Checking if there is wobble on brand new Technics SL-1500C * UPDATE - Problem Now Solved!

Definitely call your dealer.

This kind of thing is always stressful. I feel your pain! But I am sure your dealer will take care of you.

 

It's tempting but these smaller operations typically have underwhelming return policies. Apparently all new items are simply NOT eligible for returns.

Sales / Refund Policy

 

I'd love to see a video of the wobble and wonder if Dennis tried what Davey suggested to him of putting the stylus guard on, remove the platter mat, and cue the arm of the bare platter and lower it just enough to see the variation of the platter's rotation under the protected stylus.

 

Yeah it's a local store here in San Diego. I don't recall them doing online sales last year. When possible, it's always cool to buy local since it's easier to resolve issues obviously. Plus, you can always have them take out the new unit and give it a spin to do the QC check. Good luck!

 

There was a somewhat similar situation in a thread here a year (!) ago, with a satisfactory ending.
Advice on technics 1500c drooping tonearm.

 

I guess I didn't look very extensively. Crutchfield, Music Direct, and Audio Advice had them backordered and I just gave up hope of getting one.

I'm still curious how a small operation with two stores is getting restocked before large, national, distributors.

 

Could be that the bigger stores have their stock sold before receiving it.

 

Turntable Lab also has stock on the silver (apparently), they are pretty big, and have a fairly normal return policy.

 

@dennis1077 you've got half the board shopping for / with you - you'll find one LOL

 

It turns out the place I originally bought one from has another in stock. I shot them an email earlier but I think I'm going to call tonight.

I love how everyone is seeking out a replacement! Honestly, I love the way this thing sounds.

 

Not to further muddle your decision making but the black is really sharp!

 

Someone gave you some good advice:
Lower stylus guard
Remove mat
Lower stylus on outside at a radius that won't hit the holes
Lower until it barely makes contact
Spin the platter by hand very slowly
See if the cartridge to platter gap varies

video it

No machine is perfect. My GR has a variance, I measured it with a run out dial. It it within spec

 

Nicem but doesn't pop!

 

Unless the friction pulls the stylus guard off!

 

Dump it back to the seller for new replacement or refund. It’s not going to fix itself.

 

My SL1200 MKII had a flat platter but the strobe pattern wasn’t steady machined. Looked bad but was locked at 33 1/3. The real problem was the arm had bum loose bearings that caused IGD, MGD and BGD.

But I wasn’t for sure about that crummy arm until I tried some of the same hashy sounding Grados and Pickering carts on a Pioneer PL530 and they played perfectly with no mistracking. My point being, I screwed up and didn’t send that table back to J&R Music World and get a new Denon DP59L for $100 more.

 

That is where I got mine this summer. No problems.

 

That is a deal killer for me. No way would I buy from a dealer who does not stand behind the new merchandise they sell.

 

It's quite remarkable that contemporary turntables that are all but cheap show so many shortcomings. Lack of quality control, design flaws and more. I'm not only referring to Technics but brands in general.
This is one of the reasons why I feel that in many cases buying a well maintained or refurbished table from the golden age of vinyl (late seventies-early eighties) is more worthwhile than buying a modern table, at least in terms of value for money.

 

You are not returning it, you are exchanging and making a warranty claim.
It's defective.
You do not want your $ refunded, you want a non-defective product.
There are consumer laws that protect you.
They can't sell you a broken item and refuse to replace it.

 

Ha! My girlfriend prefers the silver and that's how she described it. She said it "really pops" against the black audio rack.

 

I considered trying this last night and got nervous. My stylus drops so low it would hit the platter and I just nixed the entire idea.

imgur.com

 

My new Technics was actually doing this! The tonearm kept lowering by itself. The problem was solved once I turned off the auto lift function (which I really didn't care about).

 

Not sure I follow, you would be holding the tonearm above the platter with the cue lever, not lowering it all the way to platter.

In any case, if you really want to check it there are many easy ways, you just need a reference, the way I mentioned uses the end of the tonearm as a reference so doesn't require any extra effort, but you can also just bend a paper clip to position the tip close to the platter to check the gap as the platter is rotating. You shouldn't really see any change in the gap as it rotates ...

 

You don't have a stylus cover?