Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series

Posted by B.K. (A) on June 10, 2023 at 12:08:20

In Reply to: SME tonearms posted by ppopp on June 3, 2023 at 18:12:06:

The SME Series 300 started out as a lower cost range of tonearms. I guess you could say that they were based on the SME Series IV with an aluminum arm-tube, detachable head shell, different (lower spec) bearings and different wiring.

The Series 300 comes in three different lengths 309 (9''); 310 (Japanese Geometry with mounting distance of 222mm); 312 (12'')

Over time, SME reduced many of the differences between these tonearms - notably bearings and wiring.

Here is a high level comparison between the SME 309 with the SME Series IV

1.
The SME 309 is a statically balanced tonearm (like the series IV) where the counterweight for setting tracking force is adjusted and locked using an a Allen key, as opposed to the dial and lever adjustment which is located at the rear of the Series IV

It is a bit more fiddly to set VTF on the SME 309, but the result is the same. In some ways, the SME 309 is better with respect to VTF than the Series IV, because once locked, the VTF cannot drift.

2.
The SME 309 has a detachable headshell, but frankly, detaching the head shell is a challenging operation (which can easily cause scuffing to the black anodized finish), and I wonder how many users actually swap out headshells compared to users who have just one head shell and have never removed it. The detachable head shell does enable azimuth adjustment on the SME 309, whereas the Series IV does not have azimuth adjustment.

3.
The SME 309 has a black body and a silver anodized counterweight. The exception in the series is the SME 312s which is all black. The SME Series IV is silver painted. However, there is also the US marketed SME Series IV.vi which is all black.

4.
There is no screw thread for easy VTA adjustment and VTA lock on either the Series IV or the SME 309; however, the SME Series IV.vi does have this feature and so does the 312s. Both of these variants (312s and IV.vi) also have the fluid damping trough.

5.
There is a theoretical difference in the geometry of the SME 309 series compared to the Series IV. However the difference is small, and it is fairly easy to ignore this and just set alignment using a conventional two point protractor to provide null radii at 66.0 mm and 120.9 mm as is commonly preferred these days.

Best regards,

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - SME tonearms - ppopp 18:12:06 06/03/23 (6)

Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series - B.K. 12:08:20 06/10/23 (2)

RE: Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series - ppopp 07:48:52 06/12/23 (0)

Another comment - geometry for SME 300 Series - B.K. 12:31:34 06/10/23 (0)

RE: SME tonearms - Alex M 00:30:38 06/05/23 (1)

RE: SME tonearms - louie3 12:54:26 06/05/23 (0)

RE: SME tonearms - John Elison 07:52:28 06/04/23 (0)

Follow Ups

Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series - B.K. 12:08:20 06/10/23 (2)

RE: Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series - ppopp 07:48:52 06/12/23 (0)

Another comment - geometry for SME 300 Series - B.K. 12:31:34 06/10/23 (0)

Differences between SME Series IV and SME 300 Series

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