I have a SME 3009 improved fixed headshell tonearm on an old AR suspended chassis TT. Could someone who has had experience with this tonearm recommend me a cartridge that you personally found satisfying.
TIA
TIA
Originally Posted by jsaliga /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm a little surprised that a DL103 would be a good match for a low mass arm like the SME 3009 Improved. I thought about buying one myself until I looked at the resonance evaluator and decided it would not be a good fit for my 3009 Series II. The Improved is even lower mass. Denon DL103 Resonance Chart Are you using weight plates on your arm to add mass? --Jerome |
Originally Posted by NightOwl /img/forum/go_quote.gif Denon (like Audio-Technica) states their compliance figures at a frequency of 100hz. Most cartridge makers use 10hz. The resonance evaluator is based on 10hz. Actual compliance will be higher at 10hz. The compliance of the DL103 has been guesstimated at 11 x 10-6 cm/Dyne at 10hz and this is what should be used in the resonance calculator. I've found that a multiplier of 2.2 gives you a fairly accurate approximation in converting the compliance from 100hz to 10hz. That being said, I'm also surprised that it works in the Improved arm. It didn't for me. |
Originally Posted by jsaliga /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thank you for the correction. I have heard others express a preference for MM carts on the classic SME arms as well. When I sold my Rega P7 after I bought my SOTA Star Sapphire, a Benz Glider M2 was the only cartridge I had on hand. I thought it sounded better on the SOTA with SME 3009 Series II arm than it did on the Rega P7 with an RB700 arm. It wasn't until later that I upgraded to the more expensive Benz wood bodies. Someone else might think it's a waste of a good MC cart to put it on that arm. I am quite happy with the setup...but admittedly I have not tried many cartridges with it. I do have future plans for trying a few MM carts. But right now I have other priorities. The question I am wrestling with right now is whether or not to spring for a Zyx Fuji from SORAsound before their stock runs out and the price doubles. I'm seriously thinking about it even though I really don't need the cartridge. --Jerome |
Originally Posted by jsaliga /img/forum/go_quote.gif I still have a lot of listening to do, but very early impressions are that the Kontrapunkt A is good match for the SME 3009 Series II, but probably is not a good match with the 3009 Improved unless you add about 4g to the arm due to its lower mass. |
Originally Posted by Fido2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a SME 3009 improved fixed headshell tonearm on an old AR suspended chassis TT. Could someone who has had experience with this tonearm recommend me a cartridge that you personally found satisfying. TIA |
Originally Posted by InSides /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a Kontrapunkt B in a SME 3009 Series 2 Improved. Albeit with a Sumiko HS-12 headshell that is a bit heavier than the stock SME one. Works like a charm, at least to these ears. |
Originally Posted by NightOwl /img/forum/go_quote.gif You must have an SME 3009 MKII. The Improved has a fixed, non-removable headshell. |