Analog Corner

Analog Corner #291: SME Synergy LP player, Boulder 508 phono preamplifier In Heavy Rotation

Sidebar: In Heavy Rotation

1220heavyrots.bailen

Bailen: Thrilled to Be Here
Fantasy (LP)

1220heavyrots.milt

Milt Jackson: Ballads & Blues
Atlantic/Speakers Corner (LP)

1220heavyrots.henderson

Joe Henderson: The State of the Tenor, Vol. 2
Blue Note Tone Poet (LP)

1220heavyrots.mofiblo

Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
Mobile Fidelity 1 Step (LP)

1220heavyrots.blood

Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
RSD Columbia (LP)

1220heavyrots.hook

John Lee Hooker: The Country Blues of . . .
Riverside/ERC (LP)

1220heavyrots.woodang

Daniel Norgren: Wooh Dang
Superpuma (LP)

1220heavyrots.dexter

Dexter Gordon Quartet: 1975 Tokyo
Elemental (LP)

1220heavyrots.annarbor

Various Artists: Ann Arbor Blues Festival 1969, Vols. 1&2
Third Man (LP)

1220heavyrots.ryan

John Williams: Saving Private Ryan
La-La-Land (LP)

COMMENTS
Spla'nin's picture
Submitted by Spla'nin on December 7, 2020 - 3:45pm

Thanks for the tuneage and the reviews- we always appreciate it !

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on December 7, 2020 - 4:56pm

I don't see very many used tables on eBay ( other than Thorens ), do folks just put the old tt in the storage closet or set up a Second Turntable for some special purpose use. ( like a back-up )

Maybe Vinyl people are impulse buyers ( kinda like me ) who suddenly give-in and buy a whole new vinyl playback system. ( Headphone people seem to own multiple nice headphones, for some reason ).

I sold SME Arms, back in the day, they always worked but were fiddly with the little dangle weight and silicone dash pots.

I'm curious to learn what makes this $22,000 player an improvement over an owners existing player. ( kinda the price of a Car level of commitment ).

It could be that this Writer/Reviewer specialises in servicing the Caste that is multiple tranches up & beyond while readership simply read all this out of Covid boredom. ( it's gotta be somewhat better than following cutiepie or disputed politics ). This SME is 1/10th the price of the previous $250,000 Table from a short while ago.

So I ask the BIG question : How is this format more worthwhile than Streaming? This question will keep coming back as our civilization advances into the depths of this 21st Century.

The Vinyl/Streaming debate could go-on indefinitely except that Vinyl gear is increasing Astronomically in Cost whilst Streaming is well within reach of anyone able to listen to David Solaman of Quobuz for more than a few minutes of sweetness.

I do the Ben Franklin benefits Close with all the established benefits of both systems.
33.3 didn't do well!

Then again 1),
I know a fella that just outfitted a Vagabond 42 Sailboat for Around the World Solo Sailing, a major expense proposition, completely dangerous, life threatening and isolated.

Then again 2.)
New Vinyl people might be trying for a scalable adventure of discovery, reliving our best years and experiences when we didn't have time or money to absorb the greatness we were living.

Then again 3.)
Mcintosh people are presenting a Las Vegas style Light Show Hi-Fi at their East Coast Place, the Audiophiliac just reviewed it a couple days ago. It the gaudiest dam thing-- gaudiness beyond D'Augistino Gear for gods sake. Its for Dentists and Medical People or higher, much like the Analog Planet stuff except it's got 900 Watt tube/ss Mono Amps with green glowing tubes. Makes a person gasp, on first sight!

All remains well

Tony in Venice

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on December 8, 2020 - 12:45am

... speculates that the target customer for this product might be, "an audiophile finding a way into vinyl."

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on December 8, 2020 - 7:36am

I have four running simultaneously, just like I used to run two CD players simultaneously. Got rid of the CD players as I needed the inputs for the turntables. ;). Thank God for computer audio which has rendered CD players redundant.

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on December 8, 2020 - 2:20pm

Can you play all the imputes simultaneously? are all 4 players playing on top of each other ? is that like a tape player playing 4 channels at once ?

There must be some utility for what you suggest, can you help by explaining ?

I do know of a disc jockey using 2 turntables but that application involves only one turntable in use at any given time.

How did you come by 4 complete turntables.

You might hold the Record except Harry Weisfeld of VPI has quite a few 33.3 music systems in his home.

4 entry level tables today will have about a $80,000 price, wouldn't they?

Tony in Venice

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on December 8, 2020 - 2:50pm

They all play simultaneously to satisfy my "collecting and hoarding" fetish you so easily denigrate, and they sound marvelous. Ask nicely next time.

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on December 8, 2020 - 3:47pm

You can be angry, if you wish but you had your chances to explain and enlighten.

I once had nearly every Turntable Made, in Stock and operable! Esoteric Audio , Farmington Hills, Mi.

Your posting here suggests a certain openness to discussing your opinions and relevancy .

Tony in Venice

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on December 8, 2020 - 3:51pm

But in a civil and not sarcastic manner. Mockingly asking questions gets you ignored. Have a lovely existence. You’ve lately become too acerbic for any meaningful discourse. Bye!

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on December 8, 2020 - 5:12pm

Acerbic is sharp & focused. Hmm.

Do you realise that all this is Opinion?

Are we looking for pleasant platitudes here ?, discussing an entry level $22,000 record player.

I'm an Engineer and turntable specialist.

Platitudes would be for $3 Audiophile fuses, not for critical evaluations about our Marketplace or the price for entry level Transducer systems. for gods sake.

Meaningful discourse is, by nature, focused!

Tony in Venice

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on December 8, 2020 - 12:48am

... by deciding to discontinue the separate sale of SME tonearms?

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on December 8, 2020 - 7:32am

Mr. Fremer posted this review one month before SME ceased selling arms separately. I will put in my two cents worth and find Mr. Shirke's decisions and pricing to be counterproductive to the well being of SME, and I am being very diplomatic. I also find his decisions and pricing with the Garrard brand to be worrisome, what Mr. O'Sullivan did with Loricraft over the years was extraordinary and I am now concerned SME will make the same strategic mistake with that brand as well. Time will tell but I look at what Gunter Kurten is doing at Thorens and find his approach to be far more refreshing than what Ajay Shirke has done to SME.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on December 8, 2020 - 12:08pm

... the website - and assuming that the original author is still on board with the magazine - perhaps that staffer could be offered the opportunity to add a postscript reflecting any relevant information or developments that have come to light during the intervening time.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on December 8, 2020 - 11:03am

Two people in two different groups had the Schick and were underwhelmed with it, which surprised me considering the great press the arm has received. One had it on a 301 the other on a TD-124. Both people are individuals whose opinion I respect, one swapped for a Jelco and preferred it and the other I don't recall what he switched it for maybe Groovemaster but don't quote me.

Both; category and price - The SME's are far better than the arms you mentioned.

I own five; two IV's, one 309 that are mounted on different tables and one M2-9r and M2-9 waiting for new tables. Are they the best arms on the planet? Of course not but the leap in quality I got over the Regas, Profile, Linn Basik, and other arms I cannot even remember now was impressive. Also, the ability not to spend endless hours fiddling with the overhang was so easy to do with the SME. Fit and finish is the best I've seen and the customer service is stellar.

X