Our favorite turntable under $10,000 (SME Model 6 review)

[@TooBuz]

Great review! I’ve heard the Model 6 and it’s outstanding. It looks amazing in person too, much more substantial than you’d expect.

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

Totally agree!

[@aRc11-11]

Another excellent review!!

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

Glad you liked it!

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

Just give me a Technics 1200 series turntable over those any day 👍

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Can't afford one huh.

[@GiancarloBenzina]

Everybody in the UK worked for aerospace, formula1 or Royal Armie at one point of time in their life. It means nothing, even if there‘s continuous supply, it‘s a standard business customer. And the brits still perfect to leave one or the other things to be wanted in their products, even SME. Just look at that ridiculous separate item, the motor control, doesn‘t fit anywhere on a typical hifi table, and look at the style, a black flat, industrial nylon-type rough thing. So whatever the technical quality, at the price a basic set of thoughts to be brought to end is the least to be expected, but no, they left it in the void.

[@jctai100]

While I'm sure SME is great at the high end it often makes me wonder if it's better to get the entry level piece of an uber brand like SME or the statement piece or higher end of a 'midfi' brand like Technics. I have to say I'd rather take some company's best vs another company's junior effort if it's around the same money.

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

or you could consider that the technology from the upper line products trickles down into the lower cost products and they perform much better than they should, like the Model 6.

[@MrNewcarscott]

I am sure the table is fabulous, but (IMHO) they really missed the on the look. It looks like something you'd buy at Walmart. Terrible. Engineers really should not design anything. Wrong side of the brain. Great review BTW. If they were thinking crackle paint they missed. Its like a masonite countertop finish. Too bad. I take it it is a rubberized coating for noise dampening??

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

It is made from a solid block of their hard resin which is CNC machined into shape. It looks much better in person. The best thing about it is the way it sounds. Appreciate your opinion and for taking the time to watch my review! Todd

[@daveyurkovich9459]

In person, it exude’s quality and precision. It’s really nice. Fell in love with it at AXPONA last year.To each their own.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Same with Technics. Frightful looking turntables for the money.

[@paulomontero12]

Costs need to be cut in half! Can someone find out how much it actually costs to build one of these things? Now that would be a non partisan review. 😅

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

The SME turntables are hand made in their own factory using 95% of the parts made in house. The amount of hand work done to insure each part is the best it possibly can be is amazing. They are not over priced and I feel like they are a great deal. I can carry just about any products available on the market I want but I choose to carry products that I would personally own, that I like and that perform with excellence. When I review products, I am reviewing stuff I have paid for and brought into my shop or home. It is all stuff I own. So I feel that makes my review unbiased as I put my money where my mouth is. You will not find reviews here of products I don't care for. Everyone has their own taste for music, their own ears to hear it with and their own budget. All your stereo has to do is make you happy. And that is what my stereo does for me - it gives me joy listening to music. As for cost - nobody divulges the actual cost. It is more than just the cost of parts. There is labor, engineering, advertising, taxes, and much more that all adds up to the final pricing. Try bringing a product to market and you will understand better why things cost what they do.

[@MichaelBruunCph]

It is too expensive for such a basic looking turntable. The hole for the model 6 logo and arm is a dust well, and poor design. OK it's made from resin, but that doesn't exactly look like something at this price

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

I find the SME Model6 to sound as good if not better than anything in its price range. You make a good point about the tonearm cutout being a dust well, so I fixed that with my Model 6 with a very nice Gingko dust cover. Problem solved. I listen to my gear and though I do like it to look great, I pick sound over looks. I have a very blingy Transrotor turntable and it is a beast to keep shiny and looking good. Everything shows up on it so there is that too... but it also sounds good. It is more work to keep looking good than the Model6.

[@msingh1932]

I'll take a Denon 300-F. Thank you. You are too high class for most of us. Stopped your video at 1.22

[@ToddTheVinylJunkie]

I have done a review of the TEAC TN5BB turntable and will continue to do products that are both affordable, introductory level products that perform well as well as high end, including very high end gear that we have the opportunity to hear. I hope in the future you will find some of our reviews helpful to you and help you on your musical listening journey.

[@msingh1932]

@@ToddTheVinylJunkie I use Studio Masterclass utuber's clip "Audiophiles...you are wasting your money!" as my lodestar in the sound and music arena. The guy teaches an online course in mastering to sound engineers. I read other reviews just for entertainment. And like the Master, I too am not an audiophile.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

@@msingh1932 What are you?

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Why do you watch then? Bit self important are we.