Not so AFAIK. The SME is £13K. The Yorke/Vibraplane combo around £12K. So whilst ever so slightly less expensive, IME the Yorke should not even be classified alongside the SME. The Model 30/2 is a considerable step up from the likes of the S7 in all respects (even the bottom end).

With due respect to what I suspect is an excellent system in many ways, I imagine that if you were to compare tt's in a more revealing system, one geared more towards image cohesiveness, you would indeed notice the differences.

It was these failings that caused my good friend to choose the SME over the Brinkmann (and that was in comparison with their flagship model - the Balance)

WM, I can afford to be unbiased. I neither own, nor sell any of the mentioned TT's. I do have extensive experience of them over a long period however, enough I feel to make a reasonably intelligent summation.