SME Model 60 coming up, apparently

[vln]

Well, the good news is that it's better looking than the Model 6 and the Model 12 (IMHO, and provided it's available in all black):

https://wizard-highend.blogspot.com/2022/03/sme-model-60.html

The (obvious) bad news is that it will probably cost an insane amount of money.

 

[notevenclose]

That may just be a very early prototype cobbled together from biscuit tins, but it would seem to offer further evidence that SME has lost its design mojo. Not a great look after the Hornby trainset controller which was their last effort I saw.

 

[Woodface]

£60k?

 

[jagdesign]

A real shame. They need to hire a new designer/engineer to do their meticulous production processes justice.

Amazing heritage behind the company and a perfect example of where some good industrial design could be transformational to their sales.

 

[Woodface]

I liked the look of the 10, 20 & 30. None of the newer ones are as attractive.

 

[cnocmoy10]

What would Alistair have said?

 

[vln]

I think you are all a bit harsh!

The biscuit tins are presumably housing a new/different suspension system.

I agree with the trainset controller comment from @notevenclose though (assuming he was referring to the Model 6 PSU) - who gave the OK on that?!

 

[Beobloke]

I like that. The arm looks superb. I wonder if they’ve considered selling that separately from the turntable? I reckon they’d make a mint.

 

[flutteringwow]

That's just horrendous.

Who do Hifi engineering companies have such bad visuals designers. I mean, that's so bad, its something I'd expect it being made in an old fella's shed in Yorkshire in the 70's, not in style conscious 2022.

Seriously, SME need to accept that people who like that sort of crap are not far away from the grave and the future of their company is in a younger generation.

 

[notevenclose]

I like that. The arm looks superb. I wonder if they’ve considered selling that separately from the turntable? I reckon they’d make a mint.

I put it to you sir that you are in fact naught but a devious shit-stirrer.

 

[Darren]

I think they got the VPI designer pissed and then asked him to sketch something out on the back of a fag packet......... with a crayon, without his glasses

 

[vln]

I put it to you sir that you are in fact naught but a devious shit-stirrer.

Yeah, that was another breathtakingly stupid decision by SME.

 

[colasblue]

Given how few 30's have ever sold I'm astonished they think there is any market at all for an even more expensive offering.

TBH the SME designs have never "floated my boat" sonically despite all the engineering. Tonearms in isolation similarly.

 

[Bob McC]

Fugly

 

[Tarzan]

Actually quite like the look of that.... anything has to be better looking than the Model 6.

 

[GT]

I wonder what has happened to the 40 and 50?

 

[bigfish786]

Did they make this on Blue Peter. Tin foil and tuna fish cans etc.

 

[Shuggie]

I did think that this was fake news, but apparently not! Maybe it will appeal to overseas buyers with deep pockets, but to these eyes it looks rather boring and derivative. At least it does not look like it needs a fork lift truck for the installation!

 

[MUTTY1]

I wonder what has happened to the 40 and 50?

because this is twice as good.

 

[Craig B]

They'll sell a total of two to Russian oligarch stepdaughters/wives, to be left collecting dust in numbered company owned houses in London as ornaments.

Regardless, New SME will subsequently find a way to describe all of their lower models as having somehow retroactively inherited strands of DNA from this soon to be regarded as highly successful über-deck.