Sme 3012 R

I know this old arm is good but I don’t know why David,Rockitman,Tang,Ron,Mike
Use or will use having top tonearm like Sat,EliteAxiom,Black Beauty,Durand

Why 3012 is so special?
I never had and I don’t understand
Only to know for my curiosity
Regards
Gian

 

You have to wonder why they put that azimuth screw on the bottom of the arm tube. It's a PITA to fit a screw driver underneath.

Replace it with a stainless steel hexagonal socket cap miniature screw. But do not tell David you did it ...

 

OK, another newbie question:

I didn't get the protractor with my 3012R so I'm using a Smartractor. I set P2S distance but now when trying to align the cartridge, the overhang is WAY off (see below).

The instructions say to "release the two base clamp nuts on either side of the arm with the nylon box spanner". Not sure what the 'nylon box spanner' is but I assume the two base clamps are thumb screws that I used to set P2S. How can I extend the arm for proper overhang without affecting P2S distance?

 

You should be moving the position of the arm in the 2 slots (with the 2 thumb screws) so that you can get the overhang correct. Since the head shell position is fixed that’s the only way to get the overhang right.

 

You should be moving the position of the arm in the 2 slots (with the 2 thumb screws) so that you can get the overhang correct. Since the head shell position is fixed that’s the only way to get the overhang right.

And it doesn't matter if that compromises the P2S distance?

 

And it doesn't matter if that compromises the P2S distance?

That is a question for others to answer. I use a Mint protractor for my alignment and while it is specific to the arm and the turntable it requires me to hit 2 points on the arc. I am not sure what the resultant P2S distance is.

 

I have tried both the original and the Van den Hul D-501 Silver Hybrid Tonearm cable which is effectively a newer version of the original and preferred the newer version.

Is this the newer, or the older version of the cable ? This one is withholding treble, to my ears.

 

I think that is the older, original cable. I am not home so I can’t take a picture of mine but I believe it is this.

 

I think that is the older, original cable. I am not home so I can’t take a picture of mine but I believe it is this.

View attachment 43437

Are you sure that one is original ? I have never seen that version before.

 

Are you sure that one is original ? I have never seen that version before.

The picture I posted is not of the original. I think your picture is. What I posted is a picture of a current vDH cable.

 

Is this the newer, or the older version of the cable ? This one is withholding treble, to my ears.
View attachment 43435

This is an older SME version but not one of the early ones, if it says hybrid in gold lettering it's one of the later ones and does roll off the top a bit but not too badly.

david

 

This is an older SME version but not one of the early ones, if it says hybrid in gold lettering it's one of the later ones and does roll off the top a bit but not too badly.

david

Thank you David. There is no lettering on the cable, but the box that the arm came in is the newer cardboard outer box. Probably the undesirable newer version.

 

OK, another newbie question:

I didn't get the protractor with my 3012R so I'm using a Smartractor. I set P2S distance but now when trying to align the cartridge, the overhang is WAY off (see below).

The instructions say to "release the two base clamp nuts on either side of the arm with the nylon box spanner". Not sure what the 'nylon box spanner' is but I assume the two base clamps are thumb screws that I used to set P2S. How can I extend the arm for proper overhang without affecting P2S distance?

The nylon spanner is for the large screws on either side of the tonearm on the base plate, of course you use a flathead too. You need a good protector like the one from DB Systems to align the 3012 with, you can't use the Smartractor with a fixed headshell.

david

 

Thank you David. There is no lettering on the cable, but the box that the arm came in is the newer cardboard outer box. Probably the undesirable newer version.

No, if not counterfeit that cable is very nicely balanced, roll off is coming from somewhere else in the system or setup, VTF, VTA?

david

 

No, if not counterfeit that cable is very nicely balanced, roll off is coming from somewhere else in the system or setup, VTF, VTA?

david

Maybe not a roll off, more like a midrange focus. I tried it on my other arm to, same result. I burned the cable in using digital on repeat, and the sound had the same character. Maybe i destroyed it using digital?

 

You need a good protector like the one from DB Systems to align the 3012 with, you can't use the Smartractor with a fixed headshell.

david

Thanks, David, that's a bummer. Otherwise I have everything done (and am hearing music).

I assume there's only one model of DB Systems protractor? I'm going to overnight it but want to make sure I don't make a mistake.

 

Thanks, David, that's a bummer. Otherwise I have everything done (and am hearing music).

I assume there's only one model of DB Systems protractor? I'm going to overnight it but want to make sure I don't make a mistake.

I have everything done (or so I thought) apart from the Bias, which I'm still trying to wrap my head around. Would you mind translating "remove the inner base clamp nut and pass the bias guide over the base clamp bolt".

https://www.needledoctor.com/DB-Systems-Protractor

 

Thanks, David, that's a bummer. Otherwise I have everything done (and am hearing music).

I assume there's only one model of DB Systems protractor? I'm going to overnight it but want to make sure I don't make a mistake.

There's only one and your setup might be fine if you're not hearing any distortion across the record.

david

 

Maybe not a roll off, more like a midrange focus. I tried it on my other arm to, same result. I burned the cable in using digital on repeat, and the sound had the same character. Maybe i destroyed it using digital?

I haven't heard it sound like that its a very balanced wire, maybe it's counterfeit.

david

 

I haven't heard it sound like that its a very balanced wire, maybe it's counterfeit.

david

Maybe i am just used to my steak cooked with a little more sizzle ! My Mogami 2534 sound better to me, but i’m still using the SME ground wire, all is not lost.

 

Whatever works best!

david