What Does It Take To Surpass A SME V?

Earlier in the thread someone mentioned that the SME V can sound constrained, and that is a good description I hear with the Transfiguration Audio Proteus. Everything sounds on track in terms of tonal balance, it tracks well, and at the macro level dynamics and output levels are fine, but the sound lacks that bit of life that I want from the system. It is not that the sound is bad, it is very good, I just feel there is a bit more performance that can be had from the analog system. 

Does this mean an arm rewire will push the table over the hump? Does it mean a different cartridge for the SME? Or a wholesale replacement of the arm. That is the question I am trying to work out. I am still waiting on the completion of service for the Ortofon Verismo, and then I will put it on that table. I have a ZYX 4D that has gone to Australia along with my second MC2000 that I am having fit with a boron cantilever, but apparently Australia Post has lost it, or its having issues getting to customs. I sent it out on December 8th and it still has not cleared customs. My other cartridges are at a lesser level, a Shinon Red that Soundsmith retipped with one of their ruby cantilevers, and an Ortofon MC3000 II. The Ortofon MC2000 I have could go on it, but the original review by JGH showed an incompatibility when he put it on a SME V. 

So that is what I am trying to suss out, and the reason for this post. Arm pods and 12 inch arms really have nothing useful to add to the conversation as the SOTA tables can only accept 9 to 10.5 inch arms, and I am not setting a static pod on the cabinet with a table that is designed with a suspended sub chassis. 

Wise decision not to mate a SOTA with an outboard  pod, at least. My guess is any sensible change you make is going to make you happier with the SQ. It’s how we’re built. So don’t fret.

I never got to see the exhibit in New York but I have a beautiful hardback of it with pictures of every bike.

A group of us misfit bikers took the train to the Chicago and got a special showing at the Field Museum. A year or two later I went to see it again in Vegas during CES. Pretty amazing stuff!

The Transfiguration Proteus is Cart' I have shown an interest in and once was tempted to purchase, but chose to help the Vendor the Cart' find a route to resolve the issue they had with it.

I regularly keep a check on the Market to see what turns up.

The owned SME IV sounds constrained to the Tonearm I am using at present and this also being a Tonearm I see no need to change, it is a keeper and has a couple of changes awaiting that will lift its performance further.

The SME IV is directly compared to a owned Audiomods Series V, and these are much of muchness, there is little to separate the presentation. 

I have a good handle on the presentation and the perception of a constrained/excess of control during a replay.

I have regularly heard the V/12 and the OL Illustrious and can perceive the same constrained presentation.

As stated previously, if not for Rega becoming so successful as a early launched Brand and maybe not having a Watertight Protection over their Product, the Four Models referred to above will most likely not have been developed.

These are inflicted by the Geometry and Design of the Rega Adopted Methodology.

As made known as well both the IV and OL were deselected by another who was going through the motions of selecting a Tonearm.

All will successfully replay recorded music, not all from my acquired experience, are able to offer a sense of real freedom/liberty, allowing not usually revealed embedded information to form in an expansive and beyond the usual detail as the basics of the presentation. When the Envelope of  note or vocal has the perception of being tangible, Tonearms of the Rega design are quite easily Superseded for a different fundamental of a design.  

I haven’t read the whole 3ad but if it hasn’t been indicated yet I would say look at the Audiomods production as well.
Several owners indicate not to use the silicone damper of the SmeV, to proceed with an internal rewiring with pure silver wiring and replace the output cable with others of better quality always in pure silver; the improvements would be evident.