IV vs Wilson Benesch ACT 0.5
The ACT 0.5's effective mass is 9 g against the IV's 10 g and its effective length 235 mm against 233.15 mm.
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
AnalogTonearmsDiscontinued
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The SME IV tonearm is a high-end, stereo gimbal bearing tonearm designed for audiophiles seeking uncompromising performance. It is a simplified version of the legendary SME Series V, utilizing copper wiring instead of silver and featuring streamlined adjustment mechanisms. The arm is constructed from a unique one-piece pressure die-cast magnesium tube, which replaces conventional fabricated construction and provides superior rigidity and damping. Internal constrained layer damping minimizes residual vibration, making the arm acoustically inert. The cartridge platform is finely machined and enamel-free to avoid interface resonance. The arm features a stainless steel cross shaft carried in a massive yoke on high-precision ball races, with the axis at record mean level to minimize warp-wow. The vertical shaft is also stainless steel, ground and thread ground, with an integral flange for coupling. The arm pillar is a 23mm diameter steel component, heat treated and honed, carrying widely spaced ball races to resist tilt. Anti-skate control is provided via a tension spring and filament, with a dial corresponding to vertical tracking force (VTF) and a positive OFF position. The lowering/raising control is smooth and positive, with adjustable lift height. The dual-lock base ensures high rigidity and movement control. The tungsten-alloy balance weight is carried on a damped two-point suspension for extra-low inertia, aiding warp riding. The output socket is swiveling and damped to minimize vibration transmission. Reference lines on the arm facilitate VTA (vertical tracking angle) setting, and fine adjustment of horizontal tracking angle (HTA) is possible. The arm is supplied with a new design alignment protractor for accurate HTA setup.
Tonearm specifications
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the IV in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The ACT 0.5's effective mass is 9 g against the IV's 10 g and its effective length 235 mm against 233.15 mm.
The RB880's effective mass is 11 g against the IV's 10 g and its effective length 236.5 mm against 233.15 mm.
The Robin's effective mass is 11 g against the IV's 10 g and its effective length 235 mm against 233.15 mm.
The Akito's effective length is 229 mm against the IV's 233.15 mm. Both share effective mass (10 g).
Audiomods Series IV
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