I did promise (threaten !!) to report back when everything was re-installed following the decorating. Anyway, put everything back in place today. You know how it is ; adjusting spikes, careful they don't turn when you tighten the locking nut, measuring from the rear wall, keeping cables as tidy as possible so SWMBO doesn't have a go, cleaning everything before putting it all back and then hoping to God that you haven't been using a level with a faulty bubble !!
To recap, there have been too many changes here for any change in sound to be solely attributable to my choice of arm. I didn't choose to be honest, circumstances chose for me. The changes include a new (sag-free) top plinth for my Xerxes, a newly repaired PS for the Xerxes with the motor rewired, a Creek OBH-9 MC pre-amp (the one with the brick PS, not the wall-wart), a Roksan Tabriz tonearm and the Intelligent Counterweight for that arm. Same cartridge, Ortofon MC25FL.
Well, switch-on at 8 o'clock tonight. I have to say at this point that it is difficult to remember the sound I had before. However, there were some immediate differences from the previous SME set-up. The intro groove and between track grooves were particularly silent, never heard that before (well there was nothing to hear !!). I always had difficulty with sibillance (is that spelt correctly ?) with the SME. I'd experiment with VTA and tracking force to no avail. I've tracked the Tabriz at 2.1 grammes, as before on the SME. Sibillance has gone !
I believe that the improvement in those two areas are probably due to the rigidity of the Tabriz. The SME had a detachable headshell and the arm is held together with flexible rubber grommets too. Don't misunderstand me, the SME was great and served me well for many years. I've only been listening to this arrangement for a couple of hours. The changes I report are significant, but there are other changes that may not be so good in the long term. Only time will tell. I notice the Tabriz to be faster than the SME, as if it's saying "listen to me, hear what I'm doing for you." The SME was always a steady performer but didn't rock any boats. It's too early to tell how I'll settle with the new set up. Initial feelings are good though.