SME 20/2 SME V or Triplanar VII?

The SME V also lacks azimuth adjustment. This would be another non-starter for me. Cartridges are never perfect. Fine tuning azimuth for a cartridge is essential for achieving good stereo separation.

Fwiw: the SME Vd supports azimuth adjustment via a detachable headshell. One might claim this joint compromises structural rigidity although testing by SME engineers indicate the connection between the headshell and armtube is significantly stronger than that between cartridge and non-detachable headshell. Comparison suggests no sonic difference between V and Vd.

Cheers,
Tim

IIRC, the SME also lacks any real ability to adjust cartridge alignment angle. Again, cartridges aren't always perfect. Headshell holes instead of slots confer no sonic advantage, but they do make aligning an imperfect cartridge difficult or impossible.

To an SME headshell, applying a sharp 2.8mm (~ 7/64") bit *by hand* yields enough accomodation on the holes for any cartridge alignment I felt the need to make.

Wrt 'synergy', is this the sort of thing one can talk a table/arm out of or into? I suppose there is no harm in the trying. ;-) Yet when the makers of an arm and table are the same, the possibility may not be so remote as one might reason. Those who have heard seem to think there may be something to the combination of an SME table with an SME arm.

Cheers,
Tim

So, how does one measure synergy?

With your ears? :-)

Ed - enjoy your time auditioning. I don't know if we're in the Golden Age of High End Turntables, but it sure is a heckuva lot of fun! We are blessed to have so many knowledgeable people - from all over the world - from whom to draw and with whom to share. While various parts of a system each play their role, turntables have their own special magic.

Cheers,Tim