KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Not to mention being better suited for MC as well as today's MM and MI offerings.
SME 3009 Series II Non Improved vs Improved
- Thread starter Jordan Blake
- Start date
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- Tags
- 3009 audiophile sme tonearm turntable
Sir Bakerman
Active Member
^ This ^ I have a Series 2 Improved with the fixed headshell. My choices for MC on this arm are limited. However it is an amazing arm and I personally love the look of it. It can be fussy but once it is set up and dialed in it is lovely. FWIW changing the carts requires patience.
ctjetta
It's not a perfect world
If I could find a reasonably priced Stanton 881 I would love to give it a go, but, reality being what it is . . .
So, an ADC is my preferred choice with an Ortofon or Shure always possibilities. Good Stantons are just too over-priced. IMO.
bimasta
Addicted Member
The Improved can track heavier than 1.5 grams. The SME method of sliding the rider-weight on the wayrod is only calibrated to 1.5, but that's a convenience feature — ignore that, use a scale, and you can set any VTF a "normal" arm will give you.
Also, with a heavier h'shell it can play MCs very well — of course you can't change headshells with the fixed model, without a modification. The SME h'shell may be the lowest-mass ever — this was by design, before the era of low-compliance carts — and it's the only real limitation as far as LOMC.
This is not to comment on the OP's original question, the comparative merits of the earlier and later Series II — I've only owned the S2 Improved, Series III, and the much later models ('Star Wars' designs) IV and 309. I did own an earlier 3012 but sold it after very limited personal use, so can't really offer an opinion. It's a different beast anyway.