Avid Volvare - SME IV arm or Tri-planar VII ???

I have a Volvere and love it (SME 309 arm). I have spoken to Conrad Mas (designer/owner) and he recommnends Rega or SME arms. They tend to put energy back into the platter and therefore plays well with the design. Energy then travels from the platter through and out the bearing.

SME arms a breeze to work with and have really good instructions.

Another reason for rega or SME is you bolt them right to the subchassis without using an adaptor/armboard.

the AVID is the way better choice of the TTs you mentioned and in my opinoin better than some that are more $$s. I think Avid are the best suspended tables available.

great frequency extension, low noise, easy setup, well made, impeccable finish, dynamic, midrange depth, great isolation... should I go on.

I have only heard the SME IV on the Volvere and I thought it was a superb match. That said, I chose the Triplanar VII for my Acutus over the SME V and Graham Phantom. I think your choice of cartridge and need for adjustability during play might be the deciding factors for the Volvere. Just to confuse things a little more, I recommend that you give serious consideration to the Super Scoutmaster.

What would make you point me in the direction of the Super Scoutmaster if you are an Avid owner?

My primary reason for leaning towards the Avid is that everyone I have heard from says the VPI gear is a bit tweaky and needs constant fine tuning; while the Avid is truly set it up once and play. I'm not a fidget around with the table kinda guy (not enough time to fidget and listen and I'd rather be listening). I've also heard the Avid is VERY dynamic with great lower frequency extension. I have never heard anyting bad about the Super S.M. but I have heard that the VPI tables can be a bit flat sounding compared to a suspended table...

Is the Triplanar as easy to set up and use as the SME IV?

Geoff Husband wrote an excellent review of the TriPlanar VII for TNT-audio, during which he made extensive comparisons with his SME IV.vi. While he and I hear some things quite differently, notably with regard to VTA/SRA, his review was fair, balanced and gave an accurate impression of each arm. Check it out here:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/triplanar_e.html

My partner and I are very sensitive to VTA/SRA and we adjust and record arm height settings for each record. The TriPlanar was thus a better choice for us, since its height adjustment is vastly superior to an SME's. But if you're a set-and-forget sort of guy an SME might better suit your style.

A TriPlanar will match a broader array of cartridges, since it comes with four different counterweights. It also adjusts easily for non-vertical styli, non-square cantilevers and non-standard cantilever lengths. SME pretty much assumes that your cartridge was perfectly built, sort of like their arms are.

They are different to set up but neither arm is easier, IMO, though an SME might seem less intimidating. The TriPlanar is designed in a way that almost demands active involvement (aka fiddling) by the user. While it responds to tiny adjustments with extraordinary subtlety, it takes time, thought and effort to do this well.

They're both great arms. Choose whichever one fits your style. You'll be happy.

Brieshayana, I point you to the Super ScoutMaster as an excellent representative of a non-sprung table. If, like me, you have already determined that you prefer the sound of sprung tables then you cannot go wrong with the Avid. I agree completely with Dougdeacon's points above. I adjust the VTA frequently as well depending upon the record so for me the Triplanar was the obvious choice. And even if you don't think you'd use the options that the Triplanar offers over the SME IV initially you just might find them indispensable in the near future.