How the PLATINUM and PLATINUM SE differ

February 2022

How do the sonoro PLATINUM and the sonoro PLATINUM SE? We and our dealers are asked this question time and again. Understandably so. After all, the differences are not obvious at first glance. Only at second glance do you notice some minor and major differences. Here we will answer the question about the differences between PLATINUM and PLATINUM SE.

Similarities

Let's start with the similarities between the sonoro PLATINUM and the sonoro PLATINUM SE. Both are manual turntables with belt drive, powered by an optically regulated DC motor. They combine the fascination of analog with the advantages of digital connectivity. With their numerous connection options (high-quality aptx Bluetooth, gold-plated RCA connections and a USB connection with A/D converter) and the integrated phono preamplifier, they are true wonders of versatility. Whether listening to music wirelessly via headphones, digitizing your vinyl collection via USB or integrating it into your own system using the built-in phono preamplifier - the PLATINUM and PLATINUM SE bring vinyl into the modern age.

Turntable

The most visible difference between the PLATINUM and the PLATINUM SE turntables is the platter. Visible because the PLATINUM SE has a cork layer embedded in the platter instead of a rubber layer to decouple the platter from the record. The natural, warm material protects against the spread of vibrations with its porous structure. At the same time, the 1.5 kg platter of the PLATINUM SE is significantly heavier than the PLATINUM platter, slightly thicker and also resonance-damped from below.

Tonearm and cartridge

While the tonearm of the PLATINUM is balanced and shock-absorbed by a low-friction ball bearing, we have given our PLATINUM SE an additional ball bearing. This allows the pickup of the PLATINUM SE to follow the record grooves even better and there are fewer unwanted deviations when playing the records. Both tonearms are height-adjustable.

We have included an Ortofon M2 Red cartridge with our PLATINUM . The PLATINUM SE, on the other hand, has a Nagaoka MP-110.

Size/dimensions/weight

Both turntables have the same dimensions. These are (height/length/width) 12.5 cm/35.6 cm/42 cm. However, while the PLATINUM only weighs 3.9 kg, the PLATINUM SE weighs a hefty 6.3 kg. Here we can see the difference due to the weighted platter and the heavier frame, which makes the PLATINUM SE so resistant to unavoidable and disturbing vibrations. These vibrations are caused, for example, by footfall, the sound waves from the speakers or the vibrations from the motor. Put simply, the vibrations disrupt the work of the record needle, as it cannot follow the record groove with the desired stability due to the "jerking". So we try to compensate for these vibrations as much as possible with a stable installation location, the higher weight and good damping and mounting of the components.

Conclusion

Attentive readers will already have guessed it...the PLATINUM SE can be described as slightly higher quality than the PLATINUM purely in terms of the components installed. It simply has better mechanical properties. These mainly ensure that unavoidable disruptive factors such as vibrations, scratches or deviations in the grooves are compensated for. This makes the listening experience even clearer and more "stable". On the digital side and with the connections, however, they are identical. In our eyes, everything was already perfect with the PLATINUM .