Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Exquisitely designed and built
- The overall build quality, fit'n'finish, and machining have rarely been equaled, and never been surpassed, by any other turntable manufacturer
- Designed for easy setup
- The performance is stable, grounded, and robust, so the bass acts as a platform for the mid and treble, as much as it serves its own musical role
- The 20/12 and 312S allow a cartridge to retrieve and reproduce with alarming authenticity
Product Considerations
- Owners will need space for a record spinner with a footprint of 375x520mm, compared to the compact 320x420mm of the 20/2
- Setup errors with a longer tonearm will be magnified
- Detachable headshells, like the 312S, are even easier, though this has the disadvantage of adding two more electrical breaks between the cartridge pins and RCA plugs, for a total of three
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The 20/12 plus 312S is to the SME 30/2 plus Series V what Porsche's Boxster S is to a full-blown 911, the '30 still has that last ounce of extra mass, slightly darker silences, and slightly faster attack, while the 20/12 has a slightly lighter touch, and the 30 more command
Takeaway: The Model 20/12 turntable is exquisitely designed and built, and has impressive build quality and fit'n'finish. It also offers a stable performance, so music can be retrieved and reproduced with alarming authenticity.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Model 20/12
reviews
[{"title":"SME Model 20/12 turntable & 312S tonearm","link":"https://www.stereophile.com/turntables/sme_model_2012_turntable_312s_tonearm/index.html","source":"Stereophile","datePublished":"2009"},{"title":"SME 20/12 and 312S Tonearm Reviewed","link":"https://hometheaterreview.com/sme-2012-and-312s-tonearm-reviewed","source":"Home Theater Review","datePublished":"2009"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
Turntable
Width: 520mm
Depth: 375mm
Height (top of tonearm): 174mm
Speed Control Unit
Width: 150mm
Depth: 295mm
Height: 82mm
Power Unit
Height: 82mm
Width: 188mm
Depth: 242mm
Platter: 325mm
Weight
Turntable: 36kg
Power Unit: 4.04kg
Speed Control Unit: 2.52kg
Description
The Model 20/12 with 12-inch tonearm offers up to 20% improved performance over the Model 20 with the advantage of a much-reduced angular error distortion from the longer tonearm. This precision turntable offers uncompromising quality and engineering excellence. The high mass, extensional dampening, ingenious suspension and intelligent acoustic treatment delivers audio excellence. A new highly sophisticated drive system provides a significant advancement in speed control, stability and accuracy
The Model 20/12 has superb instrument quality machining allied with fundamental physics, the higher the mass and stiffness of the body the less it will flex and vibrate; the duration of a vibration is shortened by advanced damping treatment. The Model 20/12 is effortless and efficient in addressing the problems of extraneous vibrations which emanate from numerous sources including air and structural vibration from loudspeakers, groove modulation, stray electrical fields and mechanical energy from moving parts.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- SME turntables and tonearms are known for their exceptional build quality and precision engineering, often utilizing materials and manufacturing techniques borrowed from the aerospace and Formula 1 industries.
- The company maintains tight control over quality by manufacturing most of the components in-house, even down to small parts, ensuring consistent standards across its product line.
- They aim for sonic neutrality in their products, focusing on extracting the most detail from the record groove without adding coloration or imposing a particular sonic character.
Select products
Select product comparisons
MK2 Synergy:
- Positioning: An integrated turntable positioned as a high-end, all-in-one solution in the SME lineup.
- Description: Offers a seamless vinyl experience with its built-in phono stage and factory-matched moving coil cartridge. Its advanced drive system enhances speed control and stability, setting it apart from the Model 12 and Model 15, which require separate components.
Model 12-2:
- Positioning: The entry-level high-performance turntable in the SME lineup, offering precision engineering at a more accessible price point.
- Description: Praised for its compact design and high mass, providing a dynamic sound that is perfect for smaller rooms or setups. Unlike the more advanced Model 15, it features a simpler suspension system, making it a great choice for those who want quality sound without the complexity of higher-end models.
