Best table & arm combo for $10K

I would highly recommend the Teres 255 TT. I feel it will compete with or beat any other table you listed, and do it for about 1/4-1/3 of the price. Also, the Teres 255 is readily available as a completed table, so there doesn't have to be any DIY involved.

I also would say that the Origin Live tonearms should be on your list, as they will do at least as well, and IMO better than any arm you listed.

I have some agreement with Jtinn about arm selection. I, too, am a gimbal-bearing arm proponent. Triplanar is also a very good one, as he mentioned.

If you must have a unipivot, the Graham 2.2 is about the best of them.

I feel you should not choose a tonearm, unless you are sure about the types of cartridges you plan to use. Arms are not universal in this regard, and it is important to plan the arm/cartridge matchup for best results.

Go for the Teres table with the Schroder arm. I like it better than the Graham and the Triplanar both of which I owned. This will run you about $5600 with the Schroder 1 and spend the rest on phono section and cartridge.

I heard the clearaudio's next to the SME 10. I Liked the sme better, blacker background, more dynamics, stonger bass foundation. Then I bought the sme 20 with iv.vi arm. The 20 is a order or magnitude quieter. The better arm helps really in all areas. The only weakpoint is you'll need to buy a better arm cable to keep up with the table. I'm using the Graham ic50 right now-it's reasonable and pretty good. I'd like to try the hovland cable next.

If it were up to me I'd get the SME. It's a complete system design with great execution.

J.C. La Platine Verdier.