Michell Gyro SE / SME 309 / Ortofon Cadenza Black making music

[jdandy]

I made mention of precision British engineering. Here is an example of what I meant. The counter weight on the SME 309 tonearm is moved by turning a hex head bolt with the provided hex driver. Once you have adjusted the weight to achieve a balanced tonearm, the SME instructions direct your attention to the letters A, B, C, and D printed on the front side on the driver handle, each one at 90 degrees around the handle's circumference. The instructions tell you that each quarter turn adds .125 of a gram, or one full turn adds .5 of a gram when referencing the position of the letters on the hex drive from the starting point. The Ortofon Cadenza Black tracks between 2.2 and 2.5 grams, so I decided to see just how accurate SME's tracking force adjustment system would turn out to be. I inserted the hex driver into the hex bolt on the back on the counter weight, noted the letter that was straight up on the handle, then turned the hex driver five full rotations, adding what SME's instructions said would be 2.5 grams. To make sure of the actual tracking force weight I used my digital tracking force gauge that is accurate to 1/100th of a gram. Placing the stylus tip on the pad of the digital scale I was in awe to discover the tracking force read 2.44 grams. In other words, using just the method provided by SME for counter weight adjustment I was able to accurately set 2.5 grams with an accuracy of minus 6/100th of a gram. This is absolutely amazing, and allows a user who may not have access to a digital stylus force gauge the ability to accurately adjust tracking force with confidence. You have to respect that type of precision engineering.

[Masterlu]

Dan... I'm very glad to hear your Analog rig is on line; and already performing at a Stellar Level.

Nicely Done!

[jdandy]

Ivan.......Thanks. I am spinning Carla Bley - Heavy Heart right now. It is sounding the best I have ever heard it, and the Ortofon Cadenza Black hardly has 10 hours on it. I can already tell, this rig is going to just get better and better.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Ivan.......Thanks. I am spinning Carla Bley - Heavy Heart right now. It is sounding the best I have ever heard it, and the Ortofon Cadenza Black hardly has 10 hours on it. I can already tell, this rig is going to just get better and better.

For new readers of this thread Dan, what is the combined retail of this Setup?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

For new readers of this thread Dan, what is the combined retail of this Setup?

Ivan.......Retail on Michell Gyro SE with optional HR power supply and screw down record clamp, plus SME 309 tonearm, and Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge is $8020.00

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Ivan.......Retail on Michell Gyro SE with optional HR power supply and screw down record clamp, plus SME 309 tonearm, and Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge is $8020.00

Outstanding! Thanks

[Jerome W]

Dan,
Congrats on a beautiful set up !
Something tells me that we will see you often now in the "what are you spinning ? " section !

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Greg.......Glad you came along for the ride. The Michell Gyro SE with the Never Connected power supply unit is spinning albums so stable and silent. The Ortofon Cadenza Black on the SME 309 tonearm is a match made in heaven. I am floored at how good the turntable rig is performing with less than 10 hours on it. I have been glued in my seat in the studio, with the exception of dinner, spinning one album after another. I have a new found respect for the moving coil phono stage in the C2300, too. With the Telefunkens it is very clean. I am truly beginning to feel the love.

Dan, welcome to the Michell/SME owners club! Now we are three!

I won't say David (1KW) and I told you so, but....

Seriously, I am very happy for you, 'cause I knew how good it would be once you got everything set up.

Now, just sit back and enjoy! Personally, I've had virtually no thoughts of upgrading my TT.

Time to think about a SUT at some point....

Best,
PC

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I made mention of precision German engineering. Here is an example of what I meant. The counter weight on the SME 309 tonearm is moved by turning a hex head bolt with the provided hex driver. Once you have adjusted the weight to achieve a balanced tonearm, the SME instructions direct your attention to the letters A, B, C, and D printed on the front side on the driver handle, each one at 90 degrees around the handle's circumference. The instructions tell you that each quarter turn adds .125 of a gram, or one full turn adds .5 of a gram when referencing the position of the letters on the hex drive from the starting point. The Ortofon Cadenza Black tracks between 2.2 and 2.5 grams, so I decided to see just how accurate SME's tracking force adjustment system would turn out to be. I inserted the hex driver into the hex bolt on the back on the counter weight, noted the letter that was straight up on the handle, then turned the hex driver five full rotations, adding what SME's instructions said would be 2.5 grams. To make sure of the actual tracking force weight I used my digital tracking force gauge that is accurate to 1/100th of a gram. Placing the stylus tip on the pad of the digital scale I was in awe to discover the tracking force read 2.44 grams. In other words, using just the method provided by SME for counter weight adjustment I was able to accurately set 2.5 grams with an accuracy of minus 6/100th of a gram. This is absolutely amazing, and allows a user who may not have access to a digital stylus force gauge the ability to accurately adjust tracking force with confidence. You have to respect that type of precision engineering.

Actually, SME is British engineering, not German. I agree though, that it is atypical of British engineering in that it actually much more closely resembles German engineering than what we've stereotypically come to think of as British engineering (the phrase, "Lucas Electrics, Prince of Darkness" comes to mind). BTW, tonearms are only a sideline for SME, their real business is in design, mechanical engineering and machining for aerospace and Formula 1.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Actually, SME is British engineering, not German. I agree though, that it is atypical of British engineering in that it actually much more closely resembles German engineering than what we've stereotypically come to think of as British engineering (the phrase, "Lucas Electrics, Prince of Darkness" comes to mind). BTW, tonearms are only a sideline for SME, their real business is in design, mechanical engineering and machining for aerospace and Formula 1.

Stephen.......Thanks for setting me straight on SME's country of origin. I had seen several of the SME videos, and for some reason thought they were German. None the less, quite impressive engineering and build quality.