To SME or not to SME?

Mauidj,

Any of the turntables you have looked at will be good. If you are nervous about the $20k, then spend less. What about second hand. For $10k you could get a second hand Micro Seiki RX1500 and a new Graham Phantom. Keep your Oracle as a benchmark. If you dont like the sound you can offload the Micro without losing much money if any. Put your original cartridge on the new deck then once you get a feel for the sound make a decision on cartridge. This is the least risk approach.

Dover,
I'm not nervous about the money just being careful and taking in all the data I can. Kinda excited actually as this is not something I do very often!
I agree that any of the TT options will be good ..in fact...great. I am just looking to fine tune the decision as much as possible and also deciding what "sound" is most important to me and the rest of my system.
If I am so unhappy with my choice and have to try again...well no biggie. Fortunately the prices I have been quoted are such that I should be able to move it without a loss.

Sksos1 - I beg to differ. I've owned both the Basis Debut Signature Vacuum and the SY7. Sold them. (I've heard the S10 and don't think it is a significant improvement over the S7). Neither measures up to the SME 30/12 with V12 arm - what I own now. Plenty of PRAT and inner detail.
I'll go count up my albums now.......let's just say, quite a few.

Hi Ron - I have no idea what a 30 sounds like, have never heard one but trust your ears. For me the 20 was the most un-involving table I ever had in my system and yes it was with the SMEV arm, all I know is I myself would never consider that table EVER. And I thought the S10 was a significant improvement over the S7 but really not worth the price of admission IMHO.

Linn owner: the SME is boring.
SME owner: the Avid is boring.
Avid owner: the Linn is boring.

I've actually heard these owners make these comments.