Synergy integrated turntable From SME

SME has announced the Synergy integrated turntable (a first for the company) featuring a magnesium tonearm, moving coil cartridge and built-in phono stage

The Synergy comprises of a new turntable design combined with the SME Series IV tonearm, Ortofon’s MC Windfeld Ti cartridge and a phono stage by Nagra, all coupled with silver wire by Crystal Cable.

Synergy’s main chassis is machined from a solid billet of “aerospace” aluminium. Mounted on the main chassis either side of the SME logo is the main on/off button and a low voltage indicator.

The turntable is supported on four large polymer isolators inside adjustable feet, which allow for levelling. Machined from a single billet of aluminium, the trilateral sub-chassis, which holds the main bearing and tonearm, is mounted on three suspension columns. The main spindle is 19mm machined from chrome tool steel.  It is machine ground and supported in a sealed housing with individually matched bronze bearings needed to support the platter.

Machined from aluminium alloy and weighing over 4.6kg, Synergy’s platter is dampened with a bespoke isodamp material. A chrome-plated clamp is included.

The turntable is driven by a three-phase, brushless out runner motor with eight-pole Neodymium magnets and three sensors. Contained within a housing, the total motor assembly weighs 2.5 kg and is isolated from the sub chassis by urethane mounts and spikes.

The electronic control unit uses a microprocessor. Closed loop speed control is implemented using a proportional plus integral (PI) algorithm. Speeds include 33, 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. Speed selection controls are mounted on the front facia panel with LED indicators.

Based on the SME Series IV, Synergy’s tonearm uses the same one-piece pressure die-cast magnesium arm tube. Internal wiring is supplied by Crystal Cable.

Fitted and factory set for immediate use, Synergy comes complete with Ortofon’s MC Windfeld Ti moving coil cartridge.

Housed within Synergy’s main chassis, the battery powered phono stage is developed for Synergy by Nagra. 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 as is connected to the tonearm by Crystal Cable. 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 you want to change the cartridge in the future

Synergy will be available from September 2018 for £14,950.

To learn more, click www.sme-audio.com

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