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

 

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

Thank you Urs. My LPS went from an air bearing arm to a SME 3012R when i purchased the TR. A much better fit for the heavy cartridge. The TR is in my system also slightly less detailed, but more forward and dynamic in its presentation. Less focus on soundstage, more on performers. Maybe partly because af the SUT a 1/40 ratio model. I like your taste in cartridges, Koetsu or SPU are probably what i will get next.

 

I am mounting a Miyajima Zero on my 3012R. My plan is to track it at about 3.5 gms. In order to do that with the full counterweight compliment the weights need to sit as close to the pivot as possible. There is very little space left. However, if I remove one of the weights it sits about 2/3s of the way back. Which setup is preferable?

 

I am mounting a Miyajima Zero on my 3012R. My plan is to track it at about 3.5 gms. In order to do that with the full counterweight compliment the weights need to sit as close to the pivot as possible. There is very little space left. However, if I remove one of the weights it sits about 2/3s of the way back. Which setup is preferable?

hard to say but I would go with the added weight and keep it close to the pivot.

 

I am mounting a Miyajima Zero on my 3012R. My plan is to track it at about 3.5 gms. In order to do that with the full counterweight compliment the weights need to sit as close to the pivot as possible. There is very little space left. However, if I remove one of the weights it sits about 2/3s of the way back. Which setup is preferable?

The different positions changes the moment of inertia and effective mass of the arm. It depends on the compliance of your cartridge for best match. I'd try both and see which sounds better. I used to think closest to pivot point was best, but this is not always the case. It depends on the cartridge/arm match. Best to try both and stick with the one you prefer.

 

hard to say but I would go with the added weight and keep it close to the pivot.

+1, looks better that way too.

 

Can someone with this tonearm please do me a favor and tell me the approximate distance between the bias guide pulley and the bias lever?

Thanks in advance.

 

Can someone with this tonearm please do me a favor and tell me the approximate distance between the bias guide pulley and the bias lever?

Thanks in advance.

I will measure now. What is the bias lever? I get the pulley part.

 

I will measure now. What is the bias lever? I get the pulley part.

The metal rod with the measured grooves that the filament cable loop attaches to.

 

The metal rod with the measured grooves that the filament cable loop attaches to.

Approximately 2 1/4”.

 

The metal rod with the measured grooves that the filament cable loop attaches to.

What's the reason for this questions Ian?

david

 

What's the reason for this questions Ian?

david

He is a curious self-checking audiophile David.

Tang

 

He is a curious self-checking audiophile David.

Tang

! In all these years with the 3012-r this is the strangest question I've ever heard, I need to understand this one.

david

 

Approximately 2 1/4”.

Measure from the bottom of the shaft rather than the tip, it's longer that way

 

! In all these years with the 3012-r this is the strangest question I've ever heard, I need to understand this one.

david

Maybe Ian wanted to make sure it was not bent into the wrong position. I’m clumsy and occasionally hit that damned thing to !

 

Measure from the bottom of the shaft rather than the tip, it's longer that way

LOL, so true Ked !

 

Approximately 2 1/4”.

Thanks!

 

! In all these years with the 3012-r this is the strangest question I've ever heard, I need to understand this one.

david

David, I made the mistake of trying to adjust the height of the arm rest (which involves rotating the mechanism) without removing the bias arm and snapped the filament.

I then fused/ glued the two pieces together but the weight sat right up by the pulley. So I didn't know if I bent the bias arm or somehow shortened the filament.

The fused filament didn't hold either so I have 2 things to sort out.

 

Measure from the bottom of the shaft rather than the tip, it's longer that way

Ahahaha. Brilliant

 

David, I made the mistake of trying to adjust the height of the arm rest (which involves rotating the mechanism) without removing the bias arm and snapped the filament.

I then fused/ glued the two pieces together but the weight sat right up by the pulley. So I didn't know if I bent the bias arm or somehow shortened the filament.

The fused filament didn't hold either so I have 2 things to sort out.

I knew that there was something behind the question and this is a first! You could have spared Ked his fantasy and just asked about the filament; which is a more impressive 3" long!

david

 

This is an audio forum David. Everyone's into d*** measurement