South West Analogue Hi Fi Specialists Winsford Somerset TA24 7JH
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SME MODEL 30/12A turntable
The new flagship SME turntable is the Model 30/12A which since its inception a couple of years ago has far exceeded the company`s sales expectations due to the quite exceptional sound quality and of course the superb quality of its engineering and design. This massive turntable is built in a quite small but supremely well equipped engineering facility nestling just under the hills of the South Downs in West Sussex.
SME MODEL 30/12A turntable
In true SME tradition everything possible is produced "in house" and to the very highest standards. Founder Alastair Robertson-Aikman (ARA) would personally check every turntable and tone-arm before it was allowed into the packing department to ensure "His" products were up to "His" high standards. ARA was instrumental in the early development of Black Chrome which is now used on a daily basis in the plating shop he installed at Mill Road. Not only Black and Bright chrome but of course they do all of their own 24 carat Gold plating as well. The SME factory is very extensive in its production facility and this is very apparent in the quality of its turntables and tone-arms.
ARA`s son Cameron who had taken over the reins at SME when ARA passed away in October 2006 decided to follow up his father`s idea of producing a turntable that combined the assets of both the Model 20/12A with its 12" tonearm facilty and the mass and damping of the 30/2A. As always at SME this meant drawing up a completely new design with virtually all components being replaced with stronger counterparts.
The first and most obvious impression of this massive machine is of an enlarged Model 30/2 but with the larger footprint of 530 mm wide x 400 mm deep and 232 mm high and a weight of 53.5kg (118 Ib) and designed to facilitate the usage of the specially designed Series V-12 tone-arm.
In traditional SME fashion the sub-chassis has been substantially enlarged and is 16% thicker and supported on 60 purpose moulded "O" rings requiring a 19% thicker main chassis. Both main and sub-chassis utilize Isodamp to control resonances and equipped with the new Series V-12 tonearm with its 27% reduction in maximum angular error this lack of tracking error and harmonic distortion all combine to produce the quite exceptional sound quality which is entirely natural and seems totally without colouration.
The motor with its power supply and the main bearing assembly complete with the platter are the same as the Model 30/2 and more details can be found on that page.
The whole turntable is packed in a substantial wooden case with a weight of approximately 79.5 kg.
The standard tone-arm fitment is the purpose built Series V-12 but the 312S is available for customers who require a detachable headshell. This can be ordered with the more elegant Series V-12 balance carriage and weight assembly at no extra cost.
The RRP of the Model 30/12 turntable only is £17,472.36, with UK VAT this is £20,966.83. Some of the turned alloy items can be 24 carat Gold plated and this increases the price to £22,065.12, with UK VAT this is £26,478.14.
The RRP of the Model 30/12A which includes the Series V-12 is £20,574.84, with UK VAT this is £24,689.81. The 24 carat Gold version including a 24 carat Gold plated Series V-12 is £26,191.32 and with the UK VAT £31,429.58. For the optional 312S and our Performance Package please enquire.