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

 

Excellent Tang. Glad you like it!! Blue is right, you will like Faded Fantasy as well. Gotta think of some other modern records for you to buy - but mind blank at the moment as playing loud and raucous Queens of the Stone Age ( seeing them in concert on weekend) and classic Prince - Sign of the Times.

I put SPU Royal GM onto the 3012-R today. funny, the Royal has more detail and bass, but I think I like the musical delivery of the cheaper Classic GM E.

View attachment 43555

I got a copy as well, still in the box. Something special about the SPU and SME. I need to get mine on there again. Nice to have choices like this and a relatively quick swap. I have two 3012R's now and if one came my way for a good price I wouldn't hesitate and buy it. So good for what I paid for mine.

 

Excellent Tang. Glad you like it!! Blue is right, you will like Faded Fantasy as well. Gotta think of some other modern records for you to buy - but mind blank at the moment as playing loud and raucous Queens of the Stone Age ( seeing them in concert on weekend) and classic Prince - Sign of the Times.

I put SPU Royal GM onto the 3012-R today. funny, the Royal has more detail and bass, but I think I like the musical delivery of the cheaper Classic GM E.

View attachment 43555

OK, one more only for fear of derailing the thread.
Female in a Jazz/indie style, 180gm but can’t commenton the vinyl SQ, only heard the digital, excellent.

Melanie De Biasio — Lilies
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lilies-VINYL-Melanie-Biasio/dp/B073RYCLS3/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb_twi_lp__3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1535540509&sr=1-1&keywords=melanie+de+biasio+lilies

 

Excellent Tang. Glad you like it!! Blue is right, you will like Faded Fantasy as well. Gotta think of some other modern records for you to buy - but mind blank at the moment as playing loud and raucous Queens of the Stone Age ( seeing them in concert on weekend) and classic Prince - Sign of the Times.

I put SPU Royal GM onto the 3012-R today. funny, the Royal has more detail and bass, but I think I like the musical delivery of the cheaper Classic GM E.

View attachment 43555

I've never heard of GM cartridge, are these vintage or a modern brand?

 

View attachment 43554

I see you are teasing us non-beta testers by including the ddk jig in your photo.

 

i've never heard of gm cartridge, are these vintage or a modern brand?

modern

 

OK, one more only for fear of derailing the thread.
Female in a Jazz/indie style, 180gm but can’t commenton the vinyl SQ, only heard the digital, excellent.

Melanie De Biasio — Lilies
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lilies-VINYL-Melanie-Biasio/dp/B073RYCLS3/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb_twi_lp__3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1535540509&sr=1-1&keywords=melanie+de+biasio+lilies

Nice music! Not usually my style but I'm enjoying the samples on Amazon so..... purchased.

 

modern

These are Ortofons and come with a headshell that is compatible with the 3012R?

 

In my experience sibilance is often when the arm is to high in the back, or azimuth is of. It’s hard to tell from just looking at the angle of the arm. The angel of the stylus can vary quite a bit.

Thank you for the tip!

 

These are Ortofons and come with a headshell that is compatible with the 3012R?

No need to reply. I have educated myself.

 

No need to reply. I have educated myself.

You are also replying to yourself. Clearly self sufficient

 

These are Ortofons and come with a headshell that is compatible with the 3012R?

Yes...all Ortofon spu’s fit the arm....The long type. Type A (square head) require an extender adapter due to its shorter length.

 

Dear all,

I came across this thread and as a 3012R user (on two THORENS TTs ) I'm interested in the various alignment Tools.
The DB Systems protractor is mentioned frequently, but here in Europe, it seems to be rather unknown.

I have the Dr. Feickert protractor, and two cardboard / paper models.

Does anyone know, what calculations are the basis of this DB Systems protractor ?

(Sorry, if this topic has been covered before) Further: my SME 3012R manual (apparently) states the pivot to spindle as 294 mm, while everywhere else I read 296 mm – which one is true ?
(The manual actually states: “Distance from bedplate centre to turntable centre = 294 mm” , which I assume is pivot to spindle ?)

Thanks & Best regards

Urs

 

Hi are you Urs of swissonor?

 

bonzo75,

Sorry, no - I've heard of Swissonor of course, but I have no connection with them
(URS is / was a rather common first name in Switzerland )

Regards

Urs

PS: Both my TT's and the associated SME 3012R’s were modified / serviced by a business partner of Swissonor, Jürg Schopper (www.schopper.ch) , who is a well-known expert for THORENS

 

Dear all,

I came across this thread and as a 3012R user (on two THORENS TTs ) I'm interested in the various alignment Tools.
The DB Systems protractor is mentioned frequently, but here in Europe, it seems to be rather unknown.

I have the Dr. Feickert protractor, and two cardboard / paper models.

Does anyone know, what calculations are the basis of this DB Systems protractor ?

(Sorry, if this topic has been covered before) Further: my SME 3012R manual (apparently) states the pivot to spindle as 294 mm, while everywhere else I read 296 mm – which one is true ?
(The manual actually states: “Distance from bedplate centre to turntable centre = 294 mm” , which I assume is pivot to spindle ?)

Thanks & Best regards

Urs

I move the tonearm for alignment so the center changes with each cartridge. The DB Protractor is a Baerwald graph same as the paper ones that come with the tonearm only better quality and easier to read.

david

 

David,

Thanks

OK - Baerwald it is; which is one option on the Feickert protractor.
(I'm using the Feickert mainly to adjust the pivot to spindle distance, currently at 296 mm (even though my Manual seems to state 294 mm ??)

