Vinyl Asylum

Will adding a headshell spacer to my SME IV make it a higher mass arm?

60.225.97.121

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display Email Next ] [ Vinyl Asylum ]

(A)

I have been told that my SME IV is not an ideal match for the Koetsu Rosewood that is currently on it, since the arm does not have a high enough effective mass. I have read similar comments about the Denon DL103 (which I also own).
I have an SME headshell spacer designed to be used between the cartridge and headshell where the cartridge is not tall enough for the arm. The spacer is the same shape and material as the headshell. At a guess, it weighs a few grams. Would using this spacer, perhaps along with a little blu-tak between the spacer and headshell, make the SME IV into a higher mass arm, and thus more suitable for the Koetsu and other cartridges?

Follow Ups:

Does that mean a lighter headshell REDUCES tone arm mass? - NuWave 14:49:18 04/19/07 (1)
I just mounted my Sonata on a Stanton headshell, which is much lighter than my Sumiko ones.
- Of course! (nt) - John Elison 17:43:20 04/19/07 (0)
Re: Will adding a headshell spacer to my SME IV make it a higher mass arm? - John Elison 13:28:05 04/19/07 (0)
I have no experience with the Koetsu Rosewood, but I own a DL-103R and it works quite nicely in my SME V. It seems to exhibit system resonance around 10 or 11-Hz, which is ideal. I wouldn't recommend adding any mass for a DL-103 or DL-103R.
Furthermore, I would recommend first measuring system resonance with your Koetsu Rosewood before adding mass to your SME IV.
Good luck,
John Elison
Re: of course it will - LousyTourist 11:33:03 04/19/07 (2)
but generally speaking, adding mass to the cartridge end is not where you want it in a higher mass tonearm.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell
- Re: of course it will - John Elison 13:18:02 04/19/07 (1)
  > adding mass to the cartridge end is not where you want it in a higher mass tonearm.
  If you're desire is to increase effective mass, the cartridge end is exactly where you want it. One gram of mass placed directly over the stylus increases tonearm effective mass by one gram. The same mass placed anywhere else on the tonearm increases effective mass by less than one gram.
  - Thank you (NT) - Ross 15:36:51 04/19/07 (0)
    NT

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

You can not post to an archived thread.