The Technics SL-1200 GAE/G/GR general questions thread

My GR platter is dead level, but the rubber mat isn't! Watching it with the mat on suggests the platter has issues, but it's perfectly flat. Mat appears to be thicker in a couple of spots.

 

That's disappointing to hear snorker. On a 4K table, there should not be visible imperfections like a warped platter. That's totally unacceptable in my opinion. If that was even the case with my GR, I'd be pissed if Technics didn't right it.

 

I observed the same with my GR, now 9 months old. This warping thing seems to be a recent problem.

 

Hello, I just tested my new copy of GR. It's a little better than the first one I had but it's still not absolutely perfect. Having analyzed the videos of several others, I think that absolutely perfect platters does not exist for this model or for the G where the variations are even more important. Even in Technics videos, we can notice a very light platter wobble at 2:26

So I was able to test 3 GR of 3 different series of shops and none is absolutely perfect (now, it was not like the last video or there is clearly a problem)

I think it is useless to argue over it any longer ... because everyone will see a slight oscillation anyway. This is part of the inherent construction of his models. Personally, I kept it because it's a treat to have a turntable like that without any engine noise. I will post a video but actually, there will always be a 1mm oscillation.

 

I think you’re right, though it’s the top planarity of the platter that matters, not the side. A full mm would be excessive. 1/4 or so of a mm...probably ok.

I’m pretty sure I can see some variance in the platter in the comparison Michael Fremer did as well, though the angle isn’t great.



It is what it is folks. The thing otherwise looks great and sounds perfect, so I’m fine with it at this point. It won’t impact the resale anyway if I were to trade it back to the dealer for another turntable down the line.

For anybody thinking about buying a G or GR, I certainly wouldn’t let this deter you. Listen to the video above in comparison to a $100k-plus turntable and tonearm.

 

And he left the cover on and up!
And on the dot blemishes you see...I too find that I get blemishes from my fingers as I can't help but touch the dots as I put on the LP's due to the angle of the platter's edge....oh well....

 

Which is kind of a overshoot, as the problem are the hinges, not the entire lid. Also shipping is much more costly in comparison. Go figure.

 

Ha, you’re right! Didn’t notice the lid was up...that’s a way to add a ton of unwanted resonance! Always have the lid down, or at least off. Up like that is acting like an antennae.

 

They did the right thing with the lids. If I buy a brand new 4k TT, I don't want to be doing DIY repairs on it. Replacing the hinges requires torquing the screws just right. It would not take much to crack the lid.

 

Its Japan. They will save face! I bet they fix it.

 

That’s not platter wobbly, you’re seeing the imperfect edge of a record.

 

Unfortunately part of saving face can involve not admitting your mistakes. So I wouldn't be so sure...

 

Maybe so but if they do we will never know as they will never tell the public.

 

For anyone else that is planning on going to axpona, make sure to stop by the technics room to share this issue! I plan on doing so for sure. Last year all the top execs were there for the US branch.

 

The risk of cracking is high(er?) with shipping also. Can't see how screwing the hinges is more complicated than screwing the platter, which is a must for the tt to operate.

 

New GR; What do you think ?




I am a big maniac. It's better than the first and the second that I could test. I do not want to test a fourth ... I'm tired. I think to keep it.

 

That looks much better than the other ones. Acceptable imho.

 

Really hard for me to detect if there is any wobble or that the dot rows are just not cast 100% horizontal.
Looks acceptable to me.

 

I think to keep it because apart from that, this turntable is really a jewel.There is no competition ... I had a LP120 audio technica that makes a big noise engine ... Here it is just silence. That's great. I also recently tested the new audio technica LPW40 only released in Europe.I tested it on my youtube channel but it is not an audiophile turntable even if it is she has carbon arm.
here is the link if you are interested (but in french) :

 

A officiel new Technics rubber cost 25 euros....hier


Technics RGS0008 Platine Tapis Caoutchouc pour Sl-1200 Sl-1210 Original /NEUF | eBay


you can order it here. I bought two for old turntable. It's perfect !

 

It would not be within my tolerance either. I'm a retired machinist and used to tool-up and set old circa 1950s capstan lathes for batch work and could maintain tolerances tighter than .28mm. For low number work on centre lathes it was often necessary to machine face components to within .10mm, plus turn and bore diameters to within .050mm. If I was incapable of doing so then I would have had to look for another job. Sorry, but I just can't understand how Technics is having a problem machining a platter to well under .28mm. Not only that but they claim it's within their accepted tolerance, so they must be talking about something like .30mm! and all this with state of the art CNC machinery not the antiquated lathes that I had to work with! Rant over!

I can only think that the fault lies elsewhere, possibly to do with laminating the brass plate as others have suggested.

 

Looks about like mine.

 

My 1200G looks like that.

 

I'm glad I did not have a distorted platter. Now, I wonder what will the MK7 give in June ... Finally to buy a G or a Gr, the best is to test it in store and can be buy an exhibition model. This avoids at least the returns. But hey, I do not know any store that exposes Technics turntables ... It's so rare and expensive now.

 

One more thing...It is important to determine that it is truly the top of the platter that is warped, and not simply the strobe dots showing it. It is not uncommon – even on the old 1200 – for the strobe dots to move up and down, while the top of the platter remains relatively uniform.

Your video has every view but one that would actually show the top. You need to view straight across the top of the platter to a fixed point, like the tonearm arm rest. Then you can see if the gap between the top of the platter and the bottom of the arm rest is opening and closing, or remaining constant.

That’s what they’re measuring with the run-out gauge: the flatness of the top. So while it may be true we see a lot of variance in the side of the platter in these various videos, it’s not clear that there’s a lot of variance on the top where it actually matters.