-103 around.

The compliance of the DL-103 is sometimes mentioned with 5 dyne, but it is usually 7-9. It is definitively "softer" compared to SPU or FR-7 cartridges. Todays DL-103 are ever increasing in compliance.

The DL-103 ws usually used in radio stations with fairly heavy and unsophisticated headshells. They added the mass missing in the DL-103's body. The DL-103 was once designed by Denon for their broadcast division and severed in japanese radio stations for over 30 years. It was mounted in those fairly heavy headshells and fitted to Denon tonearms with headshell adapter. The low body mass had no influence, as the headshell used was so heavy.
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Daniel,
thanks great information, all make a lot of sense to me.
Axel
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