Home » Audio » Source » STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor (Need protractor to setup SME Arm)
STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96100] Thu, 20 October 2022 22:06 Go to next message
positron is currently offline  positron
Messages: 95
Registered: May 2020
Viscount
I am trying to setup my turntable.

I have an STD 305M and an SME series 3 tonearm.
Attached is a photo of an STD M with an SME series 3 arm, both just
like mine.

I have two protractors, one an SME and the other is a "cart align",
and each is so far off that mounting the arm base would require me
to glue the arm base rather than the normal mounting.

Need help in finding the correct protractor to mount the arm.

Thanks for time and help.

pos/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3271&private=0

Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96101 is a reply to message #96100] Fri, 21 October 2022 07:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rusty is currently offline  Rusty
Messages: 1076
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
That's a pretty turntable. Here's a SME instruction book pdf file if that's any help.
https://sme.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SERIES_III_PRECISION_PICK-UP_ARM_INSTRUCTION_BOOK.pdf
You might try the Vinyl Engine if you're not already a member to get some advice and help.
https://www.vinylengine.com/
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96103 is a reply to message #96101] Fri, 21 October 2022 12:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
positron is currently offline  positron
Messages: 95
Registered: May 2020
Viscount
Rusty, Thank You for the manual link. Much appreciated.
Attached are photos of the SME Protractor I purchased, Top view of base,
and bottom view of base.

What I found was that the sme arm base is maximum forward, the gears also
have the arm as forward as possible and the cartridge looks perpendicular
to the LP. Maybe 1 or 2 degrees off.

More thoughts appreciated. pos
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96104 is a reply to message #96103] Fri, 21 October 2022 13:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rusty is currently offline  Rusty
Messages: 1076
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
Do you belong as a member to The Vinyl Engine? If not, join up. They have manuals for your turntable and many types of cartridge alignment protractors. And knowledgeable people there to ask questions. Excluding me. But I get by.
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96106 is a reply to message #96104] Fri, 21 October 2022 21:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gofar99 is currently offline  gofar99
Messages: 1895
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
+1 on vinylengine. Great folks and lots of help. There are several "printable" protractors in the reference section. Generally the only thing you need to know is the effective length of the arm. Many are 222 or 235 millimeters. A few are shorter or longer though. The length is given in the specs for the arm. Probably someone either here or on VE will know immediately what it is for your arm. Mine are all 235.

Good Listening
Bruce
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96110 is a reply to message #96100] Sun, 23 October 2022 00:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
positron is currently offline  positron
Messages: 95
Registered: May 2020
Viscount
Thank you gentlemen. It is certainly appreciated. Will do.

Cheers

pos
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96125 is a reply to message #96110] Sun, 30 October 2022 09:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
positron is currently offline  positron
Messages: 95
Registered: May 2020
Viscount
I found an upgrade to my STD 305M table and SME lll arm setup. I have
also been learning some things.

While my SME has two holes between the cartridge mounting holes, there
is also a modified one hole head shell that SME offered. There is a
difference from my understanding, yet SME offers only one protractor.

I just found out that the Stevenson protractor with 2 null points at 60mm
and 117mm, from Vinyl Engine, out performed the SME protractor with a
single null point. Either it is just too difficult to set the arm
properly with a single null point, or the SME is different than the
Stevenson model.

Hope this helps others.

pos
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96126 is a reply to message #96125] Sun, 30 October 2022 10:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rusty is currently offline  Rusty
Messages: 1076
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
I think the 2 point protractor system is common with all the Vinyl Engine protractors. Less distortion. Glad you resolved your dilemma. Time to listen to fine music now.
Re: STD 305M with SME Series 3 Arm, Which Protractor [message #96127 is a reply to message #96126] Sun, 30 October 2022 21:55 Go to previous message
positron is currently offline  positron
Messages: 95
Registered: May 2020
Viscount
Rusty wrote on Sun, 30 October 2022 10:27
I think the 2 point protractor system is common with all the Vinyl Engine protractors. Less distortion. Glad you resolved your dilemma. Time to listen to fine music now.
Thanks Rusty. I ended up moving the SMEIII arm back some when using
the Stevenson protractor, less distortion was clearly noticed. It also
looks closer to others setups I have seen.

Thanks for your help, and others. Much appreciated.

pos
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