SME Model 12 vs SME Model 15

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: SME Model 12 · SME Model 15.

Practical differences

Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.

On price alone the SME Model 12 costs less, coming in $2,600 (about 17%) below the SME Model 15.

Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.

Bottom line: the SME Model 12 has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $2,600 gap.

Compare two different decks →