Suggestions For Analog Upgrade - Tonearm or Phono Stage?

@cerrot thanks for the suggestion, which I like, and sorry if I was unclear, but the Allnic would be about double my budget. Cheers,
Spencer

@sbank , yes, you are right. The Schroder Reference and Model 2 are interesting arms but not my cup of tea either. They are his earliest designs. I agree also on the Helius. Small companies have a habit of disappearing. However a well made arm should be essentially immortal. Value depends on what the mythologists do with it. The SME V does just fine without those adjustments. 

Updating the Audiomods arm will not change it's basic problems. You have to get the center of mass of the cartridge and the center of mass of the counterbalance in the same plane as the vertical bearing to achieve neutral balance. You can't get the vertical bearing down at record level without severely messing up your VTA. If you have not watched this yet please do.  It is a great primer on turntable and tonearm design. I only disagree with Villchur's  position on anti skating.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rgK0YMsJXM

Spencer, it takes a big leap of faith and you have to take a deep dive into digital territory but you can create an incredible system putting subs under Sound Labs. It is not a swarm system but it will require at least 4 individual subwoofers. If you are ever in the Boston area I'd be happy to demonstrate :-)

I agree also on the Helius. Small companies have a habit of disappearing.

Helius Designs have been in business since the early 1980s.

I have  a Audiomods Micrometer Series Five Tonearm with the continuous Wiring from Headshell to RCA Connectors at the Phonostage.
I also have an SME Series IV.
Neither of these are in use at present and have been on the Sub's Bench since 2019 when a Bespoke Design for a Tonearm was produced for me using a Donor Tonearm to produce the arm that remains in use.

I can't comment on whether a change of a Phonostage or Tonearm will produce the changes to the Vinyl Source of the System that is being sought. 

Very recently I had a experience that had a profound impact on my thoughts about where I am at with my set up, to elaborate.
I took up the offer of a invite and have been present at a Debut and Demonstration of a  New Design for a Tonearm. I was briefed over time on the design and progress, so the invite was appreciated and I was keen to encounter this experience.
The end result is that the experience undertaken has left such a positive impression, where the Demonstration has shown the New Design is able to outperform my preferred Tonearm.  I have been at a loss to explain the exceptional delivery capability and the attractiveness of the presentation that was on offer from the New Design Tonearm.
I could not have understood any assessment offered by other attendees,
but as a follow up have fully understood all the commentary being passed on.
This was an experience needed to be encountered and evaluated against personal recollected impressions from previous experiences.

With that in mind, I would suggest to get out and listen to a few of the shortlist suggestions and other suggestions be offered.
A experience might be encountered that could change the plan full circle.
That type of impression and experience encountered will not be had just through discussing options on a forum.

  

@pindac, yes that's great advice. As part of the leadership of a very active local audio group in my prior location, I was spoiled by the regular opportunity to listen to dozens of great systems and do regular comparisons/shootouts, etc. with many diversely and well-informed enthusiasts. Once the world gets a bit safer, I'll be hoping to hook up with Austin TX area folks to share some music, learning and a drink or two. 
For now, I'm making audio plans in relative physical isolation.

FWIW, how would you compare your Audiomods to your SME? Cheers,
Spencer