SME-style headshells - OEM vs generics?

[Taketheflame]

Hey all,

Just a curiosity of mine - I'm getting ready to order an SME 3009 S/II arm soon, and will need to have a couple of spare headshells for other cartridges.

I've noticed the OEM SME headshells command a significant premium on the used market - often to the point where it doesn't seem economical to buy over some nice aftermarket headshells, AFAIK.

I'm curious how most of the "swiss cheese" generics compare to the original? I'd like to keep the look/just need something inexpensive but decent to get the job done for now.

I've actually read that the OEM headshell isn't anything too special to begin with too...is that true?

 

[stratokaster]

The original SME headshell is by far the worst headshell I have. Ironically, it's the desirable "raised logo" type. It's not rigid at all, the interface between the headshell and the cartridge is seriously compromised thanks to the fingerlift arrangement, and the pins are not plated and tend to oxidise. Given the money they go for on eBay, I probably should sell it and buy two Jelco magnesium headshells while they're still available.

That said, the cheap "Swiss cheese" headshells from China are even worse, some of them are so bad they will literally bend while you're installing the cartridge.

 

[Blue Shadow]

swiss cheese headshells are junk except the SME ones that do have limitations but you can address them.

Buy headshells that will benefit the cartridge compliance/tonearm effective mass balance with the cartridges you want to use. Since your S/2 arm is a 9.5 effective mass, you can use headshells from the SME low of 7(i measured on a scale that doesn't have anything after the whole digit) to just under 20 for some heavy shells from a few different companies. Lots of choices of quality shells and then maybe a bit of extra work to get them balanced with an added weight on the counterweight if you go too heavy on the front end to the improvement of the sound from the cartridge.

 

[Taketheflame]

So then any inexpensive swiss-cheese style shell is basically garbage?

Do any high quality copies of the swiss-cheese design exist?

What about some of the wooden headshells out there? How do they compare to the more common headshell materials?

My plan was to use the OEM SME shell w/my Shure V15 III, and use aftermarket shells for other cartridges, which will be upper-medium compliance (think Ortofon 2M Bronze/Black, vintage Grados, and other carts with similar compliance specs/can track well at 1.5g). I figure 8-9g is probably a good weight for the aftermarket shells in my case.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

SME 3009R headshell is the best for the swiss-cheese type. I have one for my SME 3009 arm. There isn't any three holes drilled on each side on the end of the headshell, more rigid.

Yamamoto makes excellent wood headshells.

 

[Bob in WI]

So then any inexpensive swiss-cheese style shell is basically garbage?

I think thats an unfortunate generalization.

 

[Taketheflame]

I think thats an unfortunate generalization.

Well that's kind of what I'm hoping to hear, lol. I use a generic Technics headshell copy on one of my other tables - was $12, but seems to be just fine...but then again, I don't have genuine Technics shells to compare it to, or all of the necessary test equipment (to my knowledge) to compare it's performance, in the case that it's not really audible.

Any word on either wood headshells? Or "good" SME-style copies that might exist?

 

[tubewade]

As stated above, the mass of the headshell needs to be taken into account for your particular stylus. A high compliance stylus needs low mass and doesn't cause so many problems with headshellls that aren't dead rigid, like those punched metal "swiss cheese" style. However a lower compliance stylus will favor a higher mass headshell and also needs one that is really rigid due to the energy they put into the tonearm. I've used those generic technics style and found them OK but they are ca. 10 grams mass where a genuine Technics one is 7 grams, and I like that lighter, yet rigid, one best.

 

[Bob in WI]

Well that's kind of what I'm hoping to hear, lol. I use a generic Technics headshell copy on one of my other tables - was $12, but seems to be just fine...but then again, I don't have genuine Technics shells to compare it to, or all of the necessary test equipment (to my knowledge) to compare it's performance, in the case that it's not really audible.

Any word on either wood headshells? Or "good" SME-style copies that might exist?

I haven't bought a headshell in some time, but a few years ago I picked up 4 swiss cheese headshells on line & they are fine with my carts.
I don't find them flimsy or cheap.
But to @tubewade s point, they may not work w your carts - you didn't specify what they are.
No experience w the wood headshells but I'd be real interested in how others make out w them.
Always been curious about the wood bodied carts & the wood headshells.