Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Sme Model 12 MK2

The Model 12 MK2 is a high-mass precision turntable from SME, the British engineering firm best known for its tonearms. It comes as a complete package with an arm fitted at the factory - earlier packages paired it with the SME 309, while the current version comes with the Series VI - plus an outboard speed control unit and a separate mains power unit. Its styling is shared with the SME Synergy.

Key specs that matter

Playback runs at 33.33 and 45 rpm, with separate stored settings for the two speeds recalled via a switched encoder. Fine pitch can be raised or lowered in steps of 0.01 percent of the selected speed. The deck is 370 mm wide and 350 mm deep, and it measures 178 mm in height up to the arm. It weighs 21.26 kg on its own, the power unit 4.04 kg and the speed control unit 2.88 kg, with a shipping weight of 33 kg. The speed controller measures 170 x 305 x 68 mm and the power unit 190 x 243 x 83 mm. Spindle to pivot distance is 215.35 mm.

Engineering and use context

A custom-built bi-phase AC synchronous motor turns the platter. Its controller relies on a DSP engine that creates two independent, mathematically pure sine waves, and keeping the transformer in its own box isolates it from the turntable. The damped alloy platter weighs more than 4.6 kg and is about 305 mm across, with an iso-damp top surface that is diamond-turned. A heavy clamp working on the reflex principle helps flatten warped records. The platter rides on a 19 mm main spindle of high chrome tool steel, which runs in a sealed housing on sintered bronze bearings fitted one by one. The chassis and sub-chassis are machined from aluminium billet, and the sub-chassis is suspended on an isolation system above four adjustable feet that are mechanically decoupled from the main body. Signal leaves through RCA chassis connectors, and the low power links between the units use LEMO cables. Inside the arm, Crystal Cable signal wiring with pure mono-crystal silver conductors is fitted as standard. SME offers three paint finishes, traditional SME Black, Dark Grey and Dark Blue, each with contrasting detail.

Pairing

The arm accepts the owner's choice of moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge, after which a phono stage suited to that cartridge's output level follows. Three separate boxes and a deck of this mass call for a rigid, level rack with shelf space for the outboard units.

Alternatives

The SME Model 8 is a smaller turntable from the same maker, built on a polymer resin plinth with the 309 arm.