The 1500C is all black. Buttons, tonearm, counter-weight, everything. Otherwise, I agree, it's very similar. My 1500C as comparison-
Well sure, there are all kinds of color combos possible No pictures shown yet with a dustcover, but it would seem very strange if it wasn't identical to the 1500C sans preamp, so with a different back panel for the RCA connectors.
Seems that perhaps Technics heard that many owners of the 1500C weren't using the pre or interested in the 2M Red... Nice! The 100C could be very good for Technics. Think they added auto-stop to the auto-lift?
Perhaps potential buyers as well...maybe I wasn't the only one put off of getting the 1500C from not wanting to pay for both a built in preamp and Ortofon Red that I'd never use. I really hope that the 100C is identical to the 1500c minus those 2 superfluous features. Instant buy if so, at an appropriate price in the US.
I hear ya. Part of my attraction to the 1500C was not wanting the pitch slider or cue light I'd never use and the subjectively improved aesthetic w/o those features.
I would really hope there's not much difference in materials if it only dropped $200 after losing the phono preamp and downgrading the stylus!
It's a substantial amount of money. However, I'd wager most people around spend far more than that on their record collections.
I can't believe this, I am literally a click away from ordering a SL-1210GR, now they've removed everything on the 1500C that I didn't like and dropped the price lol. I do prefer the improved build of the GR, but this SL100C is certainly worth considering at $700 less. They've obviously listened to customer feedback, well done Technics!
I think at $1000 it would have been more appropriate to include the Ortofon 2M Red (especially when they are already supplying them to Technics??) Not that I even want the Red, but t0 include a $39 stylus seems almost ridiculous.
I hope you're right. If true, it will give me an excuse to upgrade from my current Technics....the belt-drive SL-BD20. Really should've re-introduce the P-mount cartridge system for plug-and-play simpleness.
Nothing ridiculous at all. The MK7 and all the other models besides the 1500C do not include any cartridge. The 2M Red sucks, flat out. The VM95 series is a great line of cartridges and they give someone a cheap stylus version to play some records out of the box with. The stylus can easily be upgraded several levels on this cartridge. If you want something else entirely, you can use the cheaper VM95C as a backup cartridge to play beater records and 7"singles.
They will eat Music Hall and Pro-ject lunch for everything over $1K. I have my thoughts about lower end Regas as well, but because there so many fans around here I will keep my mouth shut.
Why even include a cartridge at all? Let the dealer offer a few cartridges at a bundle price or not. Or maybe include an LP with the music of Malaysia instead?
Still, swap the stylus on that VM95C to the ML or SH (for the pipe n' slippers crowd ) and you've got a really great cart.
Consider that this turntable will be also be sold outside of the usual audiophile/audiophool dealer channels. If a traditional dealer wants to offer an upgrade cart, they can. Nothing is stopping them. If anyone doesn't like the included cartridge, then can use it as I said, give it away, or sell it. That's what folks have already been doing with the 1500C anyway.
If they can ramp up production and get the marketing out, they definitely will. Cue one dealer in the U.S. publishing more lies about DD decks in their catalog, since they aren't a Tech dealer.
Not everyone will agree the Red sucks 'flat out', but I agree the VM series is good for upgradeability. I would like to see the price at $900usd max, but I suppose it's better than the options yesterday.
