I posted the following a couple of days ago on another thread, where it was only marginally relevant, so I have reposted it here (with apologies to those who have already seen it):
The Model 60 costs in excess of £20,000 more than the current Model 30/2, and offers, as substantial improvements:
(i) a new motor and motorcontroller (with separately-housed transformer);
(ii) a new resin armwand for the SME V.
Apart from these two (let's assume) clear improvements, the suspension system has been reworked so that the 'o' rings are now hidden (many will consider this an aesthetic improvement) and also now work to impede horizontal movement of the top-plate (this may be an attempt to address the problem pointed out above by Dover), and everything has been made a bit more massive.
But:
- the basic concept is unchanged: heavy metal subchassis and heavy metal top-plate suspended with 'o' rings
- the drive system is unchanged
- the main bearing is (I think) unchanged
- the platter (and clamping system) is unchanged
- downforce, antiskating, damping and general adjustability of the arm are all unchanged
The word is that the Model 60 is a considerable improvement sonically. Aesthetically, it is definitely more stylish, but (in my opinion) only if you take the all-black version (the coloured versions remind me of much cheaper turntables).
Back in 1996 (when it was originally introduced) the Model 30 cost £10,000. Now the Model 60 costs five times as much.
I am not sure Mr Robertson-Aikman would have given the go-ahead to this project. For him, the Model 30 was already the best that SME could produce, and also the best that the end-user could reasonably ask for. Sobriety was the watchword.