SME likes record clamps and includes a dedicated one here. We’re up and running in around half an hour. The arm comes attached, so simply find a level, low resonance platform to put the deck on, fit the belt, acrylic platter and cartridge, and off you go. By high-end standards, this deck is a breeze to set up. Plug and play isn’t a concept normally associated with SME’s turntables, but it could almost apply here.
This is a capable, balanced performer that works well in this context. The Model 6 doesn’t come with a cartridge but our review sample is supplied with an Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil (£1825, $2729, AU$3959). It would normally retail for over twice the sum charged for the cable pack when bought with the deck. This high-quality mono-crystal cable is designed specifically for this deck and works well. While the Model 6 is available for £5995 ($8003, AU$12,600), we’re reviewing it with the optional Crystal Cable package. The arm has a removable headshell, which makes swapping cartridges a breeze and is great news for those who like to chop and change. We love the smooth feel of its bearings as we move it into place over a record. The M2-9 is beautifully made, easy to adjust and nice to use. The Model 6 is supplied with SME’s well-known M2-9 tonearm, but here the arm covered in a new black chrome finish to match the deck’s appearance.
The company also supplies a printed strobe disc to help the user make the adjustments accurately. This electronic box is more sophisticated than the usual speed controllers we come across, as it allows fine adjustments to the platter’s rotational speed. Speed control and the power supply are housed in a single, rather large separate box, also made of the same material as the Model 6’s plinth. It doesn’t want to share the benefits of its research with rivals. If our description of the plinth and isolating materials seem a little vague that’s because SME is pretty tight-lipped about the specifics. It is used both inside the plinth and on the chassis feet. That system isn’t viable at this lower price point, so the main bearing and arm assembly are protected from external energy by a vibration-absorbing silicone-based rubber compound from the aerospace industry. Traditionally, the company’s decks have always used an elegant ‘O’ ring suspended sub-chassis arrangement to isolate the record-playing surface from environmental disturbances. This is CNC-machined and is claimed to have excellent rigidity and damping properties combined with high mass – just the attributes SME wanted. Their solution is a plinth made of a high-density resin material. While this is a great solution that gives impressive rigidity, it’s also hugely expensive, so the engineers set about finding an alternative.
Until this point, all of its turntables have used thick slabs of heavily machined aluminium for their plinths. It is sized to resemble the classic Model 20, but the design shows that the company isn’t afraid to move away from tradition. This all-new deck still looks every inch an SME.
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