Steve, the Aria is a step up no doubt about it and if you can get one at a good price it's even better...like you did.
The BlueRidge I linked is a Saga and as you know a pretty decent instrument. Rick has also stated something along those lines.
And Jed, speaking of Rick, somewhere I noticed lately that Rick has swapped his feelings for a low price banjo from the Goodtime to the Saga/BlueRidge.
I gotta' tell ya' that whoever these folks are at BlueRidge, they have a damn fine handle on good playing/sounding instruments at low prices. They are the ones behing the Kentucky brand mandos and that damn BlueRidge guitar, the BR7S is an absolute killer. We ran a thread on it awhile back and fortunato bought one for his son and absolutely loves it. Since that thread I've had the chance to play one too as well as having a good look at them inside and out.....It has to be the best value for the dollar on the market right now......Huge sound and quality workmanship/materials.