The best pick-up arm in the world

INSTRUCTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS SERIES M2 MODELSSERIES M2-9R
M2-9R & & M2-12R
M2-12R
 Introduction
SME is an iconic brand founded in 1946 by audio
legend Alastair Robertson-Aikman in West Sussex,
England. Today SME is recognised as makers of
the finest precision turntables and tonearms in
the world. Entirely made in-house by state of the
art manufacturing processes, complemented by
traditional craftsmanship methods.
SME audio has evolved from 75 years of engineering
excellence, innovation and perfection delivering
precise and pure audio reproduction.
The SME M2-9R and M2-12R tonearms are of
meticulous build quality with all the most important
features including lightweight stainless steel tonearm
tube, detachable aluminium headshell with double
draw pins for extra rigidity and azimuth adjustment,
tungsten balance weight, high quality ball race
bearings in all planes and a level of stiffness to suit
a wide range of cartridges.

2
Contents

Page

2 Introduction
4 General Arrangement
5 Dimensions
6 Specifications
7 Packing List
8 Parts Identification
9 Preparing Mounting Board
10 Fitting the Tonearm
11 Audio Lead
12 Fitting the Cartridge
13 Fitting the Headshell
14 Longitudinal Balance
15 Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) Adjustment
16 Arm Height (VTA) Adjustment
17 Azimuth Adjustment
18 Horizontal Tracking Angle (HTA) Adjustment
19 Positioning the Armrest
20 Anti-skate Adjustment
21 Operation
22 Adjusting and Cleaning the Arm Lift
23 Appendix

3
 General Arrangement
General Arrangement

4
4
Dimensions

M2-9R M2-12R
A - Pivot to Stylus 233.20 308.81
B - Pivot to Turntable Centre 215.40 295.60
C - Cartridge Fixing Centres 12.70 12.70
D - Offset Angle 23.63º 17.62°
E - Linear Offset 93.47 93.47
F - Overhang 17.80 13.21
G - Height above Mounting Surface 87.00 max 87.00 max
63.00 min 63.00 min
H - Mounting Surface to Underside of Headshell 67.40 max 67.40 max
43.40 min 43.40 min
J - Depth below Mounting Surface 46.00 46.00
K - Balance Weight Radial Clearance 79.00 85.00

5
 Specifications

M2-9R M2-12R
Effective Mass 9.5g 18g
Cartridge Balance Range
Headshell: up to 38g 38g
Plug-heads: up to 46g 46g
Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) 5g 5g
Maximum Tracking Error (degree/mm) 0.013mm 0.010mm
Null Points: Inner (mm radii) 66.04mm 66.04mm
Outer (mm radii) 120.9mm 120.90mm
Weight, net (g) 735mm 834mm

Audio Lead: 1.2m long balanced hybrid cable

with gold plated phono plug
connections to amplifier and
independent ground system
Internal Wiring: Silver Litz
Output: RCA Phono

6
Packing List

Series M2-9R or M2-12R Precision Tonearm

Detachable Headshell
Instruction Book
Mounting Template
Alignment Protractor

Headshell Hardware……… Cartridge Screws/Nuts (alloy)

2mm Hex Wrench
0.89mm Hex Wrench

Mounting Hardware……… Set of M3 x 20mm Button Head Screws

4 Nuts and 4 Washers
4 Tonearm Mounting Washers
2.5mm Hex Wrench
Audio Lead
Bias Weight
Bias Guide
Guarantee Card

7
 Parts Identification
Parts Identification

Anti-Skate Guide
Accessory Balance Weight
Balance Weight
Anti-Skate Weight
Anti-Skate Lever
Arm Lift

M3 Button Head Mounting Screw

& Arm Mounting Washer

Bedplate Pillar Clamp Screw

Shield Can Wayrod/Rider Weight

Arm Rest Catch
Arm Rest
Tonearm

Azimuth Locking Screw VTA Thumbwheel

underside tonearm at this point
Base Clamp Nut & Washer
Arm Socket Nut Control Lever

