"The SME V are IV are just about the best arms money can buy.
I used to own an SME 3009 but used it with MM cartridges. I think
it may be a little light for a low compliance MC cartridge like
the DL-103. I'm currently using an SME IV with a DL-103D and it's
an excellent match.
I mounted a new Denon DL-103R (similar compliance, I believe, to the plain vanilla 103) on an SME 3009 Series II (is that the model you're referring to?).
Pure heaven.
Certainly, the DL-103R sounded warmer and less "tight" in the 3009 than it does in the VPI. But it still sounded glorious.
Personally I don't think the SME 3009 is worth the prices people are asking for them second-hand.
I have an SME 3009 Series II which I bought new approx. 20 years ago. Actually I also have an SME Series III which I bought new as well actually.
The SMEs are by no means bad arms, but they are really outclassed most usually by the Rega RB250. This is of course very system dependent as there are no absolutes in hi-fi
A major advantage of the Rega RB250 IMHO is that you can get Origin Live to do their modification to it and it will be transformed into something very much better indeed.
I would recommend SME arms. I have used SME 309, IV, and V with my two Michell turntables(Orbe SE and Gyrodec) with great success. After using SME arms, it is very hard to try out different arms. All other arms look like flimsy toys after using SME arms.
I have used/owned all three arms for about 6 months on Gyrodec, Orbe, and VPI HW19 MKIII turntables in my system. When I was comparing the arms, all comparasons were done all in one table, Orbe with the cartridges I had at the time.
SME IV and V definitely have slightly quieter background compared to SME309. This maybe due to better bearing, better phono cable, and better internal cable. Going from SME IV to V, very small improvements on details, little more focused sound, and very small improvement in bass. I'm talking about very very small noticeable improvements, not a night and day difference. SME IV and V has much easier VTA adjustment and repeatable adjustment compared to 309. If you are someone who always adjust VTA, I would stay way from 309. Going from SME309 to IV or V had much more noticeable improvement in sound compared that of IV to V. Don't get me wrong, they are in very similar in tonal quality/sound characteristic. One thing that SME309 going for is the removable headshell and being able to adjust azimouth. I found these features very useful when I'm comparing the cartridges. I usually have 3-4 cartridges at a time in my drawer and like to swap them around very often. With SME 309, I use caliper to get somewhat repeatable VTA when I swap out the cartridges. I also purchased an extra headshell for 309 which makes swap out a breeze.
After I had some time comparing SME 309 and V on Orbe, I thought V was the one I was going to keep and sell IV(I was going to keep 309 for the other turntables). Well, one of my friend brought over Cardas Golden Cross phono cable to my place one day to have me try out. When I put Cardas Golden Cross phono cable to SME 309, all that missed out details/improvement from V came into the picture. I noticed a significant improvement on SME 309's sound when I changed the stock cable to Cardas. I couldn't really tell much of the difference between SME 309 and IV sound anymore with the Cardas cable on 309. V still had small edge on the bass control when Cardas cable was used on V to compare. Here is another thing I noticed, when I put the stock phono cable that came with SME V on SME 309, that similar improvement I heard using Cardas were there as well but slightly lesser degree.
From what I heard/noticed, I would strongly recommend that any SME309 user to change the phono cable to better one before thinking about upgrading to IV or V. I think that would give most bang for bucks.
Hi,
the OL250 is very good, i have the OL300. The SME 4 is great.
If you can afford the pain, i would go with the SME; but the OL arms aren't bad."
© audio asylum
"Arme mit spearaten Lagern für die Horizontal und Vertikalbewegung
Die verbreitetere Bauform. Mit Erscheinen des Linn Ittok in den 80ern wurde der Drehtonarm sozusagen neu definiert. Ein massives, stabiles Armrohr in Verbindung mit exterm präzisen Kugellagern galt von nun als State Of The Art. SME antwortete mit dem V, Rega mit dem RB-300. All diesen Armen ist ein tiefreichender, kontrollierter Bass, gute Grobdynamik und schnelle rhythmisch präzise Wiedergabe zu eigen. Leider geht dies einher mit mehr oder weniger ausgeprägten Resonanzen im Mittel- und Hochtonbereich, worunter die Wiedergabe von Klangfarben leiden kann. Auch klingen Einpunkter für meinen Geschmack etwas unangestrengter und luftiger und besitzen mehr "Flair". Ein Mittelding stellen die alten SME 3009 und 3012 Arme mit Schneidlagern für die Horizontalebene dar. Diese vereinen viele positive Eigenschaften der Einpunkter mit denen von konventionell gelagerten Armen."
© DirectDrive
Zusammenstellung / Arangement © vintage64
fuer deinen Enthusiasmus. 
o.k. ich schätze, werd' mir irgendwann mal den 3012 holen und selbst gegenhören. Allerdings finde ich: Musikalität ist das eine, eine gesteigerte Auflösung feinster Details das andere. Falls es sich so verhielte, daß der 3009 ersteres, der 3012 letzteres bietet, so wäre meine persönliche Präferenz klar für den 3009 gegeben. 
Nunja, es werden wohl 300B UND 845 werden, ich kann und will mich da einfach nicht entscheiden. 
