To SME or not to SME?

Diggory,

Could you describe the sonic differences between the Model 10 and 20? I've read that some feel the 20 sounds more like the 10 and others feel the 20 sounds more like the 30. And what arms/cartridges do/did you use on these tables?

Judging from the latest comments about the 20/3, it gets much closer to the 30.

Manitunc,

Have you read the thread? The OP has bought an SME 20/3. Let him enjoy his new purchase and report back his impressions. Congratulations Mikesmith.

Mikesmith,

Has your SME 20/3 arrived? I'd love to read about your impressions.

I have an SME 10 with SME V arm and AirTight PC-1 cartridge. This combo has a low noise floor (I don't know what Blackest soundstage means) and very good imaging. My system is anything but "dead and uninvolving". I don't know how much to attribute to the turntable as I have never inserted other tables into my system and am not able to isolate what the SME 10 is doing to the overall sound. I'm considering upgrading to a better SME table as I have read the 20/3 and 30 have more bass extension and even blacker backgrounds. They also have better isolation.

My suspicion is that an SME table is a good/excellent and neutral foundation for a front end. If one hears something else, it is in the arm/cartridge/tonearm cable or something further up the chain.

Unfortunately, SME is very expensive in the US. I read that the factory has no trouble selling all of it considerable output, so many music lovers are indeed saying "TO SME".

Gordon,

That is a good one. Kind of sums up things quite nicely. Very pithy and so typical of this subjective hobby. Subjective in what one hears and objective in the sense of intense brand loyalty practiced by many toward their preferred objects.

I'm leaning with Rgurney and wish I could find a way to afford the big SME.

Why focus on SME? It's the title of the thread.