SME Tonearm Confusion

kdbrink

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2013
19
0
308
Hello!

I currently have a SME 309 arm on an Avid Sequel table with a Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation cartridge. I'm looking at moving up the SME line, but I'm confused with the hierarchy. I realize that the Series V is the top of the line, but I see a Series IV on the SME site, but also find references to a Series IV.VI.

Could anyone explain the differences...especially between the IV and the IV.VI?

Thanks so much!
Ken
 

Enatai252

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2013
163
23
150
Pacific NW
I would look to the SME website for main differences between the IV and the V. The V is a higher spec'd model in general with better bearings and fluid dampening among other things

The IV.Vi is a model made for the US distributor. It has the V arm tube, bearings and fluid dampening. It eliminates the dynamic downforce adjustment (you use the counterbalance and is wired with Magnan type Vi

I had the IV.Vi on a SME 20/2 and had the V on the 20/3. I prefer the IV.Vi. both are.very good
 

kdbrink

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2013
19
0
308
Thanks for your input. I have read great things about the IV.Vi, but couldn't quite figure out how it fit in the hierarchy.
 

cjfrbw

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
3,323
1,313
1,730
Pleasanton, CA
The magnan wire in the IV.Vi is a very high impedance, nearly brass wire. How this helps things over the silver wire of the V, I don't know. I had the IV.Vi a while ago and liked it better than the 309 i had previously. Never had a V to compare.
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
Hello!

I currently have a SME 309 arm on an Avid Sequel table with a Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation cartridge. I'm looking at moving up the SME line, but I'm confused with the hierarchy. I realize that the Series V is the top of the line, but I see a Series IV on the SME site, but also find references to a Series IV.VI.

Could anyone explain the differences...especially between the IV and the IV.VI?

Thanks so much!
Ken

You have a great cartridge - I also own it and in sounds great on the SME V. I have once read that the Palo Santos was developed in a SME V.
 

mep

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
9,481
17
0
I don't know why the SME 312S arm doesn't receive more love than it does. It's probably the best bargain in the SME lineup. It's a 12" arm that has fluid dampening also, but the important thing is it sounds great. It's the first arm I've owned that made me forget about my ET-2 arm. I find it to be a super-low distortion arm that traces the grooves from beginning to end of each record in a way that reminds me of a linear tracking arm in its purity.
 

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