Detachable Headshell
Ground Terminal

8
Preparing
912/101 the Mounting
Preparing Board Board
the arm mounting 912/102 912/103

Where the
Where the deck
deck is is not
not already
already cut
cuttotoaccept
acceptanan Disengage the
Disengage the template
template fromfrom the
the spindle
spindle and and Using
Using aa scriberscriber or or aa compass
compass point,
point, spike
spike
SME arm,
SME tonearm, it will
it will need to beneed to be
prepared prepared
as follows: maintaining the
maintaining the same
same alignment
alignment slide
slide itit down
downthe the through
through the the centre
centre points
points BB and
and centres
centres of of the
the
as follows: pin and
pin andonto
onto thethe
mounting board.board.
mounting This will position
This will four
fourfixing
fixingholes.
holes.Remove
Removethe thetemplate
templateandand mark
mark
Pierce the centre point A of the mounting the basethe
position for base
maximum effective movement
for maximum effective two
two Ø28mm
Ø28mm circlescircles about
about the
the points
points BB already
already
Pierce the
template centrea pin
to accept point A of the
or needle aboutmounting
50mm movement whenthe adjusting
when adjusting horizontal the trackinghorizontal
angle centred.
centred.Join Jointhese
thesetogether tangentially
together with two
tangentially with
template
long. to accept
Place a pin or
the template on needle about
the record 50mm
spindle tracking angle (HTA), see 125. Anti-clockwise two parallel
(HTA). Anti-clockwise rotation from this position parallel lines lines to complete
to complete marking
marking out. out.
long.keeping
and Place the template
it parallel with on
thethe record
surface on spindle
which rotation from this position up to approximately Drill four Ø4mm fixing holes and two Ø28mm
up to approximately 40° can be made to meet Drill fourCut Ø4mm
and arm
the keeping
will be it parallel
mounted with the the
pass surface on which
pin vertically 40° can be made to meet individual needs but is holes. away fixing holes andarea
the remaining twotoØ28mm
form a
individual
critical needs butthat
is not
the critical provided that holes. Cut away
the arm the
through willcentre
be mounted
point A pass the pin
and spike vertically
it into the not provided requirements of the slot and finishthetheremaining
edges area
withtoaformfilea slot
and
pick-up the requirements of the
canalignment protractor can and finish theIf edges
a holewithsawaisfile
notand glasspaper.
through arm
the mounting
centre pointboard.
A and spike it into the alignment protractor be satisfied. Note that glasspaper. available chain
be satisfied.
the Note thatrequires
rear overhang the rear overhang
a 51mmrequires radial Ifdrill
a hole saw is
a series of not
smallavailable chain drill
holes around the a series
inside of
tonearm mounting board.
a 51mm radial
clearance fromclearance from the
the point shown onpoint shown on
the template. ofthe
small
line,holes
saw and around the inside of the line, saw
file out.
the template. and
Withfile out. tools and technique the procedure
suitable
is similar for materials other than wood.
With suitable tools and technique the procedure is
similar for materials other than wood.

9 9
Fitting
912/104 the Tonearm
Fitting the arm 912/105 912/106

Remove
Remove the the inner
inner base
base clamp
clamp nut nut andand base
base Fit a
Fit a mounting
mounting washer
washer to to each
each ofof the
the four
four Position
Position thethetonearm
arm ononthe themounting
mountingboardboard and
and
clamp
clamp washer.
washer. Pass
Pass the
theloop
loopatatthethelower
lowerend
endof counterbores ininthe the
counterbores upperupper
surfacesurface
of the bedplate.
of the insert
insert the
the M3
M3button
buttonhead headscrews
screwsinto
intothe
theholes.
holes.If
the
of theanti-skate
anti-skateguide over
guide thethe
over basebaseclamp
clampboltbolt
and bedplate. the holes
If the are not
holes are tapped M3 to M3
not tapped accept the screws
to accept the
fit
and thefitbase clampclamp
the base washer. EnsureEnsure
washer. that thethat
loop on
the directly, it will be
screws directly, necessary
it will to fit the
be necessary to fitnuts and
the nuts
the
loopanti-skate guide is fitted
on the anti-skate guide into
is the counterbore
fitted into the washers
and washersunder the board.
under Tighten
the board. fullyfully
Tighten using the
counterbore
in the undersidein theofunderside
the washer of theand washer andis
the slot usingwrench.
2mm the 2.0mm A/F wrench.
the slot is aligned with the anti-skate guide.
aligned with the anti-skate guide. Replace the
Replace the base clamp nut and tighten, lightly.
base clamp nut and tighten, lightly.

