BBV, have you listened to an SME arm with the infamous removal of bearing yoke from the top and also a change in phono cables. Both make a difference, the yoke making the musicians sound more dynamic as if they have had a pay rise, a good phono making stock VdH D501 cable sound both shouty, shut-in and prety awful IMHO and a view shared by some others out there. I post this only due to curiosity with whether views formed on SME arms are with these seeming own goals. It's how SME supply their products I know but those converted swear the SME arms are otherwise held back - including myself.