Dear @mijostyn : SME 60 and its new tonearm is unique, this is not more of the same and a gift by SME for who can afford.
I’m not saying that Dohmann is not good enough. Dohmann took an after market platfform and made some modifications on it for its TT. That makes me to believe is not in anyway superior to the 60 but for some time you are in love with Dohmann: good.
I was not aware of that anecdot between Fletcher and SME.
I owned Fletcher " The Arm " that was a copy of the Switzerland Breuer design and if I remember manufactured by Jelco. Other " curiosity " on Fletcher was the original Sota Mat where the blend materials were not invented by Fletcher but came from a third part that never shares with David the formula of that mat. The today Sota Mat looks like the original ( I owned 2 of them and were just fabolous. ) but it does not performs because the blend materials are different. No, I’m not trying to diminish the Flecher high reputation.
If some one wants to read the Fremer review you posted here it’s:
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/sme-model-60-turntable-and-va-series-tonearm/
R
Btw, that " sligth blowing " with phono with ears really close is something weird in your system . My phonolinepream Essential 3180 does not shows that " blowing " not only with my 95db speaker sensitivity but does not do it in Guillermo ( close frend. ) room system that by coincidence owns the top model of your electrostatics and the JC-1 but till today my 3180 only is at my place. Lewm owns the 3160 as other gentlemans and other the 3150 that was the design with what we started.
The 3180 is a true up-grade over the 3160 and in other thread I posted that we will manufacture a few 3180 that I think is a must to listen due that you are a way demanding MUSIC lover/expert audiophile.