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
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.
Getting the TT up and running is just the starting point for a many year tuning and tweaking process. You will have many ups and downs doing this - get started. The length of the tonearm is not the most important aspect of good vinyl sound.

Gary
Getting the TT up and running is just the starting point for a many year tuning and tweaking process. You will have many ups and downs doing this - get started. The length of the tonearm is not the most important aspect of good vinyl sound.

Gary
I suspect that a change to a 12" arm will be subtle, and not necessarily for the better. Depends on the cartridge you use.