One of my “paper" models from Accutrack uses a different selection
http://www.accutrak.us/sme-3012r.html

I have one Ortofon SPU A95; hence I’m setting the arm to fit this fixed-shell cartridge.
I’m currently using the SME “Specs”, which appears to fit well with the Feickert distance.
The other cartridges are all on variable headshells, so I can move them to fit this “original” setting.

Please, don’t ask me whether I could ever hear any difference in sound, when making minor adjustment….

Regards

Urs

 

bonzo75,

Sorry, no - I've heard of Swissonor of course, but I have no connection with them
(URS is / was a rather common first name in Switzerland )

Regards

Urs

PS: Both my TT's and the associated SME 3012R’s were modified / serviced by a business partner of Swissonor, Jürg Schopper (www.schopper.ch) , who is a well-known expert for THORENS

Yes I have been to Schopper's place. What carts, phono, and speakers do you use?

 

bonzo75,


Copy from my profile:
=========
My major analog equipment is predominantly of Swiss origin:
Two vintage Thorens players, one TD 127 and TD 520, each with modified SME 3012R tonearms. An MC-MM transformer and a tube phono stage complete the analog chain.

The rest of the electronics is British: NAIM, incl. a CD player + the speakers are active LINN 350A.
cartridges are: : a wide choice of BENZ, KOETSU, Ortofon SPU and others, including some shellac cartridges .

And from a previous “collection activity” are still two modified REVOX 291 TT’s around: so-called "Empire Scientific MC Reference" models.
Various tuners are also always in operation, as well as I have some headphones.

Music:
Classical, opera and others , Dixie Jazz, British Brass, Folk, and "a variety of “Acoustical music "
(NO "electronic" rock, pop and modern stuff)
============

Benz Micro: I had an older "LP", which I'm about to sell (Reason: the LP is not very compatible with my Airtight SUT) I still own an “Ebony TR”, with very low output, which is specifically meant to be used with an SUT (TR= Trafo !!)
KOETSU: Rosewood Signature Platinum, and an ONYX “Stone body”, both are my current “highlights”.
SPU: As mentioned this is the Anniversary A95. Optically of course a real eye-catcher on an SME 3012R…

Phono- MM-Tube-Amp from Audio-Note

As I’m also playing shellac records, the TD 127 is normally equipped with an (S)PU Mono CG 65, cartridge, or other shellac capable cells.
(The TD 520 would of course also play shellacs, but I'm too lazy to alter the counter weights & tracking weight. On the TD 127 I can adjust the “Swing-behaviour" of the chassis – An off-centre 12“ shellac spinning with 78 RPM can be a very wobbly & oscillating affair….)

Regards

Urs

 

bonzo75,


Copy from my profile:
=========
My major analog equipment is predominantly of Swiss origin:
Two vintage Thorens players, one TD 127 and TD 520, each with modified SME 3012R tonearms. An MC-MM transformer and a tube phono stage complete the analog chain.

The rest of the electronics is British: NAIM, incl. a CD player + the speakers are active LINN 350A.
cartridges are: : a wide choice of BENZ, KOETSU, Ortofon SPU and others, including some shellac cartridges .

And from a previous “collection activity” are still two modified REVOX 291 TT’s around: so-called "Empire Scientific MC Reference" models.
Various tuners are also always in operation, as well as I have some headphones.

Music:
Classical, opera and others , Dixie Jazz, British Brass, Folk, and "a variety of “Acoustical music "
(NO "electronic" rock, pop and modern stuff)
============

Benz Micro: I had an older "LP", which I'm about to sell (Reason: the LP is not very compatible with my Airtight SUT) I still own an “Ebony TR”, with very low output, which is specifically meant to be used with an SUT (TR= Trafo !!)
KOETSU: Rosewood Signature Platinum, and an ONYX “Stone body”, both are my current “highlights”.
SPU: As mentioned this is the Anniversary A95. Optically of course a real eye-catcher on an SME 3012R…

Phono- MM-Tube-Amp from Audio-Note

As I’m also playing shellac records, the TD 127 is normally equipped with an (S)PU Mono CG 65, cartridge, or other shellac capable cells.
(The TD 520 would of course also play shellacs, but I'm too lazy to alter the counter weights & tracking weight. On the TD 127 I can adjust the “Swing-behaviour" of the chassis – An off-centre 12“ shellac spinning with 78 RPM can be a very wobbly & oscillating affair….)

Regards

Urs

Hello Urs, nice setup ! How do you like your Benz TR ? What step-up ratio are you using with it, and how does it compare to your other cartridges?

 

Lagonda,

Sorry - I honestly haven't used the "TR" for a while, and last time it was on the TD 127 that is my “stand-by TT”, or mainly in “shellac service” .

But from my meagre recollection, it's marginally less detailed than the LP.
All my 3 other cartridges (KOETSU and SPU) I would rate as “better in all aspects” (in know , not a very clear description of sound ) , but especially voices I rate as more natural, which is one of my most important criterions.

I almost always use the low setting, 2 Ohm, on the Airtight SUT.
========
Copied from here: http://benzcartridges.com/products/ebony/
The Ebony TR is designed for use with a Step Up Transformer (SUT), featuring a .1mV output and a coil impedance of less than 5 ohms.”
====

Regards

Urs