• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Replacement headshell for SME 3009

MotherSauce1

MotherSauce1

Active Member
Howdy, I'm using an SME 3009 arm and want to set up a second cartridge to use on occasion. I want to be able to easily switch back and forth between carts so I'm planning on getting a second headhsell. I looked for originally SME 3009 headshells and prices are 80 - 190 for an original, beyond my budget.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement shell to add to my arsenal that wont break the bank...seems like it should be a $20 part to me...

Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
All the ones that look like the SME headshell, straight with a finger lift and a bayonet fitting on the end are standard headshells and they will almost all work just fine. You have choices as to weight, cost, materials of construction and such. You need to look at the weight of the cartridge and make sure the new headshell will be easy to balance on the arm and work because these things range in weight from about 6 grams to 20 grams and the SME will not work with the heavy ones. Most are in the ten gram range so you need to add three grams to the weight of the cartridge to see if it fits the range the SME can balance and use since the SME shell weighs in at about 7
 
Any idea how much weight the SME arm can handle? I don't have the manual at hand. I'll look online.

I'm looking at a 6 gram cart and a 6-7 gram head shell. I'd love to just get a SME head shell but those are going between $100 and $150 and I just can't justify it right now (wish i could).
 
You can use a Technics SL-1200 MKII series headshell (7.2 grams), Ortofon SH-4 (9.4 grams). The original SME headshell weighs around 5 grams. You have to add the extra weight of the headshell to the cartridge body weight, so the two knife edge pivots have equal pressure on them. Move the wayrod out to the new added weight!
 
MotherSauce1 said:
I don't have the manual at hand.
Click to expand...

The SME is the most documented tonearm on the web. Easy to grab the manuals all kinds of manuals, pages and docs for this tonearm. Many are on vinylengine. I don' t know if they address the maximum cartridge weight that the stock arm can handle. I don't know which SME arm you have, either but the SME 3009/S2 Series II Improved has a counterweight that i easy to add weight to allowing heavier headshells and cartridges to be used with the arm.
 
If buying used online (ebay et al) it's not easy to determine the weight before buying: sellers don't know. So look for a h'shell that's perforated: they were very common on all turntables back in the day when high-compliance cartridges ruled the roost and the SME 3009 was king. All the holes in the SME shell, removing lots of metal, reduced the weight to about as low as it can get, and other mfr's imitated it.

This assumes you're using a MM or MI cartridge with high compliance. If these terms are unfamiliar, someone here will explain.
 
MotherSauce1 said:
Thanks this is all starting to make more sense. @Crab33 @twiiii @bimasta @Blue Shadow many thanks! Crab that link helped. Bimasta, I'm familiar with the cartridge types, but less familiar with the term "high compliance." Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Have you identified which kind of SME 3009 arm you have? Some are very low-mass - for example, the 3009 Series II Improved with an effective-mass of 6.5g (note that this is not the total mass of the arm) - while some are at the low end of medium-mass. Low-mass arms require high-compliance cartridges (dynamic compliance greater than 20) - this means that the stylus has a soft suspension (while a low-compliance stylus has a stiff suspension). Do you have a particular cartridge in mind?
 
The minimum effective mass of a removable headshell 3009 is 9.5g as the 3009 Series II Improved has a fixed headshell to achieve its low mass of 6.5g. The lowest mass 3009 arms, the type III had removable arm wands.

The non-improved arms have a bit higher mass at about 12.5g and those came with removable headshells.
 
Last edited:
@Crab33 it looks like mine is a SME 3009 S2 Improved (with the removable shell).

I'm using a ATS12S fitted to a AT Pro12e but I'm looking to add a Shure V-15 Type IV to the arsenal, hence the new (second) head shell.
 
Last edited:
I find it truly absurd when the difference between an SME branded headshell and a generic one is only determined by sight. And compounding the absurdity is that the presence of an SME logo bumps the price from $15 or $20 to $200 or close to it anyway.

FWIW, I can hear no difference.

Actually, that's a lie.

I cannot hear a difference between an SME vs generic with a Stanton 681EE but I can hear a difference when the cartridge is a Shure V15 III. The SME hums like mad, the generic does not.

IMG_4551.JPG
 
Build quality of the SME is much better but the price difference is way beyond that.

To me the arm just doesn't look right without the proper headshell because it is such an iconic arm. Other ps not so much concern about the shell. But then folks out there can hook it up to a spendy Thorens table, outrageously priced Marantz receiver and over-priced JBLs and I could not care less, they may be happy and it might sound fine. I don't care how folks spend their disposable income.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom