What Does It Take To Surpass A SME V?

Triplanar can't compete vs MAX 237 and I know that you have not the Proteus but an old one but as with the V are audiophiles that like the Tri. as like Schroeder or the Reed or the Kuzma or the OL, or this one where M.Fremer in his SAT DD XD-1 100K TT/SAT tonearm compared vs the RP 10 that comes mounted with this tonearm and Fremer mated with Lyra Atlas, Anna by Ortofon and some other top cartridges:

https://www.rega.co.uk/products/rb3000

R.

As there is no indicator the SME V under inquiry is owned, but only being considered and is a early version. A suggestion of alternatives is no harm.

The used V Model being considered, if from the mainstream offerings is most likely $3500 - 5000ish

There is a lot of options to be put on a list at this purchase point, even a New Model of another Brand in this price range.

As said in previous Posts, if it weren't for the Rega Design being so successful and sought after, there would most likely not be a SME IV, V, 309, along with a host of others that poached the Rega Geometry and Design.    

@rossb kudos for the nod towards musicality :)

@neonknight beaten surely but at what cost, right? Btw hello fellow Washingtonian!

Dear @rauliruegas ​​​​, I have the impression that the internal wiring is Kondo and not Audio note UK. In any case this wiring is very sensitive (though matches arm perfectly) and requires extreme care when installing. This is one of the reasons I have not committed to this internal wiring change.

@neonknight In relation to your wondering if OL are worth exploring.

The Tonearm I am familiar with for this Company is the Illustrious.

SME OL and Audiomods are Companies that have their TOTL Tonearms from a certain era formed from using the Rega Design and Geometry. 

SME have remained Loyal to the Rega Geometry and maintained a Singular Material used for the Arm Wand.

OL have maintained the Rega Geometry, but evolved to using Composite Materials for the Arm Wands t to the Higher End Models, but keep a Singular Arm Wand Material reserved for the lower in cost models.

Audiomods have maintained the Rega Geometry, and have joined the competition with OL and have a Composite Material used for their Series Six Arm Wand.

I own a SME IV, Adiomods Series V ( Singlar Material Arm Wand) and have been in the the company of the OL Illustrious on quite a few occasions.

There is little if any real difference between the SME IV and Audiomods Series Five. Each are quite similar in all areas of a Vinyl Replay.

When being demonstrated the OL Illustrious, there are sonics and a presentation I am quite familiar with, and this encourages me to feel the Three Tonearms are all much of muchness.

When the IV and Series V have been compared to the Tonearm I am using now. The most noticeable difference is how constrained the IV and Series Five are perceived to be influenced, there seems to be too much imparted from the design as a control, which has come to be identified with as not for the better.

When the restricted freedom is observed and the loss of detail from the recording is being witnessed is associated with the constrained manner the arm seemingly functions within, these arms can quickly become less attractive to a Arm in use that does not create this impression.

The Arm in use today, leaves a really difficult assessment to discover where it might have a fault that is unwanted on the replay, the detail and structure of the recording are laid out to be experienced in a manner that is extremely attractive and more of the capabilities is wanted regularly.

For me, after a long marriage to the SME IV and a Shorter Affair with the Series Five,  it was a very easy decision to Separate from each of these and bring into the Set Up the latest Tonearm of Choice.   

Even better for when the HiFi System is set back up for regular use, the latest Tonearm of Choice has a few tweaks which I have been instrumental in having some of the latest additions developed, and been Party to the Demonstrations during changes put in place.

I know there is the X Factor now available for this Arm, the sum of the Work undertaken has a finished function that is quite something and totally optimised for the already, very attractive and special design.