Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

@rauliruegas 

Thanks for including a paper on why you prefer a 9" tonearm over a 12" tonearm.  

My interest is piqued about FM Acoustics, and their FM223 phono linearizer.  There are no reviews easily found on that unit in the US using a google search.  I suppose there is a reason for that, although there tend to be plenty of reviews of other Swiss equipment, CH1 and dartzeel, in particular.  I suppose that this means that the FM223 might be prohibitively expensive?  Their website doesn't list any of their dealers/distributors either, which I find rather odd.   

You may find more bang for the buck in a quieter TT than in signal processing. Ralph (of Atmasphere fame) often suggests spending a lot on the phono stage to the same end.

As a general rule, every active device (transistor or tube) in the signal path increases noise.

For example, I parallel the first (aerospace) transistors in my preamp to reduce noise.

@terry9 

Yes, I think I have to agree with you based on experience about your comment regarding active devices increasing noise.  I think that is why I like the Ypsilon PST-100 Mk2 SE so much, as it is very transparent and clear in its passive mode, and the electrostatic speakers ruthlessly expose any bad signal in the path.  

I would have to research FM Acoustics more, but, based on my first impression, it seems to be similar to dartzeel in using processing chips to convey sound in a SS fashion.  While I don't like the idea of processing power creating music, I would find it hard to argue with results!

Dear @drbond  : I think you know about Allaerts LOMC cartridges. Well, those cartridges never had a review on TAS or STHP magasines and I asked MF why not a review of Allaerts cartridges and he told me that J.Allaerts refuse to gaves him one cartridge for review because he had and has a way long waiting list of customers that already made its in advanced payment for their samples.

Due to that fact I send to MF my sample of the MC2 Gold Finish for the review and my cartridge came back 2-3 months latter after the review.

In the case of FM Acoustics you don't find out a review because something quite simple: THEY DON'T NEED IT as Dartzeel, Ypsilon or CH  and the like.

Chips down there? well obviously that you don't know for now what you are talking about.

" active devices increasing noise ", as @terry9 you are wrong and both of you have to know that there are active phono preamps designs and there are PHONO PREAMPS designs and this fact makes a huge differences for the better or worst.

Other than live MUSIC we took FM Acoustics as an audio quality reference sound for our SS fully discrete active phonolinepreamp design and here exist an owner that can tell you is just dead silent.

Btw, high end FM Acoustics audio items in reality is a side line for this manufacturer. You can read here about:

https://everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/FM_Acoustics_of_Switzerland

http://www.charleskeng.com/fm.htm

http://www.element-acoustics.ca/audio_visits.php?aid=17

@billwojo , that would be a nice idea but they are all being cancelled. I tried to go to the NYC show but had to switch to David Byrne's American Utopia. It got canceled at the front door. We had a very nice dinner at Wolfgang's.

@drbond, terry nine waxes poetic about air bearing turntables but many thing the complexity far outweighs the benefits. The noise on the record far exceeds what any half decent turntable produces and an with modern machining bearing tolerances can be very close to perfect. With modern materials mechanical bearings can be virtually dead silent. 

The SME pays careful attention to their suspension. They are beautifully machined and finished. They will last a lifetime. There are very few tables that perform at their level.

@terry9 turntable bearing do not generate any high frequency noise. They spin too slowly. If anything is going to produce high frequency noise it would be air rushing around all over the place.