Model 15-2:
- Positioning: A mid-range turntable that bridges the gap between the entry-level and high-end models in the SME lineup.
- Description: Delivers a dynamic audio performance with its high-density construction and advanced drive system, making it a step up from the Model 12-2. It offers a more sophisticated suspension system compared to the Model 12-2, providing better resonance control and sound clarity.
Model 30:
- Positioning: A former flagship turntable, offering top-tier performance and engineering excellence in the SME lineup.
- Description: Celebrated for its outstanding dynamics and heavy mass construction, providing reference-standard performance that surpasses the Model 20. Its sophisticated drive system and fluid damping offer exceptional speed control and vibration management.
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Avg. Product Price
$40,001-$75,000
Used For Sale
55
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
110
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
14
Founding Year
1946
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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Used
SME
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
SME
Model 60 (One of One)
88789
88789
/
6
Reviews
The most technically advanced SME precision turntable ever made the Model 60 is available as a bespoke ONE of ONE signature commission. These individual masterpieces are a work of art, hand-made to order exclusively for you, by our team of highly skilled craftspeople.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution
- Outstanding sonic composure and control
- Built and finished to an immaculate standard
- Highly effective suspension system
- Provides excellent isolation from external vibrations
Product Considerations
- Lacks a dustcover to protect from dust, children, and cats
- The arm lock found on earlier prototypes is not included in the final version
- The stark and rather brutish appearance won't appeal to all
- There is no arm lock to prevent damage
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is described as a highly refined and upgraded version of the Model 30
- Vs SME Model 15: Model 15 has a lighter, freer, more graceful—and less damped—sonic personality
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 with Series VA arm is a very talented performer that belongs high up in the ranks of the finest record players available. It's built to last for decades and provides the best possible vinyl replay.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Product Page
Product Page
SME
Model 60
75789
75789
/
5
Reviews
The Model 60 is the most technically advanced SME turntable ever made, evolved from 75 years of engineering excellence, innovation and perfection, delivering precise and pure audio reproduction. Extremely high build quality, close tolerance precision engineered componentry, striking design and a range of none painted uniquely engineered finishes.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution and sonic neutrality, playing what is there without artifice
- Outstanding sonic composure and control, providing stability to the musical image
- Immaculate build quality and finish, made with precision-machined aluminum and high-tech polymer resin
- Effective isolation from external vibrations, thanks to a sophisticated suspension system with rubber O-rings
- New Series VA tonearm is stiffer and offers better damping than previous models
Product Considerations
- High price point
- Lacks a dustcover, making it prone to attracting dust
- New arm rest is a U-shaped cup holder which retains the arm and protects against being accidentally knocked out of the rest
- Non-removable arm
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is a highly refined and upgraded version
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 is a top-tier turntable that offers exceptional performance, stability, and detail retrieval. It is built to last for decades and is a worthy upgrade for those seeking the best in vinyl playback.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Product Page
Product Page
ESOTERIC
Grandioso T1
80000
80000
/
1
Reviews
A new undertaking to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Esoteric legacy; it's the first-ever turntable in our history.
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exquisite machining and ingenious implementation worthy of deep respect; the machining and "fit 'n' finish" is grand.
- The design combines technical know-how, superior machining, and listening 'tunesmanship', resulting in well-balanced sonic performance that is resonance-free.
- Delivers a subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision, which compliments every musical genre.
- Speed consistency is comparable to direct drive turntables.
- Produces an inviting overall subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision.
Product Considerations
- The bottom end was kind of soft with the supplied TA-9D IKEDA-based arm.
- Less-than-flat records need attention, because the product lacks a washer/reflex clamp option.
- Constrained-layer armboards might produce a sonic upgrade.
Takeaway: The Grandioso T1 turntable provides well-balanced sound that is resonance-free. Its design allows for both grand and minuscule musical gestures.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
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What competes at this price?
