Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

All three are good, this does not mean they sound the same of course. The SP10R offers you the chance to pick the plinth ( one with two arm mounts might be nice...since you are a classical music buff there are a lot of old mono records you might wish to try) as well as tonearm making some personal choices. Have you heard any of these yet?

No. The problem is that there are no audio shops within 2 hours of where I live. It’s an audiophile desert here, so I was hoping to get some idea of the differences in sound between the different turntables, if any. . .

To give you an idea of what it's like in Florida, I called about 3 shops, all 2+ hours away when I needed a turntable repair on my Rega P8.  None of them were willing to step up, so I shipped my turntable to NY for a new cartridge installation.  So, essentially, I will probably end up buying a used one unheard. 

I would add Brinkmann to your list also. With the mass TT you should IMO run them on a base like HRS ( there are other brands also but Brinkmann work directly w HRS. Any of the three TT you mentioned are great, just different. Hopefully you can get some Florida help although at the level you seek you should travel to hear the gear.

best to you

jim

Makes sense. Will you setup the cart on your own?

No, I don't think I'll set up the cartridge on my own.  

@tomic601 

Could you please elucidate how you would expect the TT to sound differently.  Which of the three would be the most transparent in presentation? 

Thanks.