RockandorRoll Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Interestingly, SME manufacture the Keel (for Linn). They also manufacture parts for F1. Or so I've been told. Don't quote me on this So thats one way to do it, get your volume through other means. I'm not sure what parts of the tool will be usable by the F1's but im guessing that the tool manufacturer specialises in small volume tools which would explain the pricing. Its not all about the volume but if i was a manufacturer I would try and get as many units through the tool as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolster Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Interestingly, SME manufacture the Keel (for Linn). They also manufacture parts for F1. Or so I've been told. Don't quote me on this Too late, TB. It is now on the interweb and therefore must be true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hergest Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 There's a couple of good videos on You Tube of tours of the SME factory and they show very, very expensive engineering tools as SME make parts for defence as well as hi-fi and Formula 1. The turntable part of the company is only a small part of it. The amount of money invested in the company overall would be immense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chill3 Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 SME were originally a builder of scale models hence the name Scale Model Equipment AVID make medical parts and bespoke fine parts for many uses including FI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankn Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 History The original company was formed in 1946 under the title The Scale Model Equipment Company Limited to manufacture scale models and detail parts for the model engineering trade. During the 1950's movement was away from model making to precision engineering, principally parts for aircraft instruments and business machines. In 1959 Alastair Robertson-Aikman, the Company's founder, required a pick-up arm for his own use and an experimental model was built. It received such an enthusiastic reception from friends in the sound industry that it was decided to produce it commercially and the first SME precision pick-up arm appeared in September 1959. Production was 25 units per week composed entirely of individually machined components. At this time a new factory situated in Mill Road, Steyning was opened and the Company's name was changed to SME Limited, a less committal title to suit its new activities. SME now has over 60 years experience in high quality precision engineering and the Company's plant at Steyning is now probably the largest and best equipped devoted to the manufacture of precision pick-up arms and turntables. To maintain the very high standards of quality all manufacture and processing is carried out 'in house'. Facilities commence with design and toolmaking through all aspects of manufacturing including CNC machining, pressure die-casting, injection moulding, metal finishing, electro-plating, anodising and many other processes. Inspection at every stage of manufacture and assembly is particularly critical and ensures the consistent standards for which the Company's products are noted. In 1992 our quality assurance system was formally accredited under BS EN ISO 9001 The present manufacturing programme consists of five precision turntables and twelve standard pick-up arms which together with special models offer a very wide range of application.SME precision pick-up arms are exported to almost every country of the world and are available through agents supported by direct service from the factory to the customer. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 What high end vintage turntables do that no so expensive vintage ones do? Value increase due to rarity and collector-ware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ophool Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Just in case the OP has not given up yet, I have recently moved up an amount of $$$ from my previous "full race" P2 and other assorted cheaper decks. Firstly, I was pretty happy with the way things were sounding prior to splurging and seriously wondered what, if anything, worthwhile was to be had for the not inconsiderable extra outlay. I probably had nearly 3K invested in the P2 over the years and suspected that a P8 or P9 at least would be needed to give an audible improvement and neither of those offered some features that I wanted in a replacement deck. Auditioning likely candidates did not offer a definitive answer as to what I might expect in my own system, despite using my own cartridge and records with which to audition. It took me nearly a month of indecision before choosing one of the final 2 candidates, still with no certainty of how it would live up to my hopes, at least in the area of audible improvement rather than usability, convenience and outright build quality. Happily, when it finally arrived and was set up and put into action, there was no doubt that I would be grinning for a good while to come - 9 months later I am still very, very pleased that I braved the waters. What does it do that previous cheaper decks have not ? - the very first thing it showed me was how much better the DL-103 (which I already loved) was than I had previously thought it to be. So, a not very expensive cartridge, set up on a much better arm and table, into my familiar phono stage, amps and speakers and sounding better than I had ever heard it. That is the short version. Edited September 19, 2014 by ophool 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viognier Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Great post @@ophool and a good point about what a turntable upgrade can bring - in that you discover just how good other components are in the chain. I suppose it is a double edged sword in that it may highlight a weakness but in my instance it took my speakers to a place I didn't realise was possible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoRu? Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Just in case the OP has not given up yet, I have recently moved up an amount of $$$ from my previous "full race" P2 and other assorted cheaper decks. Firstly, I was pretty happy with the way things were sounding prior to splurging and seriously wondered what, if anything, worthwhile was to be had for the not inconsiderable extra outlay. I probably had nearly 3K invested in the P2 over the years and suspected that a P8 or P9 at least would be needed to give an audible improvement and neither of those offered some features that I wanted in a replacement deck. Auditioning likely candidates did not offer a definitive answer as to what I might expect in my own system, despite using my own cartridge and records with which to audition. It took me nearly a month of indecision before choosing one of the final 2 candidates, still with no certainty of how it would live up to my hopes, at least in the area of audible improvement rather than usability, convenience and outright build quality. Happily, when it finally arrived and was set up and put into action, there was no doubt that I would be grinning for a good while to come - 9 months later I am still very, very pleased that I braved the waters. What does it do that previous cheaper decks have not ? - the very first thing it showed me was how much better the DL-103 (which I already loved) was than I had previously thought it to be. So, a not very expensive cartridge, set up on a much better arm and table, into my familiar phono stage, amps and speakers and sounding better than I had ever heard it. That is the short version. What did you end up getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Just in case the OP has not given up yet, I have recently moved up an amount of $$$ from my previous "full race" P2 and other assorted cheaper decks. Firstly, I was pretty happy with the way things were sounding prior to splurging and seriously wondered what, if anything, worthwhile was to be had for the not inconsiderable extra outlay. I probably had nearly 3K invested in the P2 over the years and suspected that a P8 or P9 at least would be needed to give an audible improvement and neither of those offered some features that I wanted in a replacement deck. Auditioning likely candidates did not offer a definitive answer as to what I might expect in my own system, despite using my own cartridge and records with which to audition. It took me nearly a month of indecision before choosing one of the final 2 candidates, still with no certainty of how it would live up to my hopes, at least in the area of audible improvement rather than usability, convenience and outright build quality. Happily, when it finally arrived and was set up and put into action, there was no doubt that I would be grinning for a good while to come - 9 months later I am still very, very pleased that I braved the waters. What does it do that previous cheaper decks have not ? - the very first thing it showed me was how much better the DL-103 (which I already loved) was than I had previously thought it to be. So, a not very expensive cartridge, set up on a much better arm and table, into my familiar phono stage, amps and speakers and sounding better than I had ever heard it. That is the short version. Yes still here and happily reading - what were your final 2 contenders and what did you settle on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bloen Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 " I've never owned an expensive turntable " (first post of the topic), @@cafe67, I cannot offer you an expensive turntable, but perhaps you are content to own one of the best turntables available at the moment (especially the tonearm is exeptional in relation to the available high end tonearms). You have to DIY some parts, but it don't need too much craftsmanship or expensive tools. The prizes of the parts are listed at the end of the description (all together about 450 euro, without the costs of the delivering by post). You can find the description of the turntable and tonearm at this link. Anyway, no turntable/tonearm can "upgrade" the phono cartridge. It can facilitate a perfect flat frequency respons, the maximum balance in relation to the tip of the stylus and a 100% damping of the armtube. But the details of the reproduced music are provided by the cartridge (the sensitivity of the combination of the stylus, cantilever and "engine"). Therefore you still need a very good cartridge to get the best out of the vinyl recording. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chill3 Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Expensive turntables offer one great advantage No fluro colours in your avatar Not sure how or why if if the cost is worth it Just kidding of course the cost is worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bloen Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 It was really easy to comfort your eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Having spent the last 3 years on the TT merry-go-round I have tried: Rega P5 with upgrades Thorens Td124ii SME 10 Feickert Woodpecker / Kuzma 4 point Kuzma reference / 4 point Rega P9 Transrotor Dark Star It has been an interesting journey. Without doubt the Kuzma Ref combo out performed everything else by a long shot. The Transrotor and Feickert were both brilliantly good value and punched above their weight / price. However! I now have an AMG Viella. The most expensive thing I have ever purchased. It is so far ahead of any other TT I have had and auditioned. Having the AMG for the last 4 weeks I understand why people say the TT is the most important part. I do think the tonearm is having a lot to do with the synergy and it is by far the best tonearm I have heard. So do more $$$ equal more music. In this case - absolutely. hugo_wilco there is a god review of the viella in the latest HiFi+ magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Having spent the last 3 years on the TT merry-go-round I have tried: Rega P5 with upgrades Thorens Td124ii SME 10 Feickert Woodpecker / Kuzma 4 point Kuzma reference / 4 point Rega P9 Transrotor Dark Star It has been an interesting journey. Without doubt the Kuzma Ref combo out performed everything else by a long shot. The Transrotor and Feickert were both brilliantly good value and punched above their weight / price. However! I now have an AMG Viella. The most expensive thing I have ever purchased. It is so far ahead of any other TT I have had and auditioned. Having the AMG for the last 4 weeks I understand why people say the TT is the most important part. I do think the tonearm is having a lot to do with the synergy and it is by far the best tonearm I have heard. So do more $$$ equal more music. In this case - absolutely. @@hugo_wilco there is a god review of the viella in the latest HiFi+ magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasebass Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Great post @@ophool and a good point about what a turntable upgrade can bring - in that you discover just how good other components are in the chain. I suppose it is a double edged sword in that it may highlight a weakness but in my instance it took my speakers to a place I didn't realise was possible. and....most importantly.....just how good your record collection is!!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetsound Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 Welcome to thread resurrection , how may we help you .? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
678yamaha Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Well Tempered Lad Simplex, second hand $1000 and looks cheap, made in China, no bling bling, but plays my records just sweet. Keeping it real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy steel Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) I don't understand why these topics keep coming up? In life you generally get what you pay for, do more expensive turntables sound better? The direct answer is yes, how much varies and how much do you want to spend well that depends on many factors. How much can you pay. How much do you want to pay. How much are you into the past time. Are you concerned about aesthetics (Many people are). Thats better, but nothing wrong with a little donation to Bhutanese monks now and then. Are you chasing perfection. Do you like to show off. And many more. But does it really matter? Buy what suits you and makes you happy, and don't worry about what makes others happy or what they are prepared to spend. Cheers Edited December 17, 2014 by handysteel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasebass Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 But does it really matter? Buy what suits you and makes you happy, and don't worry about what makes others happy or what they are prepared to spend. Cheers +1 well said.. I find it both amusing and alarming some of the "insecure" questions asked on this and other forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Fresh Prince Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) Are you concerned about ascetics (Many people are). I donate to a Bhutanese monastery, if that counts? Don't want them getting too cold up there Edited December 16, 2014 by teddyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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