10
10
 GND GND
L PHONO R L PHONO R
MC HEAD AMPLIFIER PRE-AMPLIFIER NOTE:
/TRANSFORMER /CONTROL UNIT Connection should be made between
the ground terminals of the deck and
pre-amp unless a path already exists.

CONNECT TO PRE-
AMPLIFIER GROUND

Audio
912/107Leads
Audio Lead

The
The illustration
illustration shows
shows use
use with
with and
and without
without aa head
head amp/transformer
amp/transformer and
and phono
phono plug
plug connections
connections should
should be
be made
made accordingly.
accordingly.
Connect the ground wire serving the tonearm to the pre-amp ground and those from the rear of the phono plugs to the ground terminal on the piece of
Connect the ground wire serving the arm to the pre-amp ground, and those from the rear of the phono plugs to the ground terminal on the piece of
equipment
equipment to
to which
which these
these plugs
plugs are
are connected.
connected.
If the turntable has a ground terminal, it too should be connected to the pre-amp ground, provided it is not already grounded by another path.
If thesystem
The turntable
hashas a ground
been terminal,
designed it toosignal
for a high should
to be connected
noise ratio andtoifthe
thispre-amp ground,multiple
is not achieved providedground
it is notpaths
already grounded
or the by another
over proximity path. equipment will
of mains
be likely causes. Some cartridges have an external foil tag connecting the right channel ground terminal to the cartridge body. For use in a metal shell it will
The system has been designed for a high signal to noise ratio and if this is not achieved multiple ground paths or the over proximity of mains equipment will
be
be necessary to remove
likely causes. this with ahave
Some cartridges smallan
pair of tweezers
external foil tagorconnecting
the point ofthe
a blade, lifting the
right channel tag offterminal
ground over thetoterminal pin. If body.
the cartridge this is For
not use
doneinaaground loop may
metal shell it will
be
be formed,
necessarycausing hum on
to remove thisthe right
with channel.
a small pair of tweezers or the point of a blade, lifting the tag off over the terminal pin. If this is not done a ground loop
may be formed, causing hum on the right channel.

11
11
Fitting
912/108 the Cartridge
Fitting the cartridge 912/109 912/110

Before fitting - the

See 912/113 cartridge
Removing the see that the stylus
headshell. Most cartridges
Most cartridges are
are supplied
supplied with
with their
their own
own Examine
Examine the the top
top of
of the
the cartridge.
cartridge. It It is
is important
important
Before(not
guard fitting the cartridge
illustrated) see that
is in position as athe stylus
precaution screws.
screws. WeWeprovide oneone
provide pair pair
#3-48#3-48
UNC xUNC11mmx that itit presents
that presents aa good
good flat
flat face
face toto the
the underside
underside
guard (not
against accidentalillustrated)
damage. is in position as a with
11mm nuts and
with washers,
nuts other lengths
and washers, other are
lengths are of the
of theheadshell.
headshell.Before
Before final
final tightening
tightening check
check that
precaution against accidental damage. available direct. that the cartridge is lying parallel to the
The available from SME. the cartridge is lying parallel to the reference edge
The cartridge
cartridge leads leadshave
haveØ1.2mm
Ø1.2mmreceptacles
receptaclesto reference edge of the headshell, as shown.
suit the cartridge.
to suit the cartridge. These may require of the headshell, as shown.
The coding with
adjustment is aspliers
follows:
or a screwdriver blade for Tighten
Tighten the
the fixing
fixing screws
screws securely using a
securely using a
a snug fit on non-standard terminals. screwdriver,
screwdriver, which
whichmust
mustbe be
a good fit in the
a good screw
fit in the
Red - Right to Channel Signalmust never be
Connections the cartridge slots
screwto slots
avoidtodamage. Hold the nut
avoid damage. Holdif necessary
the nut if
Green - direct
Rightsoldering.
Channel Signal Ground
made by to prevent rotation.
necessary to prevent rotation.
White - Left Channel Signal
Blue - Left
The coding is asChannel
follows:Signal Ground The screws are
The screws arenon-magnetic.
non-magnetic.Damage
Damage cancan
be
Red - right channel signal be caused if a screw is snatched by
caused if a screw is snatched by magnetic magnetic
Green - right channel signal ground attraction
attraction whilst
whilstbeing offered
being up to the
offered up cartridge.
to the
White - Left channel signal For the same
cartridge. Forreason do not
the same lay down
reason tools
do not lay nearby.
down
Blue - Left channel signal ground tools nearby.

