Ultimate Design & Unique Collaboration: SME Introduces Their Long-Awaited New Integrated Turntable SYNERGY
Evidence in great big fifteen thousand quid lumps, that proves that the turntable, gramophone or record player, is far from dead. What HAS happened is that certain bonkers-grade acknowledged superstars of the odd combination of stuff that is a whole platter-playing system, have proper climbed into bed together. That buffoonery of conflicting needs of so much movement but so much utter precision, was determined by the press once upon a time, to be about THAT cartridge maker, that had to be wired with THAT silver wire, with THAT tonearm… etc. Now, with the addition of superstar professional sound recorder makers, NAGRA (they own the pro-broadcast recorder market, or did, that thing in a bag the sound man carries) to add a phono stage and the other collaborators, SME are about to show this awesome deck off at a huge show in Munich that I have never been able to get sent to… perhaps it is time to work on changing that?
Launched today following months of intelligent engineering and in collaboration with three world-leading audio companies to create a flawless vinyl replay system that’s been perfected to exacting standards.
10th May 2018 – Steyning, England – SME, the British engineering and specialist high end audio company, is proud to announce the launch of Synergy, a precision-engineered integrated turntable featuring magnesium tonearm, moving coil cartridge and built-in phono stage. Based on over 70 years of precision engineering and audio experience, Synergy represents the first time that SME has offered an integrated turntable solution for its customers. Comprising of a completely new turntable design combined with the highly acclaimed SME Series IV tonearm, Ortofon’s ‘exclusive series’ MC Windfeld Ti cartridge and a specially designed phono stage by NAGRA, all coupled with mono crystal silver wire by Crystal Cable, Synergy is a fully integrated turntable unit that is factory configured requiring minimal user set-up.
Synergy’s design is compact, sleek, modern and instantly recognisable as SME. Incorporating precision engineered components, high attention to detail and the craftsmanship that SME is globally renowned for, above all Synergy delivers an extraordinary vinyl listening musical experience.
Synergy will be available from authorised SME retailers from September 2018, with an estimated UK retail price of £14,950.00 (inc. UK VAT calculated at 20%).
Main Chassis
With a compact footprint, Synergy’s main chassis is precision machined from a solid billet of premium grade aerospace aluminium, ensuring an inert and stable base for the suspension and sub-chassis to reside on. With 10 CNC machining processes required during the manufacturing process of this crucial component, once machined the main chassis goes through multiple and extensive finishing processes, which includes significant hand finishing to reach the standards the company is famous for. Only then will it receive its unique black SME paint finish.
Mounted on the main chassis either side of the SME logo is the main on/off button and a Low Voltage indicator.
Damping
The turntable is supported on four large polymer isolators inside adjustable feet, which allow for quick and easy levelling. Machined from a single billet of aluminium, the trilateral sub-chassis, which firmly holds the close tolerance main bearing and tonearm, is mounted on three suspension columns, providing impressive isolation.
Spindle
The main spindle is 19 mm (3/4″) machined from high chrome tool steel. It is machine ground, super finished and supported in a sealed housing with individually matched sintered bronze bearings of generous proportions needed to support the platter.
Platter
Machined from aluminium alloy and weighing over 4.6 kg (10 lbs), Synergy’s platter is perfectly dampened with an ultra-specialist space grade isodamp material unique to SME. The top surface is diamond-turned with a fine scroll carefully calculated for firmly engaging records to the platter. The substantial chrome-plated and logo engraved reflex clamp ensures the largest possible platter contact, even when an appreciable record warp is present.
Motor
The turntable is driven by a 3 phase, brushless out runner motor with 8-pole Neodymium magnets and three integrated hall effect sensors. Contained within a precision-machined housing, the total motor assembly is virtually vibration-less, as its 2.5 kg (5.5lbs) weight is isolated from the sub chassis by urethane mounts and spikes.
Speed Control
The electronic control unit uses a high-performance microprocessor, optimised for motor control. Closed loop speed control is implemented using a proportional plus integral (PI) algorithm. Speed ranges are 33.3, 45 & 78 rpm, with fine pitch speed adjustment allowing increments/decrements of +/-0.01% of the selected speed.
The electronic control circuitry and power supply unit are housed in an external one-piece CNC machined case. This new design offers complete isolation and support and is the perfect environment for the electronics. Speed selection controls are mounted on the front facia panel with LED indicators.
Tonearm
Based on the renowned SME Series IV, Synergy’s tonearm uses the same unique one-piece pressure die-cast magnesium arm tube. Internally damped to be acoustically inert, it is mounted on a precision yoke housing with 10mm ABEC 3 ball bearing races. This unique SME assembly gives high rigidity and allows the bearings to be critically adjusted before the tonearm is installed to the turntable. The yoke is mounted to the 23mm diameter heat treated, ground and honed steel pillar, with a pair of 17mm ABEC 7 ball bearing races that are widely spaced to resist tilt. The cartridge head shell mounting is precision machined and enamel free to avoid interference resonance. Internal wiring is supplied by specialist high end audio cable manufacturer Crystal Cable.
