SME Series V Tonearm Parts

[Jim Perry]

Send an e-mail to SME. I had a similar issue (needed a part) and I was able to deal with them through e-mail and have them send me the part through the mail. They were helpful, prompt and professional.

[prepress]

427, what is that phono preamp to the left of the turntable? Is it something that came with the Sota?

[audio bill]

That looks like the SOTA head amplifier, an active gain stage (or pre-preamp) for MC cartridges.

[427]

Originally Posted by prepress

427, what is that phono preamp to the left of the turntable? Is it something that came with the Sota?

Originally Posted by audio bill

That looks like the SOTA head amplifier, an active gain stage (or pre-preamp) for MC cartridges.

Bill is right it's the SOTA Phono Head Amp, designed by John Curl. It has no equalization riaa in it and is used as an amp just prior to the phono stage to boost cartridge output. I love the open airy sound they put out in my system as well as the volume boost I get. I use Sumiko Blackbirds HOMC and they could just be used in my McIntosh C100 MC or MM phono stage. However I find it a great option to used the excellent solid silver wound transformer of the C100 stage, in conjunction with the sound and boost of the SOTA/Blackbirds.

Doing this has made my phono stage as loud or louder than other inputs/sources.

[audio bill]

427, I'm surprised to hear that you're using the SOTA head amp with a HOMC cartridge like the Sumiko Blackbird. Head amps are actually designed to be used with LOMC cartridges, so that when combined with a MM phono stage it will produce suitable gain for phono playback. Generally using a HOMC cartridge with a head amp (or step up transformer, which provides a similar function) will result in too much gain, and often a high level of distortion as the resultant signal level can overload the MM section. Sounds like you're not getting that distortion and are happy with your phono having so much gain, but usually the phono input has significantly less gain than other line inputs and requires the volume control to be set at a higher level for the same output. I'm not doubting your experience since I haven't heard your setup and you like it, but just that it's an unusual application of the SOTA and not really what it is designed for. Just goes to show that nothing is set in stone in high end audio, very interesting!

[427]

Originally Posted by audio bill

427, I'm surprised to hear that you're using the SOTA head amp with a HOMC cartridge like the Sumiko Blackbird. Head amps are actually designed to be used with LOMC cartridges, so that when combined with a MM phono stage it will produce suitable gain for phono playback. Generally using a HOMC cartridge with a head amp (or step up transformer, which provides a similar function) will result in too much gain, and often a high level of distortion as the resultant signal level can overload the MM section. Sounds like you're not getting that distortion and are happy with your phono having so much gain, but usually the phono input has significantly less gain than other line inputs and requires the volume control to be set at a higher level for the same output. I'm not doubting your experience since I haven't heard your setup and you like it, but just that it's an unusual application of the SOTA and not really what it is designed for. Just goes to show that nothing is set in stone in high end audio, very interesting!

Hi Bill.

The C100 phono stage isn't normal either, I forget off hand what it is but it's unusual. I also bought it used so I don't know if is't been changed as you can swap out caps or somthing like that. McIntosh had kits they could install to set it how you wanted it. That said I don't get distortion even when I set it at 100% gain on most records so I have it at 30%.

[427]

By the way I have also used them on the C2300 as well with no distortion.