12
12
 BLUE GREEN
WHITE RED

Fitting
912/112 the Headshell
Fitting the headshell Removing the Headshell
912/113 Removing the headshell Cartridge
912/111 Lead Replacement
Cartridge lead replacement 912/112

n be Insert
Insert the
the headshell into theinto
S2-R headshell tonearm socket
the arm and
socket Removal
Removal isis the the reverse
reverse of
of fitting.
fitting. Holding the
Holding the The cartridge
The cartridge leads.
leads can
Part be
No.replaced and be
1806, can are Insert th
ealer and press
press firmly firmly
inwards inwards until
until the drawthepins
draw pins
contact headshellfirmly
headshell firmly to prevent
to prevent rotationrotation
turn theturn the
socket replaced
availableand
frommay
SME. be obtained from your dealer and pre
contact
the threadtheofthread of the
the socket socket
nut. nut. Maintaining
Maintaining pressure, socket
nut, nut, clockwise
clockwise whenfrom
when viewed viewed from until
the front, the or direct. contact t
pressure, turn the socket nut anti-clockwise front, until the headshell is completely released. They should be fitted according to the colour pressure
turn the socket nut anti-clockwise viewed from the the headshell is completely released. codingshould
shownbelooking
olour viewed from the front to draw the headshell They fittedonto the headshell
according to the from the
colour viewed
m the front
home.toIt draw
should the
beheadshell home.but
tightened firmly It should be
not to the Take
Takecare
caretotoavoid
avoiddamaging
damagingthe
thecartridge
cartridgeduring front. shown looking onto the shell from the
coding home. It
tightened firmly
point of strain. but not to the point of strain. this operation.
during this operation. front. point of s

13
13
Longitudinal Balance
912/114 Longitudinal balance 12/115

With
With onlyonly the
the main
main balance
balance weight
weight fitted,
fitted, Adjust
Adjustuntil
untilthe
thetonearm,
arm, withwith
the the cartridge
cartridge fitted,
fitted, is either
is either levellevel or slightly
or slightly low low at the
at the frontfront
end.end.
cartridges up
cartridges up to
to 16g
16g may
maybe bebalanced.
balanced.However
However
by removing
by removing thethe balance
balance weight
weight endend cap
cap andand
coupling the accessory balance weight (as
coupling the accessory balance weight (as
illustrated) cartridges up to 38g, mounted in the
illustrated)
S2-R headshellcartridges
or plugupintoheads
38g, mounted
up to 46gincan the
headshell or
be catered for. plug in heads up to 46g can be
catered for.
Slide the wayrod/rider
Slide the wayrod/rider weight
weight into
into the
therearmost
rearmost
zero
zero position
position and
andbalance
balancethe thearm
armbybyrotating
rotatingthe
the balance
balance weight
weight in required
in the the required direction.
direction.
Remove the accessory
Remove the accessory balance
balance weight,
weight, when
when
needed, by unscrewing
needed, by unscrewing anti-clockwise
anti-clockwise from
fromthe
the
balance
balance weight.
weight.Replace
Replacethethe
balance weight
balance end
weight
cap.
end cap.

14
14
VerticalVertical
912/116 Tracking Forceforce
tracking (VTF) Adjustment
(VTF) 912/117 912/118
adjustment
For safety the lever of the lowering control should VTF is
VTF is set
set after
after longitudinal
longitudinal balancing
balancing has
has been
been Half
Halfgram
gram settings
settings are
are indicated
indicated by the shallow
by the shallow
For safety
now be movedtheinto
lever
the of the position.
raised lowering control completed,
completed. see 912/114 groovesalternating
grooves alternatingwith
withthe
theindent
indentpositions.
positions.
should now be moved in to the raised position. It is applied by moving the complete Wayrod .
It is applied
assembly by moving
forward the complete
as indicated. wayrod
The assembly is
assembly to
calibrated forward
provideas aindicated.
maximumThe assembly
of 5.0g VTF inis
calibrated
1.0g to provide
increments betweena maximum ofpositions.
the indent 5.0g VTF in
1.0g increments between the indent positions.
Position shown
Position shown is
is the
the setting
setting for
for 3.0g
3.0g VTF.
VTF.