Cartridge
Fitted and factory set for immediate use, Synergy comes complete with Ortofon’s ‘exclusive series’ MC Windfeld Ti moving coil cartridge. Utilising the company’s SLM (Selective Laser Melting) technology, whereby fine particles of titanium are welded together to create a body-core optimised for overall rigidity and cartridge weight, the MC Windfeld Ti is fitted with Aucurum coils of gold-plated 6NX oxygen free copper. A specially designed cantilever, which holds the company’s Replicant 100 diamond, known for its thin and light profile and extraordinarily large vertical contact surface, completes the package. A low output impedance of 7 ohm and a medium output voltage of 0.2 mV makes this high calibre cartridge the perfect partner for Synergy’s integrated phono pre-amp.
Phono stage
Housed within Synergy’s main chassis, the ultra-compact phono stage is specially developed for Synergy by NAGRA. It is battery powered, offering complete isolation from other power sources. Utilising premium grade electronic components, the amplification is provided by individually selected and matched bipolar transistors combined with audiophile-quality capacitors and precision MELF (Metal Electrode Leadless Face) resistors. The MC input transformers are designed and wound in-house by Nagra, benefitting from the company’s unique experience in this precision field. Connected to the tonearm by Crystal Cable, this reduces the risk of any interference to the sensitive signal. The NAGRA phono stage comes set up and matched with the Ortofon MC Windfeld Ti cartridge. The built-in phono stage resistor values are fully adjustable should the user want to change the cartridge in the future
Matching the finest components from some of the world’s best high-end audio brands, SME Synergy exemplifies the company’s desire to continue creating world-class audio products delivering the ultimate vinyl replay experience without compromise.
For further information about SME and its products, visit www.sme-audio.com
About SME – www.sme-audio.com
Founded by Alastair Robertson-Aikman in 1946, SME (Scale Model Equipment) Limited is one of the UK’s leading precision engineering companies, designing and manufacturing class-leading turntables and tonearms that have received acclaim the world over.
From design and toolmaking through to all aspects of manufacturing including CNC machining, pressure die-casting, injection moulding, metal finishing, electro-plating, anodising and many other processes, SME manufactures all of its precision turntables and tonearms totally in-house. In addition, the company works across a wide range of sectors including F1, Aerospace and the Medical Equipment Industry, supplying specialist precision engineering services.
About ATS – Audio Technology Switzerland – http://www.nagraaudio.com
Founded in 1951 by Stefan Kudelski, NAGRA has designed some of the most influential equipment in the audio industry. From the Oscar ® Awards-winning NAGRA professional tape recorders to the internationally recognised NAGRA HD electronics, the company has continuously perpetuated the utmost excellence in electronics design and manufacturing. In 2012, Audio Technology Switzerland S.A., formerly Nagra Audio division, was created. Still largely owned by the Kudelski family, Audio Technology Switzerland designs, manufactures and markets NAGRA professional, high-end audio and security products. It continues the tradition of sophistication and originality that has established the prestige of the NAGRA brand all around the world for over 60 years.
About Ortofon – https://www.ortofon.com
Ortofon is the world’s oldest and most experienced manufacturer of hi-fi pick-up cartridges. From humble beginnings in 1918, Ortofon is a proud Danish company that has grown to become a micro-mechanical powerhouse. Its core principles of responsibly sourced high-end materials, meticulous design and production processes, pristine working conditions and superlative attention to detail are evident in every single product the company makes.
From the introductory moving magnet OM and 2M ranges, through the Quintet and Cadenza Moving Coil series, all the way up to the Exclusive high-end models like the stunning MC Windfeld Ti cartridge, Ortofon is devoted to offering true ‘accuracy in sound’
About Crystal Cable – https://www.crystalcable.com
Crystal Cable is all about developing high-end products that enable people to experience listening to music as if they were attending a live concert. All Crystal Cables are far from just technically superb; they look beautiful as well. Finding the perfect balance between musicality, technology, innovation and design defines the brand.
Each Crystal Cable product fits in every living room, regardless of its interior design or acoustics. It’s this approach that makes Crystal Cable products unique in the high-end audio market: light, thin, flexible, beautifully designed – combined with the highest standards of sound-quality and engineering. After all, for recorded music to come alive, the products reproducing it have to be the same as the music itself: beautiful, meaningful and emotional.
Head Office & Factory:
SME Limited
Telephone: +44(0) 1903 814321
General enquiries: [email protected]