Sme arm "Bridge Removal"

Hartmut -- could you please explain what 'preload' means (in terms of the mechanism itself.) Sounds interesting.
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Hello Hartmut,

Thanks for the info, ideed this is the bridge!
Do you know if toying with the bearing presure can bring about adverse affects?

Or can one remove the bridge and replace it with caution, but with out serious risk?
A few guys over on vinylasylum raved over this tweak..
Also Kevin @ http://www.definitiveaudio.co.uk/ recomends this, check the pics.

Thanks
James

James, I've heard about this to. I have been way to chicken to try it. Even loosening the screws make's me a little queesy...

No need to worry about removing the bridge. I have spoken to SME about this and it is totally cosmetic. However I have tried it and prefer the sound with it in place.

Jonathan UK

After reading all the discussion I could find on AA, the overwhelming consensus seem to fall into the "no difference" or "very little difference" results. Maybe different cartridges respond to the alteration differently? Personally, I prefer to avoid that twilight zone ;-)

I also find the "totally cosmetic" response from SME confusing: if it's totally cosmetic, why so much caution about getting the torque on the bolts just right, etc.?

I wish I could understand better the relationship between this 'bridge' and the vertical(?) bearing (would that be the one that sits crosswise and allows the arm to move up and down?) before I try this tweak; perhaps SME would issue proper instructions for this procedure if requested?
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