Petition launched to reintroduce Technics turntables (Update: The SL-1200 is Back!)*

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by englishbob, May 27, 2014.

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  1. Gabe Walters

    Gabe Walters Forum Resident

    Technics has some promotional videos about hiring many of its old turntable engineers. Some of them started their own shop after being fired from Technics and were brought on as consultants.
     
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  2. AArchie

    AArchie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Colorado
    It's still only a turntable, not a Mars lander. I think a good engineer could work out a good design using lessons learned from the original and a bigger budget. I don't think they did anything fundamentally different than the MK2 in any case. (Don't beat me up over this opinion, I'm not disputing that the 1200 G is a step up from the MK2.)
     
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  3. vinylkid58

    vinylkid58 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Victoria, B.C.
    If you weren't on the design team, how would you know?

    jeff
     
  4. Bathory

    Bathory 30 yr Single Malt, not just for breakfast anymore

    Location:
    usa
    if it wasn't 9 thousand dollars, i might have bitten. totally overpriced to the top 10% of humanity.......which leaves me out.
     
  5. aroney

    aroney Who really gives a...?

    Uh, it's not "9-thousand", it's 17-hundred, a slight difference...:agree:
     
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  6. AArchie

    AArchie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Colorado
    That's why I used the word "fundamentally," it's still DD. I've read the various Technics descriptions and I don't see anything that is a big departure from the MK2. They certainly beefed things up and seemed to improve the vibration control but to my mine a "fundamental" change would be going to belt drive. But that's just my opinion. BTW, part of engineering training is to look at something and figure out how it works. It's science, not magic, and doesn't require being on the team to understand how something works. While the execution of neutral vinyl playback may be difficult and potentially expensive, the principle is simple.
     
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  7. wgb113

    wgb113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    Well the dealer didn't have a 2M Bronze in stock (it's coming Tuesday) so I'm stuck in mono mode:

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    Congratulations. How do you like it?
     
  9. AArchie

    AArchie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Colorado
    What a beauty! You were able to level that Ortofon SH-4 headshell with the available VTA?

    I'm curious about your mono cart. Is that needed/recommended for modern mono recordings, for example, Jefferson Airplane and the Beatles mono records?
     
  10. wgb113

    wgb113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    So far so good! Build quality is great and it sounds excellent.

    As for the SH-4, when mounted to the Technics overhang gauge the underside where the cartridge mounts is 3mm higher compared to the Technics headshell. The Mooo Mat measures 2.7mm so when used in conjunction with the included rubber mat the arm sits level (or very, very close to it) at the zero setting.

    I haven't honestly spun enough yet to comment on whether a mono cart makes enough of a diffference on newly cut mono albums but the few original monos I've spun so far sound noticeably better.

    I do remember reading on Ortofon's site that their SE version of the 2M Mono had a different cut to the diamond to get the most out of the mono Beatles box. The version I have is a nude spherical with a smaller profile than old mono styluses had but not as small as the SE version which I believe is closer to a micro line profile.

    EDIT: the 2M Mono SE has a Nude Shibata diamond.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2017
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  11. Bathory

    Bathory 30 yr Single Malt, not just for breakfast anymore

    Location:
    usa
    ok, only 2K with tax etc. still a far cry from the 500 for the MKII's I've purchased.

    after 15 years if they prove their reliability, i will buy one :) sarcasm
     
  12. wgb113

    wgb113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    @Bathory I paid $1,699 and not a penny more - no tax, no shipping, no etc. My guess is that by the holidays as dealer inventories build you'll be able to snag them for $1,500 without much effort.

    I get the skepticism around the new deck being much better than where they left off in 2010, particularly the GR, it was bound to happen since Technics revived the 1200 series rather than coming out with an asthetically differentiated model. For me it came down to taking a chance on a DJ used/abused original 1200 or pay nearly the same price for NOS. It was a no-brained in that regard to go new and get a warranty.
     
  13. If after loosening the screw you are able to twist the headshell along its horizontal axis and then retighten the screw to secure the headshell, then it does allow for azimuth adjustment. This should be very easy to test. Anybody?
     
  14. RPM

    RPM Forum Resident

    Location:
    Easter Island
     
  15. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    I haven't tested it because I can get azimuth correct with the play the bayonet mount allows.

    I suppose it could just be a screw for no particular reason...but why? It is otherwise identical to the original headshell that does not have a screw there. Nor did the M5G version.

    EDIT: @wgb113, does the GR have the same headshell with a screw?
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2017
  16. Classicrock

    Classicrock Senior Member

    Location:
    South West, UK.
    The GR is a completely different motor design under the surface. The old 1200 would be a similar price if it had continued in production. Some used prices aren't far off the GR price in any case. So you are getting a better new product for not much more money. No doubt when this becomes established there will be some discounting. The Old 1200 was heavily discounted and became far cheaper in real terms over time.
     
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  17. wgb113

    wgb113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    It does.
     
  18. wgb113

    wgb113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    Loosening the set screw DOES allow you to twist the headshell enough to correct for any azimuth issues you might have. I confirmed it this morning on the headshell included with my SL-1200GR.
     
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  19. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    Thank you! I figured they wouldn't add that screw for no reason.
     
  20. AArchie

    AArchie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Colorado
    I wonder if that headshell is or will be available on it's own? Seems worth having one.
     
  21. dolsey01

    dolsey01 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Looks great with the Mooo Mat
     
  22. RPM

    RPM Forum Resident

    Location:
    Easter Island
    What play? There should be no play when the headshell is tightened with the collar. Is this your first 1200?

    How do you explain the absolute no reference in the manual about azimuth correction, while it explains every other adjustment on the tonearm? I'd be careful with that until an official statement from the manufacturer.
     
  23. Erocka2000

    Erocka2000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY, USA
    The screw is used to change azimuth. It's on multiple types of headshells. I use the same thing on my Yamamoto headshells as well. Just because it's not in the manual, doesn't mean it doesn't work.
     
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  24. Tim Müller

    Tim Müller Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    Maybe, this particular adjustment is not that easy for the average customer, so they decided to adjust it in the factory, and have the customer not tinker with it.
    However, it works. But was intended for adjustment by service personell only.
    Just guessing.

    Regarding the price, the original SL1200 MKII sold for only around 400 Euros in the last year of production, befor the stop of production was announced.
    The new SL1200 GR sells for around 1500 Euros.

    I cannot imagine, that the price of the original SL1200 MKII would have raised by 300% between 2009 and 2017, had they not stopped the production, but would have replaced worn tools by new ones, and continued the production.

    However, how many people bought the original SL1200 MKII in the last years of production?

    Some of the DJs switched to the cheaper China/Hanpin sourced TTs, some of the audiophiles switched to the belt-driven Projects, Regas, or so.

    Even I thought the price was a bit ambitous back then...

    I think, the stop of production made people aware of this iconic turntable. And, as a consequence, gave Panasonic/Technics the chance to increase the sales price.

    Best regards
     
    Wngnt90 likes this.
  25. snorker

    snorker Big Daddy

    It is, though not cheap.
     
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