Oh Dave, didn't I tell you I was flying all the way to Tang to try an upgraded pwr cord on his AS motor controller, and relay the results to you?
Something tells me, however, you already know...
It's having that much weight, inertia at the end of a tonearm is counterintuitive to me specially with the 3012-R's relatively light tube and knife edge bearing.
david
Do you think there's a better arm for SPU's due to this weight issue? I've found that the SME headshell sounds much better with my vintage MM carts.
There are no issues with SPUs the Arché headshell looks extremely heavy, I'd say about 500 grams and with many moving parts. 500 grams is like a record weight imagine that at the end of your tonearm.
david
Poor SME 3012R! I think that is an extra zero in your numbers ...
You're probably right Francisco500g was a figure of speech because it looks so massive but even at 50g it's still 10x the SME headshell.
david
1) No needle effect on speed.
2) +/- 0.005 when idling.
I can snap a picture at 33.333 and 45.000 quite easily.
Kind regards,
Tang![]()


Yes I have to admit this table doesn’t stay at 33.333 all the time.....sometimes drifts to 33.334..........but for a belt drive with the mass of the AS, to maintain that level of speed accuracy is truly impressive......Congrats Mr. DDK......
Cheers.....
Beautiful. Are you using the standard SME rubber grommets in the base?
Tang
Looks wonderful love the arm board for the SAT
Still Mr Dog more beautiful
Looks like the SAT is made for the AS
How does it compare with the airforce which I have?
Hello micro,
I was trying to get the GFS into the SME but couldn’t so didn’t even look at what kind of grommet it has.
The Arche has two types one is SME which has the same overhang as SME. The other is universal which is longer. I just found out I mistakenly gave the wrong one to Christian. (Sorry Christian.) He has the longer one. Both are heavier than the SME. If everyone saying the Arche is too heavy for the SME then I will have more homework looking for a lighter replacement. Otherwise I can’t use the 3012R with the Goldfinger. Anyway, the combo sounds promising. Very very dynamic and exciting. That was my first impression. I found it has a different “flavor” to the SAT/Opus1 combo that is mounted on opposite side to it. The GFS is brand new I don’t know how long it takes to sound its best. I will try to get all carts to sound at their best on this tt. So I will also switch arms to find if there is a better matching. Right now I can say SAT/Opus1 is pretty much at its best.
Kind regards,
Tang
Hello micro,
I was trying to get the GFS into the SME but couldn’t so didn’t even look at what kind of grommet it has.
The Arche has two types one is SME which has the same overhang as SME. The other is universal which is longer. I just found out I mistakenly gave the wrong one to Christian. (Sorry Christian.) He has the longer one. Both are heavier than the SME. If everyone saying the Arche is too heavy for the SME then I will have more homework looking for a lighter replacement. Otherwise I can’t use the 3012R with the Goldfinger. Anyway, the combo sounds promising. Very very dynamic and exciting. That was my first impression. I found it has a different “flavor” to the SAT/Opus1 combo that is mounted on opposite side to it. The GFS is brand new I don’t know how long it takes to sound its best. I will try to get all carts to sound at their best on this tt. So I will also switch arms to find if there is a better matching. Right now I can say SAT/Opus1 is pretty much at its best.
Kind regards,
Tang
Didn’t realize this also. I don’t think I have the rubber grommets. Any recommendation you may give me?
View attachment 42333
Tang
Didn’t realize this also. I don’t think I have the rubber grommets. Any recommendation you may give me?
View attachment 42333
Tang
Didn’t realize this also. I don’t think I have the rubber grommets. Any recommendation you may give me?
View attachment 42333
Tang
It should be fine then.For reference...the Arche’ 5D Tang sent me weighs 20 grams. An SME 3012R headshell weighs 8 grams by comparison.
The heavy headshell may be a good match for the very light Shelter Harmony carbon fiber with carbon fiber cart screws. I’m trying the A90 first. Length of headshell does not matter to me using the DB Systems protractor with David’s bayonet Cart alignment jig.
Tang is using what looks like a rigid, static mass loaded rack system with some dampening in the structure plus perhaps some passive constrained layer technology.

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