SME Leaves the Tonearm Business
SME has stopped selling tonearms and will exit the OEM business with immediate effect.
The surprise news that SME is leaving the tonearm and OEM business will no doubt shock audio fans across the world.
SME has designed, engineered and manufactured tonearms for retail and OEM sales since 1959 and achieved international recognition as makers of the best pick-up arms in the world.
Stuart McNeilis, CEO of SME Limited, stated in a press release on the company's site:
The decision to leave the tonearm business was not taken lightly, especially as we have played a key role in the design and development of the world’s best tonearms.
The company states that this decision is based on the growth of its turntable business and commitment to higher production levels.
Naturally, SME will continue manufacturing its highly accredited tonearms, but they will only be sold with its comprehensive range of high-end turntables, which the company plans to expand in 2020.
SME will no longer accept new orders for individual tonearms from today. However, all obligations of the warranty will be honoured. Factory service and spare parts support for tonearm owners will continue.
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.