Uru,
Thanks for the kind words. The system has really come together lately and I am enjoying it tremendously. A bit hot in the Summer, but Fall is here.
I found that the upgrade to the SME V was slight. The bearings are better, so there is slightly less noise. The VTF is dynamic rather than static. This allows for a more even balance of weight with warped records, so SRA changes less abruptly which effects tonal balance in theory. There is a thread on this topic on Audiogon. The headshell is fixed, so no azimuth adjustment, but a more rigid connection at the cartridge. You can read a review of the SME 10 in Stereophile by Fremer and he compares the two arms on the table.
The Seismic Sink isolates structural vibrations. I'm amazed at the change in sound. It seems to increase focus and clarity. It is much more obvious than the SME V upgrade. The bass in particular is more articulate, seems to have more weight and impact and I hear more extension. It is now much easier to hear nuance in acoustic bass and details that were previously obscured. Bass lines are much easier to follow in the mix. Midrange and high frequency information is also clearer. I stated elsewhere that I notice more PRaT also. I've read that Vibraplane and Minus K offer even more improvement, but they come at a higher cost. The Seismic Sink is very low profile and is a good deal if you can find it used on Audiogon. I'll add a photo soon.