I've spent the afternoon setting up my SME IV on the gyrodec, and fitting a dynavector 10x5 cartridge.
The manual is good and all the steps have been followed correctly as far as I can see, but I am having trouble setting the longitudinal balance and the tracking weight. The manual says this should be done with the arm clear of the turntable and the arm rest - which seems almost impossible as there is virtually no clearance from the arm rest wherever I put the arm. Nevertheless I persevered and can get the arm to balance horizontally at which point there is a hairs breadth clearance from the arm rest (if viewed with a torch!).
Unfortunately I can't sort out the next step, setting the tracking force. Basically with the balance weight set to a position tht balances the arm horizontally there are not enough turns left on the adjustment wheel to set any meaningful tracking force.
I have used the dedicated Michell mount including a new set of spacers both of which I obtained direct from Michell so I don't think that is the problem, plus the arm is supposedly compatible with the 10x5, certainly so far as cartridge weight is concerned SME say from 5.3 grams upwards and the Dynavector weighs 7.3 grams.
It does look as though the arm rest bracket should be set a bit lower that it is now, but there is no mention of this adjustment in the manual. Even so I can't see this changing the basic problem re tracking weight.
Can anyone who has experience with this set up suggest any tips??
Many thanks.
Posted on: 20 November 2016 by john s
There isn't anything in the manual, but from trawling the web it appears that there is a tiny allen key adjustment on the arm rest (there is a very hard to see indentation that marks the spot) but I haven't tried it yet and after a lot of playing with the horizontal adjustment I can see enough clearance with the needle on a record for it not to be a problem - but I still haven't overcome the tracking force issue. It seems that the balance weight is so far forward when the arm is balance horizontally that there is no more adjustment left to add tracking weight, which suggests that the balance weight is too heavy for the cartridge (despite the specs saying it isn't).
I'm at a loss tonight - guess I'll phone SME tomorrow to check weights etc.
Posted on: 20 November 2016 by Tony2011
John, there is a good thread on Vinylengine site. Just google "VTA on SME and Gyro SE" . It might give you a few clues. Needless to say, careful with that stylus. . Good luck.
Posted on: 20 November 2016 by john s
Thanks Tony - in fact I'd seen that thread but it relates mainly to the arm rest (I was wrong by the way, the manual does cover arm rest adjustment but it's under "operation" not set up. Not having finished set up I didn't reach the back page!).
The bits about VTA basically repeat what is in the manual, but thanks for the response anyway.
Posted on: 20 November 2016 by Martin M
Sounds like the VTA may be a little low-it's a bugger to set on the SME thanks to the sloping arm tube. The 10x5 isn't a shallow cartridge so there should be reasonable (if not great) clearance. I'd recheck and not be tempted to use those small round spirit levels - the ones I've looked at are inaccurate.
Btw there are two tools worth buying - a clear Perspex block with parallel lines printed on it to set the VTA with and a Mint LP besttractor. That needs to be specific to both the arm and cartridge. In this way the effective length and cartridge offset angle will be set correctly. And it makes a big difference.
all the best
Posted on: 21 November 2016 by john s
Thanks for that - I have the block although not the Mint kit which I'll look into before I finalise the settings.
Quick update though - I went through everything again using the block and the VTA was slightly off but adjusting that didn't help the balance/tracking problem so I phoned SME who confirmed my fears - the cartridge is probably too light for the arm notwithstanding the specs, so they are going to swap the balance weight for a lighter version which should solve the problem.
Very helpful people at SME I must say.
Posted on: 21 November 2016 by Drewy
I was looking at mine last night. I have an Ortofon Quintet cartridge and I still have adjustment left on the weight. I probably have lighter weight than you.
Its a lovely arm, I'm sure you'll love it.
Posted on: 25 November 2016 by john s
Problem solved. SME supplied a lighter balance weight and this balanced the Dynavector and allowed me to set a 2 gram tracking weight without any problems - quick turnaround as well, I had the new weight within 2 days of speaking to SME. The clearance problem was still an issue but resetting the height of the arm rest proved easy enough and that also works well. In case anyone else needs the info the original balance weight I had with the SME IV was approx 200 grams, the lighter one supplied was approx 120 grams. Specifications for the Dynavector DV10x5 from different sources suggest it weighs somewhere in the range 6 grams to 7 grams - I suspect the lighter balance weight still has enough adjustment to balance out cartridges a bit heavier that this, but a chat with SME would probably be a good idea.
And yes, I love the results - my RB300 was good but the SME is a definite improvement. For the moment the Dynavector is producing good results.....might need to think about the phono amp next.
