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Manufacturer : SMEModel : Model 30/12Serial Number : 0107Packaging : OriginalAccessories Included : Setup Accessories / Power Supply / Mains CablePrice When New : A superb example of this mega turntable from British specialist SME. It comes with the series V12 matching 12″ tonearm and some of its original accessories. The tonearm is boxed, and the deck is in its original crate. This particular unit was shipped from the factory in December 2016 and used as retailer display unit until being sold to one careful owner in 2023. Shipping on a pallet at shared cost (£40 buyer contribution).SME say…The Model 30/12 is the former SME flagship turntable and once judged as ‘the best turntable of all time’ and for many years considered to be the world’s reference standard turntable. These accreditations are derived from the ingenious design, precision engineering and fundamental physics. The net result being an outstanding performance of detail, resolution and neutrality with a dynamic range that does justice to the original sound.The Model 30/12 is effortless in controlling and managing vibration, resonance, mechanical energy and electrical fields. Weighing over 50kg it is significant in relation to mass and density. The main and sub-chassis’ resists flexing at low frequencies whilst high frequency resonance is attenuated by efficient extensional damping.Model 30/12 comes with the flagship SME Series V-12 tonearm.PRIMARY FEATURESOutstanding PerformanceHeavy Mass ConstructionSuspended Suspension SystemChassis Fluid Damping SystemClose Tolerance Precision BearingSME Series V-12 TonearmHighly Advanced Drive SystemIndependent Mains Transformer
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Founded in 1946 by Alastair Robertson-Aikman as The Scale Model Equipment Company Limited in England, SME initially produced scale models and precision parts for engineering trades before pivoting in the 1950s to high-precision components for aircraft instruments and business machines. By 1961, it had relocated to a dedicated factory in Steyning, Sussex, and fully embraced audio engineering, developing its first tonearm for personal use. Now marking over 70 years of excellence, SME was acquired in 2016 by industrialist Ajay Shirke's Cadence Group, ensuring continued innovation while honoring its heritage, including recent moves like reviving the Garrard turntable brand.
SME specializes exclusively in precision turntables and tonearms, offering models like the acclaimed Model 30 series alongside a range of twelve standard arms and custom variants. With over one million tonearms sold worldwide, the company avoids diversification into amplifiers, speakers, DACs, headphones, or cables, focusing instead on unmatched engineering for vinyl playback.
Regarded as the gold standard in high-end analog audio, SME commands a niche position among discerning audiophiles for its Steyning facility—the world's largest and best-equipped for precision pick-up arms and turntables. Synonymous with industry-leading build quality and sonic refinement, it appeals to serious collectors and professionals who prioritize mechanical perfection over mass-market compromises.
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