15
15
Arm Height
912/119 (VTA) (VTA)
Arm height Adjustment
adjustment 912/120 912/121

Release
Release thethe pillar
pillar clamp
clamp screw,
screw, using
using thethe2mm
2mm Use an
Use an old
old but
but unwarped
unwarped record
record for
for the
the following
following Repeat
Repeat the
the measurement
measurement towardstowards the rear of
the rear of the
the
A/F wrench,
wrench, by one
by one turn turn
only.only. procedures
procedures in in case
case ofof accidental
accidental damage.
damage. tonearm tube
tonearm tubeand and compare
compare it first
it with withone.
firstAdjust
one.
Rotate the VTA thumbwheel clockwise to Place the arm about halfway across the record Adjust
the the arm
tonearm height
height withwith the VTA
the VTA thumbwheel
thumbwheel until
Rotate
increasethethe
VTAheight
thumbwheel
of the clockwise to increase
tonearm relative to Place
and the the
move armcontrol
about lever
halfway across
forward the record
to lower it into until similar readings are obtained indicating that
the similar readings are obtained indicating that the
the height
base of the tonearm relative to the base. andplaying
the move the control lever forward to lower it into
position. the arm is level with the surface of the record.
the playing position. tonearm is level
pillarwith thescrew,
surface of the
the record.
To
To lower the tonearm
lower the tonearm turn
turnthe
theVTA
VTAthumbwheel
thumbwheel The top of the cartridge is normally the horizontal Re-lock the clamp view arm in
Re-lock the pillar clamp screw, view the tonearm
anti-clockwise.
anti-clockwise. FingerFingerpressure may be
pressure mayrequired
be The top correctly
datum; of the cartridge
fitted itiswill
normally the horizontal
be parallel with the the playing position and re-adjust as necessary.
required to move the arm downwards in the playing position and re-adjust as necessary.
to move the arm downwards until it stopsuntil it
on the tonearm.
datum; correctly fitted it will be parallel with the
stops on the arm base, at which point further Measure the distance from the surface of the
arm base, at which point further movement in tonearm.
movement in either direction can be made as record to the top of the tonearm tube at the front
either direction can be made as necessary. Measure
necessary. end using the distance
a small from the
non-metallic surface of the
ruler.
record to the top of the tonearm tube at the front
end using a small non-metallic ruler.

16
16
AzimuthAzimuth
912/122 Adjustment
adjustment 912/123 912/124

Place aa small
Place smallmirror
mirrorononthe
theturntable
turntableand rest
and the
rest Release the
Release the azimuth
azimuth locking
locking screw
screw underneath
underneath Re-check
Re-check withwith the
the mirror
mirror and
and when
when satisfied
satisfied
the
stylusstylus on it. inViewed
on it. Viewed this wayinanythis way any
departure from the tonearm, just
the tonearm, justtotothe
therear
rear of the
of the arm socket
tonearm socket lightlyre-lock
lightly re-lockthe
thescrew
screwunderneath
underneaththe
thetonearm.
tonearm.
departure from vertical
vertical is accentuated andiseasily
accentuated
visible. and nut.
nut. The
The stylus
stylus must
must be be kept
kept clear
clear ofof the
the mirror
mirror
easily visible. whilst this is done.
whilst this is done.
Hold the headshell firmly close to the tonearm
Hold one
with the headshell
hand andfirmly twistclose
it intothethe required
tonearm
with one hand
direction and the
holding twisttonearm
it in the required
firmly withdirection
the
holdingThe
other. thestylus
tonearm
mustfirmly
remainwithcleartheof other. The
the mirror
stylus
at mustduring
all times remainthisclear of the mirror at all times
operation.
during this operation.
Movement of the socket in the end of the
tonearm is limited by the locking screw.
Movement of the socket in the end of the tonearm
is limited by the locking screw.

