MODEL 60
MODEL 60
The Model 60 is the most technically advanced SME turntable ever built, the culmination of 75 years of engineering excellence, innovation, and perfection, delivering precise and clear sound reproduction. Exceptionally high build quality, precision components with tight tolerances, a striking design, and a range of uniquely designed, unpainted finishes.
Introduced 60 years after SME entered the elite world of high-end audio, the Model 60 is even better than the Model 30, which has been the reference turntable for over three decades. The new flagship is a completely new turntable design featuring intelligent engineering and technological advancements.
Design features include: adjustable feet with multi-point isolation, an intelligent suspension system with horizontal and vertical adjustment, a hydraulically damped main bearing, acoustically treated main chassis, sub-chassis, and platter, an advanced, next-generation drive system with extremely precise speed control, an AC motor, and an independent power transformer.
The Model 60 is equipped with the new VA-series tonearm, an advanced version of the renowned V-series tonearm, which has been thoroughly improved in terms of sound quality through the use of a non-metallic, CNC-machined tonearm tube made of an advanced high-density, high-stiffness polymer resin material. The VA Series tonearm tube is acoustically inert with significantly reduced resonance, optimized effective mass, and a wide range of counterweight options to balance the cartridge.
Technical specifications and additional information:
Measurements
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Turntable Speed Error at 33.33 rpm | 33.33 rpm (-0.005%) |
| Time to Audible Stabilisation | 5–6 seconds |
| Peak Wow/Flutter (Peak wtd) | 0.01% / 0.02% |
| Rumble (silent groove, DIN B wtd) | -75 dB (-75.4 dB with Clamp) |
| Rumble (through bearing, DIN B wtd) | -76.5 dB |
| Hum & Noise (unwtd, rel to 5 cm/sec) | -62.5 dB |
| Power Consumption | 18 W (1 W standby) |
Drive System
The turntable is driven by a specially designed two-phase AC synchronous motor. The speed control unit uses a dedicated DSP to generate two independent, mathematically pure sine waves, which provide complete control over frequency, phase relationship, and amplitude. These, in turn, are tuned to the motor to achieve precision and deliver the best possible performance. The controller’s output stage features a low-distortion, 2-channel bipolar Class AB design with a relay directly coupled to the motor. The entire design is implemented using high-quality surface-mount technology on a gold-plated FR4 PCB.The speed range is 33.33 and 45 rpm, with independent memory settings via a switchable encoder.
Tonearm
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Mass | 10 g – 11 g |
| Cartridge Balance Range | 5 g – 18 g |
| Vertical Tracking Force | 0.0 g – 3.0 g (30 mN) |
| Maximum Tracking Error | 0.0120/mm |
| Internal Wiring | Crystal Cable 0.1 mm Mono X-Tal |
Weights and Dimensions
| Component | Height | Width | Depth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turntable | 212 mm (top of clamp) | 557 mm | 417 mm | 48 kg |
| Speed Control Unit | 87 mm | 170 mm | 295 mm | 2 kg |
| Power Supply Unit | 83 mm | 190 mm | 243 mm | 4.2 kg |
Platter diameter: 330 mm