Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

I really don’t know how anyone can evaluate such a co-dependent item as a tonearm out of the context of one’s own system or at least a system with which one is intimately familiar. But hey…

Listening to Eartha Kitt sing “Santa Baby”. Just sublime.

Speaking strictly from a musical point of view, if I decided to go Kuzma, I would buy the Ref2 with 4points tonearm. It looks to be less hifi than the others, but I never compared it the the XL. I think it’s the beautiful sleeping in the Kuzma range of tts.

It’s been here for a very long time with little pods and that’s a sign that it’s conception was right from the start.

According to Rega’s lead engineer, nothing should be put on top of the platter as a clamp or weight is not part of the design. If it were, they  would include one or make available as an  optional upgrade like they do with a shelf, improved belts for their lower end tables, etc.

I am sure it is incorporated into heavier table designs like SOTA, VPI, Oracle, Clear Audio, Basis, Michell and the other big boys who sell or include weights/clamps along with their tables.

As far as @drbond ‘s original question, IMHO I would go with an integrated arm/table design like SME. You know it was designed to work together, and SME’s arms supposedly are outstanding and now only available new from them when buying one of their tables. I view SME as an end game table, maybe you can work your way up to their top of the line.

@sokogear 

The AMG is also an integrated Turntable, tonearm, clamp design. The same as the SME, in terms of integrated design. Why SME instead of AMG? Have you heard both turntables?

Dear @drbond  : As an alternative to SME Kuzma is very good but the SME TTs are little better.

Why not mix both?, SME TT and the Kuzma tonearm.

R.