3009-R

About the 3009-R

The SME 3009-R is a reintroduction of the original SME 3009 Series II tonearm, produced around 1980, with refinements including a thin-walled stainless steel arm tube, a new balance system allowing longitudinal and lateral fine adjustment, and an extra-rigid low mass headshell (type S2-R). It supports cartridges weighing from 26 grams up to 33.5 grams and is optimized for 12-inch records. The arm features precision-machined knife-edge bearings with a 0.13mm radius in chrome seatings for horizontal axis and fully protected ball-races for the vertical axis. The counterweight system is barrel-shaped and adjustable, with options for different weights (64g and 77g) to accommodate heavy cartridges up to 32.5g. Vertical tracking force can be set up to 5g using an outrigger weight, and lateral balance is adjusted via an Allen key moving the counterweight assembly. The arm is finished in satin chrome plate, gun black, and polished stainless steel, and is known for its excellent groove contact even when tilted up to 30 degrees. It is suitable for all cartridges with standard 1/2" fixing centers and a minimum vertical tracking force of 1.25 grams. The 3009-R maintains the classic SME design principles of high mechanical strength, low inertia, and low friction, making it a highly regarded tonearm for both professional and domestic applications.