SME no longer selling or supplying their arms, except on their turntables.

[Spectral Morn]

I heard this yesterday and I was shocked by this news. I think this a mistake and can’t imagine SME can sell enough packages to make up for lost sales of separate tonearms to dealers and other turntable companies who use SME tonearms.

Its old news, was announced late last year, but as it hasn’t been mentioned here I thought I would link to it.

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/sme-exits-oem-and-retail-tone-arm-business

https://www.stereonet.co.uk/news/sme-leaves-the-tonearm-business

[vinylspinner]

I think Jerry posted about this in early December.

[hifi_dave]

Maybe the ridiculous price hike, a couple of years ago, has really hurt their sales and this is a way of increasing their arm and turntable sales ? If you want an SME arm, you have to buy their turntable.

[AJSki2fly]

I think this is a result of the new ownership of the business by "Ajay Shirke is a British businessman and the Chairman (amongst other things) of Cadence Audio SA which owns the businesses of Audio Lounge Ltd and also includes British-based Spendor Audio Systems, Siltech and Crystal Cable BV from the Netherlands." from Wiki and also the recent acquisition of Garrard. Based on this and his experience in the industry you could assume he wants to shut down the door on other turntable manufactures benefiting from using SME arms and enable SME to persuade customers that the total solution offered from an SME TT/Arm or Garrard with SEM arm is the best value on the market.

[Spectral Morn]

I think Jerry posted about this in early December.

I looked and didn’t see anything on it, which I thought was odd

[Spectral Morn]

I think this is a result of the new ownership of the business by "Ajay Shirke is a British businessman and the Chairman (amongst other things) of Cadence Audio SA which owns the businesses of Audio Lounge Ltd and also includes British-based Spendor Audio Systems, Siltech and Crystal Cable BV from the Netherlands." from Wiki and also the recent acquisition of Garrard. Based on this and his experience in the industry you could assume he wants to shut down the door on other turntable manufactures benefiting from using SME arms and enable SME to persuade customers that the total solution offered from an SME TT/Arm or Garrard with SEM arm is the best value on the market.

Nods, I agree.

I recall Cadence well from the early 90s, ugly, crudely made and ok sound. Who would have thought Cadence would be where they are now.

[Spectral Morn]

Jerry’s thread here, just found it. Missed it first time round.

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?67027-SME-Leaves-the-Tonearm-Business