SME V : what to expect ?

My experience with SME 345, same tube and bearings, is that they are competent performers, easy to set up and work with just about any cartridge. Is it the very best? Depends on your definition of best. I dont think it adds anything to the music, which I guess is what its supposed to do.

I am not sure that making a determination about an arm's sound by comparing it to a different arm on a dramatically different style turntable table is fair. The SME V is a fine arm. It may be not be the best, but it has little of the false added brightness (sometimes confused for liveliness) that many audio components do; definition and staging is very good. My issue with the arm is that it can have an overblown low bass that on the the wrong table (one without enough energy in the mid/upper bass) can make the bass range sound disjointed from the rest of frequency spectrum; almost like a poorly calibrated subwoofer. On the right table, in a system that needs the energy in the lower bass it can sound great. I went from an SME V to an ET2 and while I never really looked back, there were times when I used my Stax F-81's, which need all the help they can get in the low bass department, that I missed that low bass energy.

Having owned both the SME V and ET2, as well as the Gyrodec and Oracle, I can concur with Frogman 100%.
The SME V is a great arm on a deck that suits it, eg Sota/SME V. It was a complete disaster for example on the Linn Sondek when it was 1st released.

I've owned two SME V's and an SME IV.Vi. Frogman and Dover provided good info. My V's were both mounted on Star Sapphires and mated well with various cartridges including Benz Ruby 2, Koetsu Urushi, Onyx Platinum and a few others. I always enjoyed what I heard.

The IV.Vi was mounted on a Nottingham Mentor along with a VDH Black Beauty. I preferred that setup to the Sota/SME V combos.

My first complaint about the SME's is no azimuth adjustment. If you're gonna spring for a pricey cartridge, I think it's a must. My other complaint, and this applies to almost all pivoted arms, I always heard tracing error, and after a while, it got old.

I almost went with a linear tracker but after recommendations from Ralph at Atma-Sphere and Thom from Galier, I decided to give the Tri-Planar a try. That was a few years ago and I'm still enjoying the T-P. For whatever reason, I don't notice any tracing error and it's got all the adjustments you need; and they're all repeatable.

If you could find an ET-2 in good shape, I'd take it over the SME. I have one friend with a Sota Millenia, ET-2, Benz LP and another with a Sota Nova, ET-2, ZYX Universe. I could happily live with either setup, especially the one with the Universe

I have used the SME V and IV on the following turntables: Basis Debut Signature, Technics SP 10 III and Technics SP 10 II (both fully restored Bill Thalmann), and Thorens TD 124 II and I (both fully restored). Cartridges include Benz LPS and Benz LP (upgraded with micro ridge stylus), Denon 103R, Ortofon 2m Black, Shure V15 Type Vmxr (with Jico stylus) and others. Overall, the SME arms are excellent arms. Unlike others, I have never had bass problems with these arms. They sound ripe, lush and detailed. Their sonic characteristics carry over from turntable to turntable fairly intact. The SME IV is more lively and dynamic sounding than the V, perhaps a bit colored in this respect. I have never had tracking / tracing issues with these arms. But, set up is critical to achieve best results. I use the SME overhang gauge to rough in positioning, and then fine tune with the Feickert device. VTA is difficult to adjust properly. I am amazed at how well the SME V handles the Shure V15 Type Vmxr due to the high compliance of the Shure. As for azimuth, while I check it with Fozgometer, I don’t adjust the SMEs because of the sheer difficulty of it – adding spacers to the cartridge mount, readjusting the cartridge, rechecking, and re-doing because it’s not quite right. Ultimate exasperation. Nonetheless, the SME’s azimuth is very close to correct.

Now what is really interesting is how the SME arms compare to the Graham Phantom Supremes. I use a 9” Graham on the Basis and the 10” Graham on the Technics tables. The Graham’s have far superior adjustments for overhang, VTA and azimuth. The result is a more perfectly dialed-in sound. I simply can’t fine tune the SMEs as well as I can the Grahams (azimuth is adjusted with the Fozgometer). As compared to the SMEs, the Grahams have superior inner detail, dynamics, delicacy and bass definition. Overall sound is “leaner” with Grahams as compared to the SMEs – perhaps attributable to the bass ripeness for which the SMEs are so famous. Unfortunately, the Graham simply can’t handle the low tracking force of the Shure V15 Type Vmxr, especially for anti-skate adjustment.

Are the Grahams better arms than the SMEs? Yes, in my experience they are better in almost all respects. Would I give up my SMEs? No! They are superb arms which I enjoy very much for their view of the music.

The next step in my analog journey is to get a handle on how longer arms affect the sound. I have the SME 312S on hand and the 12 inch Graham is a possibility with a change in arm wands.

This is more than you asked – hope it helps.