SME M2 Series Tonearms: M2-9, M2-9R, M2-12 and M12-R Now Available For Sale Individually.

All Image Credit: SME

It was only a short time ago that the highly admired England-based manufacture of turntables and tonearms, SME, took the decision to stop selling individual arms. Then, about April 2022, it was rumored that the M2 Series would become avilable for individual sale. Well, they are now available in the US and Canada for individual sale.

The M2 Series is manufactured in five arm lengths; the M2-9, M2-9R, M2-10, M2-12, and M2-12R. The 9 and 9R are both 9in tonearms, the M2-10 is a 10in model, while the 12 and 12R are 12in models. All five arms use the same materials and construction techniques. They are said to be manufactured from a lightweight stainless-steel armtube with a detachable headshell, a tungsten balance weight and precision ball race bearings.

Stiffness and rigidity is said to support most types of cartridges from medium to high compliance that weigh in at 5g to 12g, with the R series supporting heavier cartridges and headshell. All models feature a fluid damped arm lowering/raising control that gives a smooth positive action and allows for the lifting height of the cartridge above the record to be adjusted.

The M2-9/10/12 arms all use conventional straight arm tubes with an offset magnesium headshell, while those with the R extension feature the traditional ‘J’ shaped tonearm with aluminum headshell. All arms feature a full set of adjustable geometries to include; a detachable headshell that can set cartridge azimuth, vertical tracking force (VTF), anti-skating (up to 5g VTF), vertical tracking angle (VTA) thumbwheel adjustable height and a bedplate that facilitates horizontal tracking angle (HTA) adjustment.

The M2-12 is claimed to reduce lateral tracking error by at least 25% when compare to the M2-9 model. While the R versions with the traditional shaped J arm are said to be built for enthusiasts with the 12R claiming “minimal tracking error and harmonic distortion associated with a 12 inch tonearm.

The R versions also come with two stage balance weight inserts allowing maximum centre of gravity shift to balance a greater range of cartridges, up to 38g in S2-R headshell and direct plug-in heads up to 46g.