Yup agree SME is now overpriced but hey this is hi-end audio and many brands are IMHO.

If the new 3009 and 3012 were the R version I might consider getting one because used they are extortionate.

since vinyl became fashionable circa 2007 Hifi - mid/high end has become ludicrously expensive. There is no logic to it either. In the past there was the odd outlier such as Goldmund Reference and Rockport but they were also scintillating products. Now every boutique product wants to occupy that space and few genuinely justify it

@lohanimal 

Idiot. You must be very young.  If you are I will forgive you.

Vinyl has been fashionable since about 1955.

But you are absolutely correct about today's stupid blingy $000,000 turntables.

@clearthinker 

Thanks - you must be old grandad 🤣

I am talking about market share and fashion... In the 90's the high street rid its stores of vinyl and you had to go to places like reckless records to buy vinyl.

I think in the last 10 years (can't say the year) the sale of vinyl in the UK outstripped CD. That has been driven by market tastes (fashion)

Vinyl was previously the only widespread access to music (yes reel to reel is superb - but neither easy to store nor affordable) CD changed that

One other reason for the resurgence of a Vinyl LP to be a mainstream consumer purchase option, is that New Artists across most genre have chosen it as a Hard Medium Merchandise to be used to increase their revenues.

I might need a correction, but I am aware a revenues made on a 1000 sold LP's as merchandise, is equivalent to approx' the royalties from 5 000 000 streams. 

There is a discontent with the Streamed Digital Media, as the remuneration is dire, hence, it is possibly for this reason the the CD was not the chosen Hard Medium to be offered as a merchandise/consumer product. 

I have purchased Vinyl LP's direct from a Groups Web Page, I am also awaiting a Vinyl LP being produced through a Crowd Fund, it helps out for a New Act to get on their feet a little better financially.

Imagine, having been a Purchaser of a Crowd Funded first Beatles Album, such a limited and unique purchase, would have most likely matured in value and become a very attractive Pension Pot or Inheritance.