Hi All,
Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to experience a fantastic few days at SME Engineering, revealing the brand new MKII versions of their iconic turntable range. We gained a real insight into the company’s history and were treated to a tour of SME’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, exposing their day-to-day operations.
Anyone who loves gadgets and mechanical movements couldn’t help but be mesmerised by watching 5-axis milling machines turn solid aluminium blocks into sculpted pieces of metallic art. Computer Aided Machining (CAM) created incredibly complex CNC programs that breathed life into these machines to produce components within a hundredth of a millimetre. One day making the components for an SME turntable or tonearm, and the next day, a Formula One race car part or Aerospace product that the CEO couldn’t possibly discuss, let alone show us.
All these parts would pass through SME’s equally impressive inspection department, where they would be treated to interrogation by a synthetically made ruby on a CNCCMM. To those who didn’t know, that’s Computer Numerical Controlled Coordinate Measuring Machine! No wonder why their turntables sound so good!
Over two days, we had the chance to listen to the new MKII model 12 and flagship model 60, which took place in a historic building local to SME that dated back to the 12th century. The listening room couldn’t have had more character and charm, and the hosts were lovely. We started with the new model 12 and finished with the 60. Both models sounded incredibly clean and detailed, with plenty of warmth and superb imaging, with the 60 enhancing the overall sound as if it was on steroids. One of the most enjoyable listening sessions I’ve had the pleasure to be part of, with a diverse selection of records used for the demonstration. To be completely honest, I often stream for convenience, which has its benefits and opens the door to an endless world of music and discovery. But if you haven’t tried a turntable, you’re missing out on a genuinely organic and magical experience that digital struggles to reproduce.
Model 60
The new product range includes the 12/15/20/30 and synergy that have benefited from years of R&D on the flagship model 60. Although aesthetically, they look and feel the same, the MKII versions are a significant upgrade to the range and benefit from improved mechanical and electronic drive systems incorporating vastly improved connectivity, taking this iconic line to a new level of accuracy and transparency:
- New generation drive system based on the flagship Model 60
- Ultra-high accurate speed control unit
- Custom AC synchronous motor
- Independent power and speed control modules
- Aerospace quality surface mount technology on gold plated PCB
- 33 and 45 rpm speed control with memory settings
I’ve always appreciated and loved the sound of a turntable, and SME are right at the forefront. It’s easy to be sucked in by a brand or clever marketing on a particular product. But when you’ve seen first-hand the technology, machining and engineering that goes into SME turntables and tonearms, you really start to appreciate what makes this company so good. You have to check them out!
https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/sme/
All the best,
Billy
