#1
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SME Exits TA Business
https://sme.co.uk/2019/12/03/sme-product-announcement/
Not surprising after seeing the price on their "new" Garrard 401 TA/TT release. Too bad. But, India has never been known as a hot-bed of the high-end.
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Glenn... Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#2
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From the press release, there is a glimmer of hope:
"This tradition of tonearm manufacturing will continue with the manufacture of our highly accredited tonearms for the purpose of coupling with our comprehensive range of high-end precision turntables ..."
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Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines. |
#3
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Makes sense from a business perspective as there's (likely considerably) more margin in complete turntables than selling standalone arms.
Back when SME started manufacturing arms in 1959, many of the "higher-end" turntable decks, e.g. Garrard, ELAC, and Thorens, etc. were sold w/o tonearms. Today, the vast majority of turntables are sold with tonearms, so it's likely been a declining market for SME for some time now.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#4
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Quote:
Stephen, I agree with you that many makers are selling with an arm, it had to be hard on SME - business ain’t easy! SME will still support their lines and of course their new direction selling tables with arms. |
#5
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This makes absolutely no sense to me. The incremental cost of forecasting, manufacturing, packaging and stocking separate arms is de-minimus. Lowering component volumes never has a positive effect on manufacturing cost.
Their business assumption seems to be that some percentage of standalone arm buyers will now purchase a complete SME TT package now that stand alone arms are no longer offered. I guess only SME can explain their reasoning.
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#6
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Happy I bought my SME 309 tonearm for my Michell Gyro SE when I did.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#7
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Spoke with someone who was formerly the largest reseller of SME TAs in NA. He told me that he was offered as many arms & parts as he wished to purchase by SME just before it was sold in 2016. He bought everything he could afford, but is either low or out-of-stock on most arms today. He has, obviously, not been pleased with the changes at SME.
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Glenn... Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#8
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Quote:
I plan to cannibalize the 309 to go on a new Sota Sapphire should I decide that a new TT is what I want, as opposed to new speakers or some other part of the system; this despite the fact I haven't been playing records much lately. But I've decided to keep a TT in the system, the 309 is a classic, and I can't afford an SME table. Too bad SME is doing this, but it's their choice.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#9
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Wonder how/if SME will be supporting their "legacy" products. From what a former SME reseller told me yesterday, apparently there is some animosity between SME's new owners and their former distributors. Would not be surprising if, once the existing contracts are 'out of the way' (broken, lapsed, whatever) that SME arms become available once again. However, that may be a while. If one wants parts (headshells, etc.) they may want to find them now.
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Glenn... Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
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