Sme new platter material???

Has anyone compared the SME tables to similarly priced competition lately? I'm curious about all of the interest in direct drive tables. Also, has anyone ever tried a different mat, platter or clamping device on an SME?

Hi Peter, you may know this, but I recently sold my SME 20/2a SME IV.Vi and went to a Grand Prix Audio Monaco table and Triplanar arm.

I feel this combo definitely betters the SME in the PRaT area. Piano notes hit with more authority and sustain for instanace. The timing seems more precise in a hard to explain way. Noise floor is also lower allowing more details etc to emerge.

Now the SME is still very good and it presents a cohesiveness to the sound that is alluring. Also a "wetness" to each note.

Now I've never heard a SME 30/2 or 30/12, maybe there better tables improve things.

I never tried any different clamps/mat's etc on my SME. I did try several power cords and isolation...which did help quite a bit.

One of these days, maybe if I win a lottery, I'd love to have a SME 30/12. And keep my direct drive as well...

I cancelled the sme 20 /2 order and signed in for the upgraded sme 20/2a, its a gamble but it is the latest technology and i trust sme for not producing gimmicks to sell things .
Im curious