Peter thank you for your positive comments, I am using the AirTight PC-3 cartridge, one day I would love a AirTight Supreme cartridge.
What I like about the SME 30/12 is very easy to answer, I like the way it gets out of the way of the music, the music just flows from my loudspeakers and fills the room. I do not have to worry the turn table being at the right speed or if the tone arm is the right arm for the turn table.
The SME 30/12 with the SME V-12 tone arm is a incredible combination, now match this with a Airtight cartridge and you have a stellar reference source combination.
I play a lot of music Genres and love bass dynamics plus love the inner details in the music, the SME allows so much music to flow from the Vinyl, personally I have to say it is my favorite turn table from all the turn table.
The set up is so exact and once done all you have to do is check the suspension tower spacing once every few months (this brings very big rewards so SME owners please check from time to time) and place 1 drop of oil per year into the spindle motor drive locator hole.
We have regular music evenings at Parmenter Sound studio with music sessions lasting from 6 to 8 hours of vinyl play back with our friends, the SME 30/12 is a dream to use and a great music source reference for me to be able to demonstrate amplifiers and loudspeakers true full range potential.
So many people have varied opinions on what is the best turn table, I am no different, from my personal experience it is the SME 30/12.