SME engineers, recognising the potential of the latest complementary equipment, accepted the challenge to design and build a pick-up arm which unlike others in existence would make no detectable sound contribution of its own.
The work took almost four years and the measure of its success is the acceptance of the Series V precision pick-up arm by technical experts and users as one of the world’s truly great audio products. Series V sound has an almost startling dynamic range and neutrality enabling high levels to be enjoyed. It escapes the ‘LP’ sound and demonstrates that structural resonances in pick-up arms are responsible for much that makes vinyl records readily discernible from master tapes.
Features
Build
Unique one-piece pressure die-cast tone-arm utilising the advantages of magnesium, replace conventional fabricated construction.
Internal constrained layer damps minute residual vibration leaving the tone-arm acoustically inert. Fine machined cartridge platform, enamel free to avoid interface resonance.
A Stainless steel cross shaft, ground and thread ground. Carried in massive yoke on 10mm ball races. Axis at record mean level to minimise warp-wow.
Dynamic balance graduated vertical tracking force (VTF) control applies 0-3g x 0.125g through resonance controlled spring.
Unique assembly gives high rigidity and allows bearings to be critically adjusted before tone-arm is fitted.
Stainless steel vertical shaft, ground and thread ground, with integral 16mm diameter flange to couple shaft and yoke.
23mm diameter steel pillar, heat treated, ground and honed, carries two 17mm ball races, widely spaced to resist tilt.
Damping
Anti-skate control operates through tension spring and filament. Dial corresponds with VTF and has positive OFF position.
Lowering/raising control gives smooth positive action. Height of lift can be adjusted.
Subsonic lateral mode fluid damper can be instantly adjusted or cancelled.
Dual-lock base provides movement control with high rigidity.
Swivelling damped output socket minimises vibration transmission in sub-chassis use.
Adjustments
Tungsten-alloy balance weight carried on damped two-point suspension. Extra-low inertia design assists warp riding.
Underslung weight housing corrects centre of gravity and provides non-reflective tone-arm termination. Adjustment leadscrew journalled in twin ball races with lever clamping.
Fine adjustment of arm height (VTA).
Reference lines on tone-arm facilitate VTA setting.
Fine adjustment of horizontal tracking angle (HTA).
Technical Specification
SME Series V
Effective mass 10.0/11.0g Cartridge balance range 4.2 – 18.0g Vertical tracking force 0 – 3.0g(30mN) Maximum tracking error 0.012(degrees per mm) Null points Inner 66.04mm Outer 120.90mm Audio lead Length 1.2m Capacitance 140.0 pF per channel Resistance 0.145 ohms per conductor Internal wiring Capacitance 15.0 pF per channel Resistance 0.5353 ohms per conductor Output plug and socket DIN 5-pole 240°
