Next step in Turntable

I own a SME IV, it sits in a Box Unsued, it has been surpassed in all Perfomance Areas by a Custom Produced Tonearm I had produced for me.
A SME V owner has done the same as myself and there are others moved on from other recommended Tonearms to acquire the Custom Producd Tonearm I am using.
The Two above Custom Tonearms will not have cost the price of a
SME IV, using ones ears is critical to make the analysis of the performance and the attractors it offers to the individual.

A Short List is best developed from experiences gathered.
Any well put together Marketing Strategy can sell an Item using an Attractive Glossy Paged Brochure, full of non important Blurb.
I can assure you that it is easy to fall prey to.

What’s wrong with the OP’s turntable? Pro-ject makes some nice turntables when you get over 1k....I own his turntable, the sb model with speed box. The hana is a nice cartridge and goes with that arm very well, i own the hana el. The OP should buy the metal subplatter for the classic to replace the plastic one. It adds more momentum and speed stability. Also, the TT should be placed on a thick maple board on a wall mounted shelf. The 9c carbon fiber/aluminum arm Is a very good one, it can track some very severe warps with ease. Also, he should be using a SUT for the Hana, something like the Jensen mc 2rr.....it was designed with the denon 103 in mind...the hana is almost identical to the 103 spec wise, as it calls for 400 ohm load impedance...the Jensen is set for 430 ohms. Lastly, dump the phenomena pre, go with a tubed phono stage, such as the Tavish design the classic or the vintage, or even the ear 834p!! I’d also dump the stock interconnects and go with Atlas element phono cables. Very low capacitance. I’d do all these things before dumping the TT....it has been very well reviewed by countless magazines, not one bad review. In all honesty, the OP will get something that sounds "different", not necessarily "better".

He wants to take the next step and spend $10-15K and is asking for recommendations. If he makes good choices, it will definitely sound better. Part of the expenditure should include vibration control (if the turntable is not sufficiently self controlled like an SME) and any cables to and from the phono stage, turntable, power supply, etc.

Hey @pindac, why don't you sell the SME arm? I am sure you can get a good buck for it these days.

Anything can be custom produced. Aren't we supposed to be recommending commercially available off the shelf offerings (with options of course)?

Very pretty turntable setup
It must sound very nice .  Why did you pick the reed arm vs others? My one buddy has a tri-planer

Reed 3p “12inch Cocobolo with cryo-treated phono cable and WBT RCA is my version. This tonearm is fully adjustable “on the fly” (even azimith on the fly). Clever design, superb quality, great sound. Buyer can choose length, cable, and armtube. I bought because of the engineering and design. My choice was Reed, not TriPlanar or Kuzma. Now it’s the only one modern tonearm in my vaults, the rest are top vintage high-end. 

Chakster, those feet are not isolation. The only thing they do is make the owner feel good.

Did you read the manual for AT616? Everything explained very well with test results and measurements by Audio-Technica. Those pneumatic feet are great insulators.
But your wish to completely isolate everything is a bit strange :) Life on springs in a complete isolation? This is a perfect world of modern technologies? @mijostyn


Honestly, I have no idea what you guys isolate your turntable from? Is there a subway under your houses, earthquake or what? It’s a preparation for emergency to stay home with perfectly isolated Sota turntable when the earth is shaking?