Some funny stuff going on. With the arm height set and the pillar tightened down, the wires want to pull the arm outward, but only on the first 1/4 of an album so there's some distortion at first and then the rest of the record sounds really great. I haven't had time to really play with it (haven't tried the Sonata yet, just the Ace) but I do know the arm sounds better with the pillar NOT tightened down to the armboard. There doesn't seem to be enough wire behind the arm for enough 'play', either that or the gauge is too heavy. I'm not sure if it's 28 or 33 ga. Once I check that out I should be able to bend the wire where it needs to be or re-wire with some XLO 33ga. I'm having fun. I'm even going to make another armboard for the SME III, thinking maybe the wood (walnut) has something to do with the good sound. That has me wondering if my 12" midi-lathe can handle turning a walnut platter!