SME Series V Tonearm – Black

As SME no longer supply tonearms on an individual basis their arms have become much sought after. Our series V comes in very good condition, tonearm cable, manual, mounting accessories, set up guide and our standard 3-month warranty. Please note the arm plate shown in the photographs is for display purposes only.
SME Say….
SME engineers, recognising the potential of the latest complementary equipment, accepted the challenge to design and build a pick-up arm which unlike others in existence would make no detectable sound contribution of its own.
The work took almost four years, and the measure of its success is the acceptance of the Series V precision pick-up arm by technical experts and users as one of the world’s truly great audio products. Series V sound has an almost startling dynamic range and neutrality enabling high levels to be enjoyed. It escapes the ‘LP’ sound and demonstrates that structural resonances in pick-up arms are responsible for much that makes vinyl records readily discernible from master tapes.
In developing the Series V precision pick-up arm with unique one-piece magnesium tonearm, we aimed to establish a new reference standard by applying, without price constraint, experience in mechanical and electrical engineering gained over more than a quarter of a century.
In theoretical terms an ideal pick-up arm is supposed to be perfectly unyielding in four out of six possible degrees of freedom. That is, all except the two linear dimensions in which the music signal is generated by groove modulation. In those two linear dimensions an ideal arm is supposed to act as a pure mass.
The Series V now brings this concept closer to reality. It has been described as a significant contribution to the art of replaying vinyl discs. We believe its user will find it not only a source of lasting pleasure but that we have succeeded in our task to create anew – The best pick-up arm in the world.
Features – Build:
Unique one-piece pressure die-cast tonearm utilising the advantages of magnesium, replace conventional fabricated construction.
Internal constrained layer damps minute residual vibration leaving the tonearm acoustically inert. Fine machined cartridge platform, enamel free to avoid interface resonance.
A Stainless steel cross shaft, ground and thread ground. Carried in massive yoke on 10mm ball races. Axis at record mean level to minimise warp-wow.
Dynamic balance graduated vertical tracking force (VTF) control applies 0-3g x 0.125g through resonance controlled spring.
Unique assembly gives high rigidity and allows bearings to be critically adjusted before tonearm is fitted.
Stainless steel vertical shaft, ground and thread ground, with integral 16mm diameter flange to couple shaft and yoke.
23mm diameter steel pillar, heat treated, ground and honed, carries two 17mm ball races, widely spaced to resist tilt.
Features – Damping:
Anti-skate control operates through tension spring and filament. Dial corresponds with VTF and has positive OFF position.
Lowering/raising control gives smooth positive action. Height of lift can be adjusted.
Subsonic lateral mode fluid damper can be instantly adjusted or cancelled.
Dual-lock base provides movement control with high rigidity.
Swivelling damped output socket minimises vibration transmission in sub-chassis use.
Features – Adjustments:
Tungsten-alloy balance weight carried on damped two-point suspension. Extra-low inertia design assists warp riding.
Underslung weight housing corrects centre of gravity and provides non-reflective tone-arm termination. Adjustment leadscrew journalled in twin ball races with lever clamping.
Fine adjustment of arm height (VTA).
Reference lines on tonearm facilitate VTA setting.
Fine adjustment of horizontal tracking angle (HTA).
Specifications:
Effective Mass: 10.0/11.0 g
Cartridge Balance Range: 4.2 – 18.0 g
Vertical Tracking Force: 0 – 3.0 g (30 mN)
Maximum Tracking Error: 0.012 (degrees per mm)
Null Points: Inner 66.04 mm; Outer 120.90 mm
Audio Lead Length: 1.2 m
Capacitance: 140.0 pF per channel
Resistance: 0.145 ohms per conductor
Internal Wiring Capacitance: 15.0 pF per channel
Resistance: 0.5353 ohms per conductor
Output Plug and Socket: DIN 5-pole 240°
Weight: 720.0 g

For a review from Hi-Fi News magazine please click here

And for a second opinion this time from US publication Stereophile please click here