3009

Arguably, better than the TD-124.

Cartridge pairing will be where the magic happens.
 
The 3009 wont disappoint if setup correctly with an appropriate cartridge (E,g Shure V-15, 3 or 4)
 
The 3009 II Improved arm's are really nice. Highly recommend trying one out

I own the SME III with all the goodies including the different sized Damping Paddles for the oil trough. Have the
It's mounted on my Denon 2000 TT, love it. Also have the optional SME III Black Carbon tonearm.

These Tonearms have an unbelievable amount of adjustments to fiddle with and are only for seasoned Turntable & Tonearm folk. It's a hell of a learning curve!
This Tonearm paired with my old Shure V15III was heaven once dialed in. When I upgraded to Shure's V15V MR, WOW... that took it to another level of definition with a lower noise floor! Highly recommend that combo if, they both can be found.

These Tonearms were made for High Compliance cartridges. However, SME did make optional weights specifically for the Series III that made them compatible with the heavier cartridges.
Never tried that, although I have the weights, as changing the total mass of the Tonearm gave me reasons for concern.
 
Just make sure they're as new or one that's been rebuilt by SME.
Not totally confident SME still has the parts to do the rebuilds?
I'd recommend contacting them before purchasing any of the 3009 Series Tonearms.

SME is really great to deal with, they're super helpful with their support of their older arms.
 
I was really impressed with the MA-505. An absolute breeze to set up and it sings with the V15 cartridges (III and V in my case)

I found it easier in fact than the Rega RB300 arm believe it or not (although that is designed to use an odd alignment that must be replaced with a proper one when you set it up)
 
rezztaph said:
How good is the SME 3009? I’m considering using it on a Thorens TD-124.
Click to expand...
I have been running an SME 3009 on my TD-124 for over 55 years. Very easy to set up a new cartridge, balance and adjust.
Parts are also very easy to obtain, and part replacement is straightforward as well. I'm running a Shure V15-IV now, tracking at 1.25 grams, but have run other cartridges through the years. I am very pleased with the set-up on my TD-124.
 

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I'd stick it on the 124 also. I have a 3009 fixed head shell version that needs re-wired and wanted to make head shell removable. I bought the collar and wire and then everyone says I can't do it that way. They say I need a new arm tube. For the life of me I can't understand why it can't be done this way. If it makes the arm a little longer I would think that should be able to be compensated for at the base adjustment. Anyone ever do this?
 
laatsch55 said:
Only 55 years??
Click to expand...
Hi Lee,
I know, it's scary when I stop and think about it, I bought it in 1970. Mine is a 1957 model.
I used a Phillips GA-212 that I bought new for many years as well.....still have that TT.
Rebuilt the Thorens just before I retired, took parts from all over the world, but they are
built like tanks, and steady as the day is long. Should go another 55 years..... but I won't :D.
I had an Ortophon arm on the Thorens for a while, but added the SME 3009 many decades ago.
 
Last edited:
bill7621 said:
I'd stick it on the 124 also. I have a 3009 fixed head shell version that needs re-wired and wanted to make head shell removable. I bought the collar and wire and then everyone says I can't do it that way. They say I need a new arm tube. For the life of me I can't understand why it can't be done this way. If it makes the arm a little longer I would think that should be able to be compensated for at the base adjustment. Anyone ever do this?
Click to expand...

I've not done it, but yes, once you know the new effective length you can create a protractor for it on Vinyl Engine. And the longer the arm, the less tracking distortion. However, you will alter the resonant frequency as well as the effective weight from where it is. It becomes a completely new arm.

1) determine effective length
2) that dictates what the pivot to spindle distance must be
3) create protractor and align cartridge.
 
At that time there were TTs Thorens Td 124 and Garrard 401 generally equipped with SME 3012 .
Simply fantastic
The SME 3009 shown in the pic is the first version .
The second series or " improved " has lower mass and was designed around Shure v15.
You could fit the damper like series III
Furthermore there was a special shell ( very rare ) marked Shure instead SME .
Ciao and enjoy your SME arms
Marco
P.S: I have a Denon with series III and Grado cart
 
Antiskating in SME arms is adjusted for grooveless record ;
I prefer to reduce by 30 percent .
Ciao
Marco
 
Vintage 700b said:
Hi Lee,
I know, it's scary when I stop and think about it, I bought it in 1970. Mine is a 1957 model.
I used a Phillips GA-212 that I bought new for many years as well.....still have that TT.
Rebuilt the Thorens just before I retired, took parts from all over the world, but they are
built like tanks, and steady as the day is long. Should go another 55 years..... but I won't :D.
I had an Ortophon arm on the Thorens for a while, but added the SME 3009 many decades ago.
Click to expand...

LOL!!~ Yeah shit, I look at the K's, I built those 1n 1986,. got my Spec stuff in 1975.... we've been around awhile feller...
 
Got my first SME in 1974. It was a 3009 S/2 Improved which was the removable headshell version. Tried the Mayware, a low mass arm, great for the Micro Acoustics cartridge back then. Bought a Magnepan tonearm when they came out at the end of the 70s. These are my arms of choice but have had a Fidelity Research 64s, a high mass arm and added an Infinity Black Widow, too light for many cartridges today, but I have some that work well with it.

Other than 3-4 Magnepan arms I have the BW and a 3009 S/2 Imp and a 3009 Series 2 (not improved). Mark wants a removable headshell so I’ll swap the Imp for his 3009 Series 2 Improved, the non-removable headshell version.

The SME looks the part, does reasonably well and is everywhere with folks that know how to work on them when needed. I like the Magnepan better but the SME on a Thorens is just the expected combo when someone has a vintage top quality record playback system.
 
Have owned a Thorens 165 and 160 Super for more than 20 years now. Purchased 2nd hand. They just keep going and going.
Only drawback is they wont run off inverter power (excluding the solar panel inverter). Something about the AC motor in them.
Most inverters advertised as pure sine wave are not really pure sine wave. But everything else will run on them. No issues using a dc motor turntable as a backup, and grid power failures aren't frequent yet.
I wish I had a 3009 S2 improved on the 165 the same as the 160 super, however its stock (TP-11?) arm works just fine.
 
here is a 3009 S2 non improved for sale, This was on the Thorens TD-124 I just purchased, I have a Grado Signature Laboratory Standard tonearm for this table so I did not take the SME.

They were in storage since the 80's in climatically controlled home and kept in a closed cabinet. If the condition of the TD-124 is any indication the arm will be as close to original condition as you can get this many years on.

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laatsch55 said:
Damn...that is unmolested...
Click to expand...
When I first read the ad for the table, I was fairly skeptical about his description of the table and the claim it was stored since the 1980's but when he sent it in a solid flight case and I opened it up I was definitely taken aback by the fact it looks like it just came off the shelf.

There is no corrosion, paint damage and those moving parts show minimal signs of repetitive motion. Even the rubber disks on the iron platter hardly have any markings on the rubber . All the screw heads through out the machine are unmarred because they have never been removed, and it is factory original with a single owner until the seller bought it with a small lot of the owners vintage gear. 20251126_183844.jpg
 
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