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A recommended simple mod for your SL-1200!

beatcomber

beatcomber

AK Member
I've read on numerous boards about using heat shrink tubing on the tonearm wand of SL-1200s, to reduce unwanted vibrations, which is considered one of the primary drawbacks of the Technics arm.

I decided to give it a try, and picked up a 2-pack of 3/4" tubing at the electrical section of Home Depot for $1.99. (Note: 1/2" tubing is slightly too small to fit over the end ring of the tonearm.) It was a bit of trouble to get the tubing hot enough to completely shrink around the wand. I started with a hair drier and a small cube-shaped space heater, and that got it about 80% shrunk down. I finished it off with a cigarette lighter, actually running the flame over the length of the rubber tube. I was careful to move it quick enough so that the rubber didn't melt and drip off. It took about 15 minutes to get it tightly formed around the tonearm wand. After letting it cool, I mounted the headshell, reset the VTF (since the rubber added some mass), and sat back to listen.

I wasn't sure what to expect. What I immediately noticed was extended top end - it seemed "brighter" until I realized that there was no loss of bass response, which also seemed a bit tighter. I also immediately noticed how much quieter backgrounds had become. The few seconds between tracks on the LPs were virtually silent. Vastly improved also was the top end 'bloom' and front-to-back imaging, two areas that are often cited as weaknessed on SL-1200s.

Visually, the tubing doesn't look that bad either. Here are some images I lifted from http://home.comcast.net/~omaille/audio/SL-1200/1200Mods.html:

1200.JPG


MG5.jpg


Bottom line, this mod is simple and cheap, and completely reversible. The tonal improvement is significant and not subtle too; my SL-1200 has just been kicked up a few notches, performance-wise.

I urge all of my fellow Techniphiles to try it for yourselves and see if you don't get the same improvements that I've described.
 
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I do this to almost any Technics arm I run across.

I use 1/2", as it shrinks down tighter, but it requires arm disassembly.

The stock arm is a good arm with exceptional bearings and a fantastic VTA base.

But still, to be price competitive, some corners were cut.


Do the shrink wrap trick for a boost in performance

Also, fill the end stub- another source of resonance.

For the handy, go one step further and change out the tone arm wire and RCAs.
 
Will the shrink wrap benefit the SL-120 M5G as well? I know it has an "upgraded tonearm and tonearm wiring" but I don't know if this was addressed in said upgrade.
 
I couldn't find shrink tubing to fit (only tried 1/2" and didn't want to disassemble) but I've used the blue plumber's teflon tape up and down the arm and it works very well. If you don't like the look or sound, it's very easy to undo.
 
The biggest source for flexing is the headshell mounting. It is very beneficial to make this more rigid. This can also be made using teflon plumber tape.
gusten
 
dodog said:
I couldn't find shrink tubing to fit (only tried 1/2" and didn't want to disassemble) but I've used the blue plumber's teflon tape up and down the arm and it works very well. If you don't like the look or sound, it's very easy to undo.
Click to expand...

So this is just applied tape and pretty much provides the same result? Thanks.
 
Very interesting, beatcomber. Thanks for the tip, and for the review of the result.

Cigarette lighter, huh? Sounds daring to me.
 
Interesting. I am very keen to try this but afraid of making a mistake and being unable to do it. I presume the tubing or tape can't be taken off once heated?
 
audio friend said:
Cigarette lighter, huh? Sounds daring to me.
Click to expand...

I was frankly scared to do it and approached it gingerly. I placed a cloth under the arm in case anything dripped off (it didn't). My main fear was that the tonearm wires would be damaged by the heat, but I figured that a tonearm rewire is next on the agenda anyway. Fortunately there were no negative side effects.

boonie said:
Interesting. I am very keen to try this but afraid of making a mistake and being unable to do it. I presume the tubing or tape can't be taken off once heated?
Click to expand...

Both can be safely removed. The tubing can be cut off with an Xacto knife, and leaves no residue.
 
Yer welcome!

Just to be clear, there is no need to heat the tape if you use that method! Only the shrink tubing needs to be heated.
 
marantzfan said:
Will the shrink wrap benefit the SL-120 M5G as well? I know it has an "upgraded tonearm and tonearm wiring" but I don't know if this was addressed in said upgrade.
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell the M5g differences are a better tone arm wire and RCAs, and "finish" on the arm tube. The arm is basically the same.

markshan said:
I know you own one, so I'll ask...

Have you tried this on the JVC QL-A7? I was considering it, but would love to hear your experience if you have one.
Click to expand...

I have not - yet. Another arm where I assume it can only help.

boonie said:
Interesting. I am very keen to try this but afraid of making a mistake and being unable to do it. I presume the tubing or tape can't be taken off once heated?
Click to expand...

It can somewhat easily be removed.



My concern here is applying heat to the arm tube with the wires/innards still inside, however.
 
I've been listening to my SL-1200MK2 for a nearly a week since shrink tubing the tonearm, and I am still blown away by the improvement. The soundstage imaging is so much deeper now, and the treble extension is noticeably crisper. I'm hearing certain tonalities emerging that were previously unnoticed, if that makes sense.

Again I urge my fellow Techniphiles to spend two bucks and try this, and see if you don't get similar results!

My next move is to get a rubber O ring from a hardware store and mount the auxilary weight. That should address the other source of unwanted vibration on the Technics tonearm.
 
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