SME Factory Tour - link

[DSJR]

Hope it's alright to post this link from SME's US distributor -

http://vimeo.com/114042046?keywords=NL121714&utm_campaign=AS_NL&utm_medium=002_SME_Video&utm_source=NL121714

Whatever you think about SME's products, they've ALWAYS been meticulously made and finished to the very highest standards and give great pride in ownership to those lucky enough to afford them.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Nice, thanks for that.:)

[RochaCullen]

Great video, and nice to have someone who understands the place leading the tour and not some marketing person.

[Tarzan]

That was brilliant thanks for posting.:eek:

[paskinn]

nice to have someone who understands the place leading the tour and not some marketing person.

SME would think that a 'marketing person' is someone who sells you home-made jam at the village fete.

Their near total disinterest in public relations and 'marketing' is, for me, part of their charm.

[Spectral Morn]

Very interesting.



Regards Neil

[Techno Commander]

Excellent, as are their arms. :)

[Rush2112]

Great video just confirms why I love my SME V and why if I win the lottery why the SME 30/12 is top of my shopping list too!

[DSJR]

They do finish their products to a magnificent standard. Do be warned by this old idiot that the 20 and 30 (amongst others in fairness) are far better than the vinyl you play on them and if there's a fault with the mastering, cutting or pressing, I remember that you'll be quietly but firmly informed of the fact ;) Play a well produced record and you'll be absolutely delighted with the music being played (oh, and the 'sound' too :))

[paskinn]

The thing with SME decks (and arms) is that it makes sense to buy the best sample you can afford, and then keep it for many, many., years. That way you minimise long-term cost and you get the benefit of the build and design. I've used the decks for 20 years now, never had a single problem. I've used the arms for 40 years, again, without issue.
For me, the two stars are the 20-12 and the 30-12. But hardly anyone buys the 20-12 so it is hard to get one used. It's a personal thing, but I never really liked the 20-2 and that is the model I would not buy for myself. A lot of people would disagree! 20-3 is a very different animal.
One dealer has been doing Model 10s with 12inch 312s arms. That would be a fabulous combination. Another dealer is offering a kit to enable the Model 10 to use two 9inch arms. Again, a nice idea. Shame SME themselves never got round to such ideas.
Best all-round arms, for value? I'd go for the M2-10 and the M2-12. As they are at the lower end of pricing they get overlooked a little bit. But very fine, to my ears anyway. I find the 309 near enough to the more expensive versions, too.
New Model 15 out in the Spring, three point isolation. Model 10 stays in the range. And prices all go up at the beginning of February, which will presumably also affect second-hand pricing. Factory servicing has got pricier over the years, often cheaper to search out a good sample and avoid the cost of a service. But these are precision designs and they need a bit of love and care over the years.
Just like us!

[The Black Adder]

Mine is pushing on over 45 years old now... still sounds superb!

In all it's still a very quintessential British company which is great to see. It looks very low tech in comparison to some manufactures which is where a lot of companies get it wrong, it can be low-tech because the skill and the success is in the people, not the machines.