Opinions: Oracle/SME IV/ Monster Alpha2

Re: SME arm and Oracle... meant "simpatico". "Sypatico" sounds like a cross between a mental illness and a skin disease ;-)

The Oracle Delphi IV is a wonderful table and the SMEIV a somewhat better performing arm than the Oracle 345. The Oracle arm is manufactured by SME and uses the armtube from the less expensive SME 309, the bearings of the SME IV and the wiring from the SME V.
IMO,the Monster Alpha is not worth the bother to retip.
If you intend to save some money and get a superior cartridge to the Monster, consider the Dynavector Karat D17 mk2 or even the 10X4mkII.

I picked up an Oracle IV with 345 arm about 6 years ago. I couldn't be happier with it's performance. I started out with the monster alpha 2, purchased new from AA for a song, with this combination. I agree with Caterham that it is not worth retipping. I was never ablt to tame it enough to enjoy the music. I then went to the Benz glider, the .9mv one. While this sounded pretty good, the cartridge was not the best match for the arm. The physical light weight of the cartridge was such that I could just barely get the correct tracking force with the benz. Six months ago I purchased a Lyra Helikon and I have since gone to a whole new world! Everything I had been looking for in my analog rig came into focus.
By all means go for the Oracle. It is a great table and should be the last vinyl rig you buy! The only thing I have had to replace are the plastic rings in the towers which hold the rubber rings. Best of luck.

Thanks, guys. I did the deal yesterday. I'm on a tight cartridge budget for now. Too bad about the Benz Glider, as it was on my short list. The other budget cartridge I was considering, Grado Reference Sonata, is probably a no-go, too. A friend has a Reference Silver on his Alexandria and it hums like crazy. The Dynavector 20XL is also in my price range. Any others that come to mind?

P.S. Turns out that this is a MkIII with very low hours on it. In fact, unused for a long time since the stylis went South. Aside from a new belt, (just on general principle), is there anything else that should be done. Suspension and motor appear to work perefctly. Any mods or upgrades that are commonly recommended? Thanks again.