SME New Turntable Presentation

Until recently I was fortunate to be able to listen to a Model 20/12 with a Series V Arm.

I am assuming there will be a family sound from the TT's, and the Model 20, Model  30 and 60 if used side by side with the same Base Support Structure, Tonearm and Cart' would sing out the SME Sonic Trait, where the design for each might show the division that comes between them, or maybe not and my assumptions are very wrong.

Many years past, my assessment of the Series V in comparison to the IV, did not offer the impression the V was much more advanced in how the presentation was perceived to the Series IV. The outcome being my ears were the Judge and I bought a IV and still own a IV still to this day, even though it is rarely used at present.

Mike the price is cool, I will take it seriously.SME makes excellent products without being greedy, I have one of their turntable..

The color option is there so that the really well heeled buyer can have one in each color, and swap them in based on the day, very clever marketing. Only problem is that the table probably should be priced much higher to really appeal to these lads, after all, what's a measly 50 thousand pounds!

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. 

Talk about sticker shock!

SME has just drawn the curtains on a new flagship record player, the Model 60. Starting at £50,000 (around $66,000/AU$88,000), it sits at the top of the company's turntable range and features all the immaculate precision engineering we've come to expect from the British brand. Luckily for us, we've already had the pleasure of its company.

Looks like a really good entry into the high end uber table category. Question is whether it can compete with the likes of similar priced Tech Das, Brinkmann's and Basis designs? 

In the UK, it will have to beat out the Linn LP12  Klimax...

Nice machining.

Good to see they have gone to AC motor which has benefits over DC in speed stability.

Don't see how the honeycomb finish improves the sound - does up the cost.

The arm tube is interesting.

Separating the transformer into another box does not impress me - the additional cables and connectors add their own problems in maintaining a low impedance power source and decreasing power stability. They would have been better off designing a single box non resonant power supply speed controller with the transformer suitably isolated within the single chassis - everything hard wired.

As always the combination of a rubber belt drive with the motor on a separate chassis from the platter that is not rigidly coupled introduces speed stability issues.

In reality it is a 1967 Roll Royce that has been updated with modern materials and machining, but provides the same ride.

One could argue their coupling of record to platter is not state of the art.

Their approach is to damp their way out of a crisis ( isodamp )  - there are better ways of dealing with resonance.

I'm sure it should be quite good, ideal for plug and play solution, but state of the art - not so sure.

Reasonably priced for the machining costs and overheads involved in my view.

Thanks for that… so who here has one on order?

it’s amazing the same old spring designs from 40years ago still prevails.

Steve

Impressive manufacturing.

SME doesn't do vacuum clamping though.  I've come to expect it at this stage of the game.

I'll  have mine in Ferrari Red or matte black, thank you.

Ya think SME's 3D arm is a little more sophisticated than VPI's? 

the ONLY problem with the Model 60 is that it’s under-priced to be taken as seriously as it ought to be. people will be slow to recognize it, because of that. over time some will buy it, in spite of that.

such is the high end tt market and reality. people equate performance and value with price. too bad.

SME has more engineering chops that ’almost’ any other tt manufacturer. then add in 75 years of experience building tt’s and arms.

That is just freakin' amazing. Thanks for sharing.