Difference between SME 3009 VS. RB 300?

Please make a note that you can try out an AudioQuest PT9 arm that sort-of combines quality of both and in the same price range + very user friendly. Will be a great match to any inexpencive turntable such as Thorens TD160, Well-Tempered. For more expencive precision-crafted decks I would suggest RB300 or even RB250 that goes in standard package with lots of great decks such as Basis, Clearaudio, Michell and even LP12.

Soon I will have a 3009 arm mounted on one of my TD 160's and I have a Rega 25 with RB300 arm and the incogito wiring upgrade, heavyweight, and VTA riser kit. I intend to do some extensive comparisions between the P25, modified TD160, the stock TD 160 and the old relible AR XA and see which decade's system rules.

...mmm it's actually a great match with TD160 to use SME3009.

I confirm Mara's point above. I had a 160/3009, eons ago, and was sonically happy with the combo.

Goroi: There were different versions of the 3009 (the later/lighter versions will limit the types of cartridges that can be matched up). Because of this I would not go beyond a 3009II (non-improved version) if considering this arm (from there on the mass was reduced). The 3009R has a fixed headshell and is a bit more solid, though I find the azimuth adjustment on the 3009II (non-improved) to come in handy.

I am also curious about the Rega arms (the modded 250 seems to be the most popular) and only ended up with the 3009II as it was included with my current deck @ a price that I could not pass up ($199 for a TD125 MkII/SME 3009II combo).

What I would really like (down the road) is an arm that has adjustable VTA, on the fly (this would make me a happy camper). I wonder if such a mod is available for the Rega arms?