Iconic Turntable Brand Returns to Bricks and Mortar Dealer Strategy.
May 30, 2017 – Buffalo, NY – Bluebird Music is pleased to announce it has been appointed North American distributor for hi-fi specialist SME Limited effective immediately.
Founded in 1946, and with over ten million tonearms sold worldwide, SME is the world’s most accomplished manufacturer of high quality turntables and tonearms. SME is well known for its no compromise passion for engineering perfection and extreme attention to detail.
Featuring precision engineered construction, extensional damping of major surfaces and vibration free moving parts, SME turntables deliver outstanding dynamic range and pitch stability, exceptional detail and resolution, superior tonal neutrality and a unique ability to more closely reproduce the sound of the original studio master tape.
SME’S NEW OWNERSHIP
In August 2016 SME was purchased by the Cadence Group which already has controlling interests in several other prestigious audio brands. Cadence has a reputation for helping its companies grow further and to extend their research and development activities.
According to SME’s newly appointed CEO, Stuart McNeilis, “SME is the most iconic name in tonearm and turntable engineering and epitomizes the very best of British engineering. Combining innovation with meticulous manufacturing and attention to detail has made SME a market leader for decades. With increased investment allowing for new product development, the company will build on its legacy of designing and manufacturing the best tonearms and turntables in the world.”
NORTH AMERICAN SALES STRATEGY
SME will be sold exclusively through a limited network of highly skilled bricks and mortar Authorized retailers. Bluebird is looking for analog specialist retailers who care about great sound, who are willing to make the effort to properly present high-end audio products such as SME, and who need a high quality, exclusive line they can add value to.
ABOUT SME
SME is a precision-engineering company based in Steyning, Sussex, England. SME is a manufacturer of precision-made audio equipment and high-quality precision made components for Aerospace, Formula 1, and Medical Equipment industries.
ABOUT BLUEBIRD MUSIC
Founded in 1999, Bluebird Music is a full service, value-added distributor. Bluebird believes in supporting highly-skilled retailers of fine audio products who are passionate about great sound. Bluebird distributes several specialty audio lines, including: Chord Electronics, Jadis, Spendor and Vienna Acoustics.