The cartridge I'm using now is high output MC - Ortofon MC-1 turbo. Recently, I started wondering if the cartridge weight setting should also reflect added weight of spacers, screws and this putty? Should I also substract the weight of the finger lift thingy that I removed from the headshell? I always checked the VTF with a small Ortofon Stylus Gauge. I used to set this to naked cartridge weight. Why? On some other arms you only have VTF and anti-skating settings. SME 3009 has this setting for cartridge weight. Question No 2 (also related to Q No 1): I allways wondered what this really is for: Question No 1: Is this tweak valid in your opinion? After twenty years I'm not really sure about the difference, since I never removed the putty. I kind of remember that after this tweak, sound got warmer with slightly deeper bass. The cartridge at that time was MM Ortofon VMS30 MkII. I stuffed it with a small amount of some sort of black modelling putty (feels like BluTack), filling all small holes. When I got my Thorens 126 MkI / SME 3009 some twenty years ago (those were times without the Internet) I was told by some "guru" that SME headshell was not that good and that I should do the following tweak: Depending on the condition, expect to spend between £50 and £250.I have this question regarding setting up my SME 3009 improved (removable headshell version). Rough around the edges but pleasing nonetheless, the 3009S2’s low second-hand prices make it a good used buy although they’re beginning to climb now. The 3009S2’s cheap second-hand pricing make it a decent used buy though they’re starting to climb now. Always utilize SME’s LC-OFC arm leads and headshell wires, as well as SME’s double pin type headshells, which are also available from the factory. All plugs and connectors should be cleaned with Kontak, and if you have an older model with edge connectors, these can be upgraded to gold-plated phono sockets at the manufacturer. When attaching the arm to a hardwood armboard, it’s also a good idea to utilize SME’s strong mounting washers instead of the default rubber grommets.
#Sme tonearm 3009 full
The arm should be returned to SME for a full service for best results. The S2 bounces along with a fluid midrange and plenty of vigor, never letting the recording’s intricacies get in the way of the big image. It still delivers an engagingly musical performance despite significantly less detail, constricted low bass, harsh, shut-in treble, and a hazy midband.
#Sme tonearm 3009 series
Of course, it’s a rudimentary device in comparison to the latest Series V, but it’s still dynamic and entertaining. Unfortunately, the 3009S2 is no longer in style, but it still sounds great in its own right. Also, fixed headshell models sound better than the ‘enhanced’ detachable shell type. The key is to use magnetic cartridges with a highish compliance, such as the classic Shures of old or the outstanding current Goldring G1042. Although the optional FD200 fluid damper makes the 3009 happier with heavier designs, it’s best suited to lowish mass cartridges. It’s well-engineered, with a combination of precision ballrace and knife-edge bearings, low friction, and easy tilt, overhang, and height adjustments. Its heyday was the 1970s, when it was the arm to fit to turntable motor units, making it widely and inexpensively accessible second-hand. It was the best-selling tonearm of its generation before the Rega RB300 in 1983. The final 3009 S2 is still in use, and the 1978 Series 3 was never able to effectively replace it. Alastair Robertson-Aikman, the originator and designer of SME, modified it later, developing numerous variations, including the 3012 12″ version for improved tracking precision. It was a revelation by agricultural standards of the time, and it quickly gained many admirers and accolades. The first ‘precise pick-up arm’ from SME didn’t come until 1959. The ‘Scale Model Equipment Company Ltd’ was founded in 1946 to produce parts for the model engineering industry, but by the 1950s, it had expanded to include aircraft instruments and commercial machinery.