J.Sikora
Reference Line
48000
/
Released
J.Sikora stands out for being the only hifi brand to use Kevlar in their tonearm tubes, combining this unique material choice with a unipivot bearing design for optimal sound performance. Their tonearms feature a distinctive VTA adjustment mechanism modeled after a photographic lens, allowing precise adjustments during playback, while incorporating a mix of aluminum, bronze, and brass to enhance sound quality.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptionally well-made with a 'boutique' manufacturer quality matching best mass-loaders
- Operates with an extremely low noise floor, and is ultra-quiet
- Offers a stable and precise sound reproduction, extracting maximum information from recordings
- Presents powerful and distinct treble and bass, with no roll-off, rounding or softening
- Delivers a large-scale, rich, smooth, precise, and energetic performance with impressive dynamics
Product Considerations
- The loose and sloppy interface between the disc and the threaded stub was criticized
- The Reference doesn't have the same grandeur—the sheer sweep that more expensive turntables deliver
- Opinions were strongly polarized, and nobody was left unmoved by this turntable's aesthetics
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The reference turntable built on the Standard's strengths to offer a much more formidable sonic presentation
- These two offer similar tonal balance, similar way of sound articulation, but the Reference delivers even deeper bass and renders larger phantom images, while the Air Force Two seemed more resolving
Takeaway: The J.Sikora Reference is a top-tier turntable offering stable, precise, and energetic sound, making it a great choice for audiophiles who value extracting maximum detail from their vinyl collection. Its exceptional build quality and performance make it a standout product in the high-end audio market
Video review
Our take on the brand
J.Sikora stands out for being the only hifi brand to use Kevlar in their tonearm tubes, combining this unique material choice with a unipivot bearing design for optimal sound performance. Their tonearms feature a distinctive VTA adjustment mechanism modeled after a photographic lens, allowing precise adjustments during playback, while incorporating a mix of aluminum, bronze, and brass to enhance sound quality.
Product Page
Product Page
VPI
Titan Direct
60000
/
Released
2023
VPI has reached new levels of engineering performance and definition in our recent award winning Avenger Direct turntable! We are taking that base Direct Drive technology and elevating it into our Titan turntable design.
VPI is known for its high-end, American-made turntables. They stand out for their use of 3D printing in tonearm design, creating one-piece structures that enhance sound quality, and their unique unipivot tonearm design that balances on a single point for precise sound reproduction.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Accurate and precise reproduction allows for hours of non-stop playing
- Combines the strengths of both solid high mass tables and suspension tables, without sharing any of the weaknesses
- Soundstage and solidity of 3-D images is exceptional
- Offers chameleon-like flexibility, allowing for different tonalities depending on tonearm, cartridge, and drive mechanism combinations
- Equipped with one of the best speed controllers, the VPI ADS, resulting in very low Wow & Flutter measurements
Product Considerations
- The reviewer experimented with different configurations to find the most suitable one for their music
- Changing over to the Belt Drive requires disassembling the top platter
- Careful attention must be paid to ensure proper tension on the three rubber belts in the Belt Drive
- Overall tonality is richer and warmer sounding end of the spectrum than neutral, which may not be for everyone
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Titan has a different design implementation and material quality with a much larger magnet than JC Verdier La Platine and DaVinci Audio's Gabriel turntable & Clearaudio's Master Innovation, increasing speed stability
- Titan sits firmly on a frame with a much wider footprint than JC Verdier, providing far superior stability
- Titan achieves the same open and airy harp sounds as Oracle V with a much quieter background
- Titan's midrange tonality of the mass strings is as rich—as warm and as textured as Nottingham 294 and TW-Acustic Raven AC (with Black Knight Platter)
- The Titan blossoms in the mid-range regardless of the tonearm, cartridge combination of choice, unlike the VPI HR-X which can be brighter than neutral
Takeaway: The VPI Titan turntable offers incredibly realistic sound reproduction with flexibility in sound based on configuration, offering a satisfying listening experience. This turntable is for serious audiophiles looking for top-of-the-line analog equipment.
Video review
Our take on the brand
VPI is known for its high-end, American-made turntables. They stand out for their use of 3D printing in tonearm design, creating one-piece structures that enhance sound quality, and their unique unipivot tonearm design that balances on a single point for precise sound reproduction.
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