17
17
Horizontal Tracking
912/125 Horizontal Angleangle
tracking (HTA)
(HTA) 912/126 912/127
Adjustment
adjustment
With a
With a record
record onon the
the turntable
turntable andand having
having pierced
pierced Similarly check the
Similarly check theouter
outerpoint
point
andand
adjustadjust
the
Place the
Place the tonearm
tonearm into
into the
the armrest
armrestand
andrelease
release the
the alignment
alignment protractor
protractorfor forthe
thestylus,
stylus,place
placeit on
it arm tonearm
the until the conditions shown in the
until the conditions illustration
shown in the
the two
the two base
base clamp
clamp nuts,
nuts, using
using aasnugly
snuglyfitting
fitting the turntable
on the turntablespindle.
spindle.Check
Checkthat thatthe
the VTF
VTF hashas above are above
illustration met. are met.
screwdriver. been set to suit the cartridge in use. Move the
screwdriver. been set to suit the cartridge in use. Move the Firmly
Move the base on the bedplate as far forward arm out of the armrest and place it so that the Firmly re-lock
re-lock the
the outer
outer base
base clamp
clamp nut
nut only.
only.
Move thego.
as it will base on the bedplate as far forward as tonearmenters
stylus out of the
the armrest
point where and place it so that
the alignment
it will go. the stylus enters the point where
protractor has been pierced. The protractor the alignment
protractortwohas
provides null been
points,pierced.
the inner The protractor
at 66.0mm and
provides
the outer two null points,
at 121.0mm the inner
radius. Moveatthe 66mmbaseand on
the outer
the at 121mm
bedplate radius.
until the Move the
cartridge andbase on the
headshell
bedplate symmetrical
appear until the cartridgewithand theheadshell
lines on appear
the
symmetrical
protractor at with the lines
the inner point.on the protractor at the
inner point.
Inaccuracy is shown and the arrow indicates the
Inaccuracy
direction is shown and
of movement the arrow
required indicates
to correct it. the
direction of movement required to correct it.

18
18
Positioning
912/128 the Armrest
Positioning the armrest 912/129

Release the
Release the pillar
pillar clamp
clamp screw,
screw, using
usingthe
the2mm
2mm Rotate the
Rotate the pillar
pillar to
to position
position the
the armrest
armrest conveniently
conveniently in
in relation
relation to
to the
the turntable.
turntable. The
The dimension
dimension ‘X’
‘X’
A/F wrench. should not be more than 110mm or less than 50mm.
wrench. should not be more than 110mm or less than 50mm.
Height adjustment
Height adjustment will
willbebemaintained
maintainedby by
the the
VTF Tighten
Tightenthe
the pillar
pillarclamp
clampscrew
screw firmly,
firmly,avoiding
avoidingexcessive
excessiveforce.
force.
thumbwheel.
VTF thumbwheel.

19
19
Anti-skate Adjustment
912/130 Anti-skate adjustment 912/131 912/132

Thread
Thread the
thefilament through
filament guide guide
through pulley housing
pulley Drop the
Drop the loop
loop into
into the
the groove
groove corresponding
corresponding to
to Loosen
Loosen thetheinner
inner base
baseclamp
clampnut enough to allow
nut enough to
housing
and passand passover
the loop the the
loopanti-skate
over the lever.
anti-skate the
the vertical
vertical tracking
tracking force
force being
being used.
used. allow movement
movement of theofanti-skate
the anti-skate
guide.guide. Position
Position the
lever. the guide
guide so that
so that the filament
the filament is approximately
is approximately 90˚
Anti-skating isis always
Anti-skating alwaysa amatter
matterof of compromise.
compromise. 90o to the anti-skate lever when the stylus is over
The values
values indicated
indicated are to the anti-skate lever when the stylus is over
The are aa good
good starting
starting point.
point. the outer groove of a twelve inch record. Firmly
Note how
Note how the
the stylus
stylus enters
enters the
the run-in
run-in groove.
groove. the outer
relock thegroove
base of a twelve
clamp nut. inch
Rotaterecord.
the Firmly
guide
‘Snatch’ would
‘Snatch’ wouldindicate thethe
indicate needneed
for a for
lowera value.
lower relock the base clamp nut. Rotate the guide
pulley housing to align it with the filament, which pulley
value. housing
must lie to
in align it with of
the groove thethe
filament,
pulley.which must lie
in the groove of the pulley.

