Silly turntable question


(The question, not the TT!)

I'm assembling a turntable setup, slowly over time.
At this point I have an SP-10 with the factory
obsidian plinth/cover. I have a new SME-V for it
that I bought about 6 years ago (I did say slowly). It's
not even set up yet, let alone having been listened to.

Now, I've gotten the idea in my head that I want a 12-inch
arm instead, the SME-312. THAT would mean selling the
obsidian plinth and buying something custom, as well as
buying the new arm.

I'm willing to admit that I must surely have some mental
quirk to want this change, untested.

Even so, I humbly ask you, what could I expect soundwise
if I followed through with this proposed upgrade ?
Subtle improvements ? How subtle ?
Or, should I just be happy with what I have ?

Speakers are DIY custom built, amps are Brystons,
listening room is way too small.

"Do you think I'll be happy ?" What a question.
noslepums
I can guarantee that you will never be happy about a system you never set up.
GrooveMaster

We can make your dream turntable which will make you happy :-)

However sometimes just completing something makes you feel real happy - I know once this one delivered and set up - ill be very happy.

As Always Good Listening

Peter
Some cartridges work better on long arm, some work better on short arm. It depends on what you have.
You might ask Albert Porter here for some thoughts, he has marketed a custom plinth for the SP-10 (I'm not shilling for him, just making it clear that he does business in this space) and has fooled around with a number of different arms, including the longer SME.
I have an old SP-10 that is sitting idle, bought it new back in 1974. Unfortunately, it is a mk i, not the better mk ii or iii, so I'm not inclined to sink alot of money into it right now. At some point I may bring it back into play for a vintage system. I will tell you, based on my experience with the older plinths for the SP-10 that the concepts of isolation were not as well advanced or executed as they are today. Mine, which was mounted in a gorgeous Music & Sound wooden plinth, was microphonic as hell. There's also been a fair amount of discussion here about running these naked, with a free standing arm pod, but I gather that's fairly controversial insofar as the SP-10 is concerned- not sure why it wouldn't work if the turntable mounted to something that did a good job on isolation. My current table (a Kuzma) works that way- the arm stands 'free' of the table on its own pod and gives you the flexibility to add several arms. However, that table depends on mass. And it is a motha to isolate properly and get level.
Good luck.