Tonearm Reviews

SME Series V tonearm Specifications

Sidebar: Specifications

Description: Pivoted, dynamic balance tonearm with fiber-damped, tapered, straight magnesium arm-tube with a fixed headshell, optional viscous pivot damping, spring sidethrust correction, sliding base overhang adjustment, ballrace bearings. Effective mass: 10–11gm. Length (pivot to stylus): 233.15mm. (Pivot-to-spindle distance, 215.35mm (8½"); offset overhang, 23 ° 38 minutes; overhang, 17.8mm ±9mm; tracking error, 0.012 °/mm maximum with 0 ° error at 66.04mm and 120.9mm from the record center.) Cartridge balance range: 0–14gm. Vertical tracking force: 0–3gm., adjustable to 0.15gm. (tracking weight can be set using both counterweight and an adjustable spring). Net weight: 720gm. Internal wiring: silver Litz. Phono cable: monocrystal silver. Mounting: standard SME tonearm hole.
Price: $1750 (1986); $5500 (2014).
Manufacturer: SME Ltd., Steyning, Sussex BN4 3GY, England. US distributor: Sumiko, Berkeley, CA (1986); Acoustic Sounds, Salina, KS (2014). Tel: (785) 825-8609. Fax: (510) 843-7120. Web: store.acousticsounds.com/.

COMPANY INFO
SME Ltd.
US distributor: Acoustic Sounds
(785) 825-8609
http://store.acousticsounds.com/
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Osgood Crinkly III's picture
Submitted by Osgood Crinkly III on September 12, 2014 - 4:04pm

Have been using the V since it came out (w/ Kiseki Purple Heart Sapphire and Sota Star Sapphire IV). No problems, no complaints. No fuss, no bother, no tweeking. Just music.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on September 14, 2014 - 8:52pm

I have had mine for 9 years now, same as fellow above, no fuss no mess. Perhaps newer arms sound better but its build quality, ease of set up and reliability has me yearning for no other arm and that is what big expensive hi-fi purchases should be about; lasting you a lifetime so that you can enjoy your record collection......Nuff said.

w1000i's picture
Submitted by w1000i on September 16, 2014 - 4:19pm

Can we have a review for the new model C109 from JAMO , which was the largest manufacturer of speakers in Europe one day. :)

midimaniac's picture
Submitted by midimaniac on March 25, 2023 - 7:00pm

Believe it or not, about 12 years ago I purchased a Sota Star Sapphire TT (Vacuum Hold down with an SME V mounted on it...for $300 at a used gear shop!! Obviously the shop didn't know what they had, nor did I. I sent the table to Sota, where they re-fitted it with their latest silicone vacuum lip, zirconium ball and sapphire thrust plate. Can't remember what they charged me. It wasn't more than a few hundred dollars. Nowadays just the tonearm costs more than 10 to 20 times that amount. My records sound really good!

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