20
20
Operation
912/133 Operation 912/134 912/135

Rotate the
Rotate the control
control lever
lever fully,
fully, inin the
thedirection
directionofof Position the
Position the tonearm
arm so so thatthat
thethe stylusisisover
stylus overthe
the To
Tolower
lower the
the stylus
stylus onto
onto the
the record move the
record move the
the
the arrow,
arrow, and
and move
move the
the tonearm
tonearm out outfrom
fromthe
the selected
selected track
track of
of the
the record.
record. controllever
control lever forwards,
forwards, in
in direction
direction of
of the
the arrow,
arrow,
armrest.
armrest. justpast
just pasttoptop
deaddead centre.
centre. This This will
will set theset the
control
control lever in motion, at which point it will take
lever in motion, at which point it will take over the
over the movement of the lever, giving a
movement of the lever,
smooth controlled giving a smooth controlled
descent.
descent.
Note:
Note:ForFor the
the correct
correct descent
descent times the control
times the control
lever
lever must
must be be operated
operated exactly
exactly as above. The
as above. The
descent
descentspeedspeed will
will be
be increased considerably ifif
increased considerably
thelever
the lever is pushed
is pushed downdown instead
instead of beingofallowed
being
toallowed to own
fall of its fall ofaccord.
its own accord.

21
21
Operation (continued)
912/136 Operation (continued) Adjusting
912/137 the Height
Adjusting of Lift
the height of lift Cleaning the Arm
912/138 Cleaning theLift
arm lift

To
To raise the stylus
raise the stylus from
from the the record
record move
move the
the The raising
The raising and
and lowering
lowering control
control is
is set
set to to suit
suit the
the IfIf the
the tonearm driftsoutwards
arm drifts outwardsduring
during raising
raising or
or
control lever
control lever back
back toto its
its original
original position.
position.When
When majority
majority of cartridges but
of cartridges but the
the height
height raised
raised above
above lowering itit indicates
lowering indicates contaminant
contaminant onon the
the rubber
rubber
the tonearm
the arm is not in in
is not use useit itshould
shouldalways
alwaysbebe the
the record
record can can bebe changed
changed to to meet
meet individual
individual pad. To
pad. To restore
restore positive
positive working,
working, wipe
wipe the
the pad
pad
returned to the armrest for safety. needs. The small hole in the centre of the arm lift with a damp cloth and repeat with a paper tissue
returned to the armrest for safety. needs. The small hole in the centre of the arm lift with a damp cloth and repeat with a paper tissue
provides access to the adjustment screw. Insert until dry. Clean the underside of the tone arm in
provides
the long leg access
of theto0.89mm
the adjustment
A/F wrench screw. Insert
to engage until dry. Clean
the same the where
manner underside of the tonearm
it contacts the rubberin
the long leg of the 0.89mm wrench
the screw. Clockwise rotation will decrease the to engage the
pad. same manner where it contacts the rubber
the screw.
height lifted;Clockwise rotation
anti-clockwise will decrease
rotation will increasethe pad.
height lifted; anti-clockwise rotation will increase
it.
the height.
The adjustment is sensitive so the wrench should
only be turned is
The adjustment a sensitive
few degrees at wrench
so the a time.should
Apply
firm
only downward
be turned pressure to the arm
a few degrees at alifttime.
afterApply
each
clockwise rotation of the adjustment screw.
firm downward pressure to the arm lift after each
clockwise rotation of the adjustment screw.

22
22
Appendix
We hope these instructions have made the installation of your Series M2-9R/12R precision
tonearm straightforward. Care for it as you would a camera. Do not apply oil or any other
lubricant to any part of it. Do not attempt to take to pieces or interfere with any of the screws
except as directed in the instructions; to do so will invalidate the guarantee and may induce
costly repairs.
If you have a problem concerning operation or service, contact SME at the address overleaf in
the first instance, quoting the unit’s model and serial number. Do not send the tonearm to SME
unless requested to do so. We provide a quick, efficient service through our dealers or direct
from the factory to any part of the world.

· · ·
SME LIMITED MILL ROAD STEYNING WEST SUSSEX BN44 3GY ENGLAND · ·
· ·
T: +44 (0) 1903 814321 E: [email protected] W: www.sme.ltd.uk

Printed in Steyning England

23
SME LIMITED • STEYNING • WEST SUSSEX • ENGLAND