I've just replaced my Akito I with an SME model 10 & I have also incorporated the Extreme Phono carbon fibre sub-chassis & armboard upgrade as well as a silver interconnect cable from the same company, (see additional comments under header 'Extereme Phono-first listening impressions). The improvement in sound is amazing, easily the best music reproduction that I have experianced! What can be attributed independantly to the arm & sub-chassis is impossible to quantify but the SME has a real quality about it that makes the Akito look a bit 'Micky mouse'.