SME
Series 309
The SME Series 309 is a 9-inch tonearm derived from SME's renowned Series V, offering much of the flagship arm's precision engineering — including SME's signature knife-edge-style precision ball-race bearings and dual-lock base — at a lower price point, paired with a detachable, interchangeable pressure die-cast magnesium headshell that allows cartridge changes without disturbing wiring or alignment. It is a popular upgrade arm for turntables such as the Michell Gyro/Orbe and is also offered as a factory option on SME's own Model 15 and Model 20 turntables.
MSRP
$2,078
Used market · Good
$1,650
MSRP to used market
From $2,078 at launch to $1,650 today.
Specifications
- Price
- $2,078.01
- Mounting
- Dual-lock base for movement control with high rigidity
- Overhang
- 16.98mm
- Bearing type
- Precision ball races — stainless steel cross shaft in a yoke on 10mm precision ball races; 23mm steel pillar carries two widely spaced 17mm precision ball races
- Offset angle
- 23.204°
- Counterweight
- Tungsten-alloy balance weight on a damped two-point suspension
- Effective mass
- 9.5g
- Arm construction
- Two-piece ultra-stiff tone-arm with detachable, interchangeable pressure die-cast magnesium headshell
- Effective length
- 232.32mm
- Maximum tracking error
- 0.013°/mm
- Cartridge balance range
- 6–17g
- Pivot to spindle distance
- 215.35mm
- Vertical tracking force range
- 0–2.5g
- Effective length pivot to stylus
- 232.32mm
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