SME V arm: dynamic VTF or straight weight

Dear Axel, the DL-103 is a very simple cartridge with a lousy body. There have been a number of body modifications in the past 30 years - some by Denon, some by others. There even are several lead-body DL-103 around.

The compliance of the DL-103 is sometimes mentioned with 5 dyne, but it is usually 7-9. It is definitively "softer" compared to SPU or FR-7 cartridges. Todays DL-103 are ever increasing in compliance.

The DL-103 ws usually used in radio stations with fairly heavy and unsophisticated headshells. They added the mass missing in the DL-103's body. The DL-103 was once designed by Denon for their broadcast division and severed in japanese radio stations for over 30 years. It was mounted in those fairly heavy headshells and fitted to Denon tonearms with headshell adapter. The low body mass had no influence, as the headshell used was so heavy.

Daniel,
thanks great information, all make a lot of sense to me.
Axel

Dear Peter: Now that you already try both VTF " ways " you have the opportunity ( on both ) to make a very fine tunning with the VTF set-up you like it more and through tiny VTA changes try to be near on the other sound characteristics that you like in the other VTF set-up, as a fact you can do it in both VTF ways.

Almost always exist a threshold ( very tiny but exist. ) where ( in some frequency range ) tiny VTA changes does not alter the main sound characteristics and through these VTA very tiny changes you can achieve an important improvement.

Btw, I don't own the PC-1 but I already have it in my system ( from a friend ) and I loaded at 100 Ohms with very good results.
In two other systems where I heard the PC-1 were loaded at 100-150 ohms ( no SUT, active gain. ). I understand that your Pass is an active gaing design, right?. Do you already try to eun your PC-1 at 100-150 ohms? and with no AS or only 0.5? . These are interesting alternatives and person/system dependents on its result levels.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Peter: That threshold that I'm speaking is : through our each one ear/brain perception.

Raul.

Raul and Daniel,
Thank you very much for your comments and thoughtful advice. Raul, I did try loading the PC-1 with 100 ohms just like my old Sumiko Celebration, but something was missing. With the help of a friend, I went up to roughly 120, 140, 200, 249 and 452 and down to 75, 47, 22, and 10. As you may know the XOno has about 230 possible settings and has an active initial gain stage. I agree that the 22ohm setting seems low, but for me there is a good balance between bass definition and weight and good upper end extension without stridence. But more importantly, at 22ohm everything suddenly sounded right with air and presence. At 22 ohms, the "gestahlt" hit me and everything just sounded right.

Regarding tiny VTA adjustments: The biggest problem with the SME V design is the difficulty of adjusting height. Every time I try it, the arm column moves slightly out of vertical because the VTA screw is off center and I have to recheck azimuth. This is a big problem with the SME arm. So I tend to make very tiny VTA adjustments by altering VTF. And unless I bought the TriPlanar or Phantom, I would not consider changing VTA for each different LP thickness like some people do.