SME 10 or Aries 3 with SME IV

sme 10, no contest. However, I suggest a new one. Why compromise if you are into getting the best sound. SME IV is will disappoint. Also, you need to get the super platter for the Aries 3. Again, anything else would be a compromise that you will hear. I have a Aries 3, super platter, 12.7 arm. Great sound. Wished I had gone the sme 10 route. Will dump my current rig for a 10 once I get BO's check.

I am curious why do you think the SME IV will disappoint. I have heard it on a Delphi MK V and was impressed. Or are you saying it would disappoint on an Aries? Are you not concerned about the 25 lb super platter weight on the bearing?

Having heard SME arms on Oracle V's, and having heard an Aries 3 (but with a VPI arm of course), my feeling is that an SME arm on an Aries might not be the best match. They both seem to be on the "black background" side of things, which might be too much of a good thing in combination - you might find the combo to lack PRAT.

As Oracle's have a wide open sound, the SME arm is generally considered to be an excellent match to the Oracle (to that point, Oracle even supplies an SME-made Oracle/SME 345 arm). The combination certainly makes nice music to my ears.

I used my IV on both an old TNT and a Basis Ovation, worked well on both. I sold both when I resumed a VPI dealership. Currently awaiting an Aries Extended with 12.7 arm and Super Platter. From listening to the Scout and Scoutmaster I would say that they are not as "dark" and "warm" as the older VPIs or the Basis either: if the Aries is similar I would think that it would work well with the SME. Of course, I liked my old tables with it. I had considered, and may still, buying an Aries table for the SME, Buconero says he has an Aries 3 with 12.7 arm, according to my sales lit. the Aries 3 doesn't come with a 12" arm. In fact the only table available with it currently is the HRX. When I ask Harry why he didn't bring back the Aries Extended he told me that they still had some, that they were Aries 2 tables rather than Aries 3. I obviously didn't care as I ordered one and I am not saying you don't have one; just saying what I was told. Probably totally irrelevant anyway.