TechDAS Reliability vs SME

What a wonderful quandary to be in.

I'm stuck with hamburger.

 

I believe my Sota is a Sapphire Series III.  Purchased used here on Audiogon and sent back to Sota probably 10 years ago now to have them go through it.  

I'm contemplating a turntable which accepts multiple arms just for future flexibility.  

If I were in the market now I would look very hard at the new SME 60.  In terms of reliability, though, which was your original question, I have not heard of any problems with any of them.

The SME 60 is with limitation as the TT has to be purchased with the SME 5A Arm.

I would imagine is able to be purchased as a TT only. it is going to be close to a £35000 purchase.

It will not be too far from a £45 000 TT once the Tonearm of Choice and Cart' are selected if purchasing on a tightish budget. That could easily be massaged to £100000+ if the funds are quite disposable.

I don't see the TT as a Standalone or with a 5A Tonearm, being stand out if compared to a Kuzma Model or Sota Model, with a carefully selected Tonearm and Cart'.

I am quite familiar with the SME 20/12 and SME V in use and know the SME Sonic quite well. I have a SME IV I choose not to use as the main Tonearm.

I am not convinced the 5A Tonearm is to be much improved in audible performance over the SME V or IV. Even though a shift has occurred toward certain composite material being used in place of Metal Parts, much of the overall function and Rega Type of Geometry adopted that defines the earlier models remains.

I also doubt the Model 60 will ever be seen to be a valuable and worthwhile outlay of an extra £15 - 20000 to get the latest reinvention of the SME Wheel.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3100000

Difference is what makes horse races.-- Mark Twain

I have a different opinion of SME and particularly of their tonearms.