Are there better TTs than the SME 30/12A at 15K price point?

essrand

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2018
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Background: I am a vinyl newbie with maybe 100 LPs (or less) in my collection. I have had a Technics SL1210GAE for past 2 years, I just plugged and played it. It’s good but my digital is almost as good or sometimes better.

I recently heard a SME 30/12A at the dealer’s, and it blew my mind and I for the first time understood what the fuss with analog was all about, and my digital was no where close (the dealer had almost the same digital -- mine is Nagra Tube DAC, his was the Nagra HD DAC -- and we did on spot comparison, not an apples to apple of course but still best that we could under the circumstances).
Given this sound, I can see myself investing in 100s of LPs in the future which I did not do with the Technics TT.

Now given my relative inexperience with vinyl (I know next to nothing about analog setup and I am sure my current table setup is not optimised by any standards), should I plunge for this offer which is offered to me at 1/3rd-ish the retail price and probably an endgame TT for me. Is this as great an offer as I think it is, or are there better TTs (including tonearm of course) at 15K$ retail/street price than the SME 30/12A -- I cannot/will not buy used.
 
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Gregm

Well-Known Member
Mar 14, 2019
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Haven't you purchased it yet? What are you waiting for ;)
 

benito

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2018
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France
Try to listen to the Brinkmann Bardo with the 10.5 tornarm. It was for a longtime recommended by StereoPhile
 

jfrech

VIP/Donor
Sep 3, 2012
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I've heard the 30/12a before. It's a GREAT table. But no way it's new for 15k, at least not in the USA. Since you're a Nagra fan, the Nagra Classic phono is a great phono preamp, I love mine...
 

essrand

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2018
57
16
113
I've heard the 30/12a before. It's a GREAT table. But no way it's new for 15k, at least not in the USA. Since you're a Nagra fan, the Nagra Classic phono is a great phono preamp, I love mine...
It's a demo unit.
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
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Portugal
Looks too good to be true, but it is true buy it as soon as possible. It is a fabulous turntable, I have owned the SME 30/2 - V and a good friend owns the 30/12a.
 
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Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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There is always something better. So, what. Is it what you want and a price you like? Buy it before someone else does.
 

Down Under

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2014
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They are extremely well built to “last a lifetime “.
You loved the sound obviously.
Do not hesitate as someone will snap it up.
Let us know what happens.
 

Serenade

Member
Nov 30, 2022
33
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Buy it! I am a long time 30/2 owner. Fuss free ownership for life. The only maintenance is once a year drip 3-in-1 oil into the motor bearing, de-oil the belt, change the belt every few years, and replace any broken O-ring.

The V is one of the easiest arms to replace cartridges with if the full protractor set is supplied.

Need I say that the TT sounds fabulous? Sounds even better when the V arm is replaced with something better
 

exupgh12

Well-Known Member
Jul 30, 2019
390
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Try to listen to the Brinkmann Bardo with the 10.5 tornarm. It was for a longtime recommended by StereoPhile
I owned the Bardo + 10.5 arm (later replaced it with Brinkmann Balance TT), and heard the SME 30 several times, in my opinion, the SME30 is better than the Bardo.
 
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benito

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2018
76
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France
I owned the Bardo + 10.5 arm (later replaced it with Brinkmann Balance TT), and heard the SME 30 several times, in my opinion, the SME30 is better than the Bardo.
The Bardo +10.5 arm is about 15k$ (us retail price). So it is just a good point to start. Hoping thar the combo SME30/12 which cost 3 time is better.
 

exupgh12

Well-Known Member
Jul 30, 2019
390
449
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53
The Bardo +10.5 arm is about 15k$ (us retail price). So it is just a good point to start. Hoping thar the combo SME30/12 which cost 3 time is better.
The Bardo is good starting point, however the owner of this post wrote he can buy the SME + Arm at 15k usd. There for at this price the SME would be much better choice to my humble experience.
 

twitch

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2010
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SE Pa
no argument on the quality of the TT but seeing that you are newbie with a minimal collection of Lp's I had a good chuckle at speculation of you buying hundreds of more Lp's. There is more overpriced Lp garbage on the market today than one can shake a stick at. It's but a small percentage of new recordings that are 'all analog' for starters, so do your homework !
 
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