A study in SME 20/2

[PHC1]

Today was a good day to crack open the box and setup my new SME 20/2 table and SME V arm.

I decided to capture the setup journey for memories and to share with analog fans on AA.

Cleared off my dining room table, made a cup of coffee, and cracked open the box. The table was well packed but nothing fancy, just some cardboard and foam dividers. No presentation quality stuff with this one.

Lifting the SME 20/2 table out of the box, I was both surprised and pleased that for a relatively compact footprint, the table is really heavy. Specs say 40lbs and it weighs every ounce of it. Nice, I like mass when it comes to tables.

While I was in absolutely no rush to assemble it and I took my time admiring and learning about this new to me table that I have heard a few times before, setup is really not difficult at all.

Part I. Table preparation.

First step is removing the motor transit screw and the pads that protect it during the overseas journey. While on that step, I looked at the design and noticed the motor is free from the upper suspension deck and is decoupled from the bottom deck through rubber grommets. Motor has 3 spiked feet that drop into dimples in those grommets built into the lower deck. I don't expect any vibrations to make their way into the plint or the chassis. There is a rubber motor retaining band that holds it in place and levels the motor once the belt is on the pulley. Nice.