SME3009 II with Kenwood KD500
 

I have some old SME 3009 II tone arms. I'm thinking of mating one to a Kenwood KD500 TT. Worth doing? Is the bronze bearing upgrade for the SME tonearm worthwhile? Is this tonearm considered to be a low mass arm? I have a Grado Gold and an original Sumiko Blue Point. which would be a more appropriate combination with the SME arm? Is there a rule of thumb fro compliance vs. effective mass?

I cannot see why not, though I personally think the tonearm is the most overrated component on a turntable. It's medium mass, by today's standard. Analogue Classics.

The bronze bearing, as you know, gets favorable reviews. But I think only you can decide if the price tag is justified. Yours at least has a steel bearing and not the plastic one found on some later models. The Sumiko looks like a perfect match.

Actually, I misspoke. It's the 3009R I have with the nylon bearing, so I think I would want to change that out.

Might not be a bad buy. After all, you have everything else. Aren't we all grasping for that brass ring?

I'll probably try one of the arms as is before I spring for the new bearing. However, I have to keep in mind that the arms (3 of them) have been jumbled around in a box for a while, and the plastic bearings may have suffered. They were discards from the college radio station where I DJ. Between the 3 arms, I have enough bits and bobs to get at least one working.

That's how I would do it.

Hi,

The Grado Gold is more likely to sound well with the SME than the Blue Point IMO.

:)/sreten.

The recommended tracking force of the Grado (of which I have no experience) is 15 mN and 18 for the Sumiko. I can be wrong, but I doubt there could be much improvement either way. On the other hand, why argue? Test and see which you prefer.

Hi,

I also have an SME 3009 arm (mk11 improved fixed headhshell). I've had conflicting advice on a suitable cartridge and I'm now muddled.

Is this arm too light for a MC cartridge and if so which MM to go for?

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread, just have the same kind of problem!

Cheers, Nam402

Nam402, you can use pretty much any MC cart that works with the modern SME and Rega arms. You have to look for a high-compliant cart, under 15 mN. The problem is that they tend to be expensive. At least I know of no cheap one. Hopefully somebody that uses high-compliant carts can recommend something.

As for MM, Goldring should do. Of course, so will Ortofon, Shure, and any other MM cart. I like Goldring. But I'm not the kind of guy that recommends on thing over another. Only you can decide what suits you best.