SME's history is well-documented. The company started out, in 1946, as an engineering company for hire. In 1959, after a few years supplying parts for the scale modeling and various other high-tech industries, company founder Alastair Robertson-Aikman wanted a better tonearm for…
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Creating a new flagship model is never an easy task for an audio company. A good designer will have already incorporated all his or her best ideas into the prior flagship. For a follow-up, you typically get a scaled-up version of what came before, incorporating the kind of improvements a bigger budget will allow.
The Model 60's platter and bearing are identical to those used on the Model 30, although on the 60, the bottom part of the bearing housing sits in a bath of silicone damping fluid to further suppress vibrations. SME felt that these components had already reached a level of performance that would be tough to improve on, so no further changes were made. The top surface of the platter has a built-in record mat made from a material called Isodamp, which is permanently bonded to the platter. To ensure perfect mat centering, the raw, unfinished Isodamp sheet is bonded to the platter, then the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Suspended, mass-loaded, belt-driven turntable with two-phase AC synchronous motor. Speeds: 33 1/3, 45rpm. Platter: 13" (330mm) diameter, 16.6lb (7.5kg). Wow & flutter: not specified. Tonearm: Series VA, gimbal-bearing polymer resin. Effective length: 233.15mm; pivot-to-spindle distance: 215.35mm; overhang: 17.8mm; offset angle: 23.635°; effective mass: 10–11gm. Signal output: chassis-mounted RCA sockets; balanced XLR outputs optional.
Dimensions: 21.93" (557mm) × 16.42" (417mm) × 8.35" (212mm). Weight: Turntable 105.8lb (48kg); speed control…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: SME Model 30/2A, Roksan TMS, Brinkmann La Grange, Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124, Linn Sondek LP12, and Technics SL-1000 Mk2A turntables. Graham Model 2.2; SME Series V, IV.Vi, 309, 3009; Brinkmann 12.1; Breuer Dynamic Type 8; Technics EPA-100; Linn Ittok LVII; Fidelity Research FR-64S; Eminent Technology ET2 tonearms. Lyra Atlas, Dynavector DRT XV-1s, Grado Legacy Epoch, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Koetsu Urushi and Rosewood, Linn Troika, Luxman LMC-5, Kiseki Purple Heart, Red Rose Petal 2, Denon DL-103, Audio Note IQ3 phono cartridges. Technics RS-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Speed stability has been a given with previous SME turntables, but the switch from DC to AC motor drive has taken its Model 60 to another level. Its approximately 0.005% absolute speed accuracy and mere 0.01% peak-weighted wow (fig.1) are comparable with the best of today's direct-drive offerings, including Technics's fabulous Grand Class SL-1200GAE. Few other belt-drive decks get this close.
In my high-school days, I visited a friend whose well-to-do dad proudly demonstrated his new Quad ESL system for us. First up was a recording of a man with heavy footsteps traversing the space from left to right. Next came a speeding police car, siren engaged, complete with Doppler tail. I found it impressive, and a little lame at the same time. My friend and I, in love with our own artsiness, preferred Fear of Music by Talking Heads and Drums and Wires by XTC, or (in a pinch) U2's Boy.
It wouldn't have occurred to me that I'd ultimately derive frequent joy from listening to sound effects…
Helpless against such beauty, and partly in anticipation of the TD3.8s' eventual arrival, I purchased a U280 SC. In my room, the synergy between the Mexican tube (ch)amp and the TD3.8s was apparent from the get-go. The music flowed easily, beautifully, without a hint of strain. But it wasn't perfect. I now felt that heft and authority were on the skimpy side compared to what I'd heard before. After a few weeks of belly-aching and telling myself it was all in my head, I called Bruce Ball to get his take. He wasn't surprised. Essentially, he relayed the old Doublemint chewing gum motto ("double…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Rear-ported three-way loudspeaker with planar-magnetic ribbon tweeter and two 5" (127mm) tantalum-diamond (TD)–cone midrange drivers in an MTM configuration; two 8" (203mm) TD woofers. Crossover frequencies: 400Hz and 2.4kHz, stepped slope. Frequency range: 24Hz–50kHz. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms; minimum impedance, 4 ohms at 120Hz. Power requirement: 50–300W.
Dimensions: 56" (1422mm) H × 17" (432mm) W with supplied outriggers × 23" (584mm) D. Weight: 183lb (83kg).
Finishes: Piano black, walnut burl, others available…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max running Roon 2.0; Roon ROCK (Lenovo ThinkCentre); Auralic Vega; Naim Uniti Atom; and HiFi Rose RS520, controlled via iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Preamplifiers: Benchmark HPA4; Audio Research LS16 MkII; Margules SF-220.
Power amplifiers: HiFi Rose RS520 integrated amplifier; Krell FPB 200c (recapped); two Margules U-280 SC tube amps, used as monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Tekton Moab; Focal Scala Utopia EVO.
Cables: AudioQuest, Blue Jean Cable, Clarus Crimson, Nordost, RSX, Viborg.
Accessories: Core Power…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Due to the Raidho TD3.8's bulk, I wasn't able to bring it up the stairs from the driveway to our living room, where I usually measure loudspeakers. I therefore measured the speaker in the driveway, keeping its front baffle turned away from the sun so the drive units would stay cool. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system with a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the loudspeaker's behavior in the farfield and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses. It wasn't possible to raise the 183lb TD3.8 off the ground for the measurements, so the first reflection…