New SME Flagship Model 60

[TLi]

I was told by local dealer that SME has invited dealers around the world to go to UK for the launch premiere event of its new flagship Model 60 later this month.

So far, no information about Model 60 has been released yet, but it will be available soon.

 

[jfrech]

Very interesting. The top end TT market is alive and well...I had a SME 20/2 once, loved the build quality and look and feel. I have had a few buddies with SME 30/2's, That's quite a table.

 

[Gregadd]

SME reveals flagship Model 60 record player – and it's immaculately engineered | What Hi-Fi? (whathifi.com)
SME REVEALS FLAGSHIO MODEL 60
WHAT HI FI?

 

[gestalt]

Aesthetics are so subjective, but this is a departure from the classic SME style I found very attractive. Glad to see them continuing to develop the line though. Wish them the best.

 

[simonthepieman]

Peter please watch the video analog planet looks like a great deal of innovation. AC motor separate transformer, polyresin arm, horizontal and vertical suspension. Perhaps Michael will tell us how it sounds? No alfiliation to sme just a fan with a Model 15 and series v . Likely £50k so I wonder how it compares to the mega tables ?

 

[PeterA]

Peter please watch the video analog planet looks like a great deal of innovation. AC motor separate transformer, polyresin arm, horizontal and vertical suspension. Perhaps Michael will tell us how it sounds? No alfiliation to sme just a fan with a Model 15 and series v . Likely £50k so I wonder how it compares to the mega tables ?

Michael Fremer‘s did some great tours of the SME factory and I watched those when I had my SME turntables. They were fascinating and the quality of the engineering came through. The model 30 is about 30 years old and it had vertical suspension and I thought horizontal too because I could move it horizontally and it was well damped in both directions, but the video says the new model has both, unlike the former flagship. There were many different designs for the motor control unit for that turntable. I don’t think a separate motor transformer is that new, but they did go from AC to DC motor. I know the Michael Fremer really liked the original model 30 but the US magazines did not review the 12” version which had been the top model for years. Perhaps it’s an evolutionary design that just takes things much further and as a result it sounds much better.

The tonearm looks interesting and it’s a new shape. I know there was talk about developing a new motor and it seems they did that. I agree it will be interesting to read the impressions of how it compares to the old model which is still available with the polished aluminum plates.

I found the video. Classic Fremer quote: "Digital in service to analogue", as he described the machine used to check the parts for accuracy. The video is very impressive and the quality seems outstanding, as one would expect from SME.

 

[Gregadd]

I see no reason to not offer tonearms separately.

 

[simonthepieman]

Thank you Peter I follow a number of your threads and as always your posts are so much more articulate and comprehensive than mine. Will be interesting to read comments from anyone whom has listened to it . I think it's in production now so likely a UK Or USA review in the .not too distant future, best simon

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Yes I was following this with great interest the last couple of days. Dare I say £50k looks quite reasonable in the current field of super decks. Quality is cream of crop with SME. I bet the SME60 measures better than any other TT ever tested on the hifi news database - accounting for absolute speed, wow / flutter, rumble through bearing and without.
Very interested to hear one.

 

[XV-1]

Yes I was following this with great interest the last couple of days. Dare I say £50k looks quite reasonable in the current field of super decks. Quality is cream of crop with SME. I bet the SME60 measures better than any other TT ever tested on the hifi news database - accounting for absolute speed, wow / flutter, rumble through bearing and without.
Very interested to hear one.

I think you are kidding yourself. It will not hold a candle to the Technics SP10R. The best hifi news has ever measured, by some margin
The SP10MK3 has even better specs

Technics SL-1000R turntable/arm Lab Report

Two years ago Technics' SL-1200GAE turntable set the standard for rumble and speed accuracy – benchmarks that are inched forward again by this flagship 'Reference Class' SL-1000R. Speed accuracy is, quite frankly, beyond the limits of accuracy using any test record because there are finite speed...

www.hifinews.com

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I think you are kidding yourself. It will not hold a candle to the Technics SP10R.

Technics SL-1000R turntable/arm Lab Report

Two years ago Technics' SL-1200GAE turntable set the standard for rumble and speed accuracy – benchmarks that are inched forward again by this flagship 'Reference Class' SL-1000R. Speed accuracy is, quite frankly, beyond the limits of accuracy using any test record because there are finite speed...

www.hifinews.com

haha. Please read my post carefully parameters. Rumble….

best regards

 

[Audiophile Bill]

haha. Please read my post carefully parameters. Rumble….

best regards

also hum and noise is another…

 

[PeterA]

I have a friend who contacted SME about getting this new turntable. He already has a model 30 and a model 30/12. His first request was to buy the new composite arm separately and they said they don’t sell it separately. He then said that if he gets the new turntable the first thing he wants to do is put his 9 inch magnesium model five arm on the new table to understand what the new turntable sounds like and they told him he can’t do that because the wire is continuous to the RCA outlet, so the arm is basically captive and does not encourage arm swaps.

It seems that this is an integrated package that discourages experimentation with alternative tonearms. If true, that’s an interesting approach for a table at this level and price point.

 

[jfrech]

I have a friend who contacted SME about getting this new turntable. He already has a model 30 and a model 30/12. His first request was to buy the new composite arm separately and they said they don’t sell it separately. He then said that if he gets the new turntable the first thing he wants to do is put his 9 inch magnesium model five arm on the new table to understand what the new turntable sounds like and they told him he can’t do that because the wire is continuous to the RCA outlet, so the arm is basically captive and does not encourage arm swaps.

It seems that this is an integrated package that discourages experimentation with alternative tonearms. If true, that’s an interesting approach for a table at this level and price point.

Interesting change for SME. I guess they are changing their business model, first was no longer selling arms alone, now more of these seemingly integrated packages at the low and high end of their line up.

 

[TLi]

Less user friendly means less business. This is not a great business model.

 

[jfrech]

Less user friendly means less business. This is not a great business model.

It could have sonic advantages. We're all just guessing as to the reason...maybe SME should comment

 

[spiritofmusic]

Less user friendly means less business. This is not a great business model.

I think a flagship TT at half to one third the cost of some of the typical competition is absolutely a great business model, especially with a tonearm thrown in for good measure.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Got to agree with Marc. This package is very aggressively priced indeed for a statement deck from one of the finest engineering companies in audio.

I am surprised about the captive comment since surely things might need repairing at some point. Personally I doubt it is fully captive but would love SME to chime in.

 

[PeterA]

Got to agree with Marc. This package is very aggressively priced indeed for a statement deck from one of the finest engineering companies in audio.

I am surprised about the captive comment since surely things might need repairing at some point. Personally I doubt it is fully captive but would love SME to chime in.

it’s possible that there is a DIN connector going to the RCA output jacks. My friend assumed there was not when he was told you couldn’t put the 9 inch model V tonearm in place. I’m sure this will be clarified in the future by a reviewer.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

it’s possible that there is a DIN connector going to the RCA output jacks. My friend assumed there was not when he was told you couldn’t put the 9 inch model V tonearm in place. I’m sure this will be clarified in the future by a reviewer.

I would be very surprised not to find a DIN hidden at the back there.

You would consider a 60, Peter? Or are your SME days gone now with the MS?