I've been searching for my first turntable, since cds led us astray, and have found a Technics sl 1400 pretty much in mint condition. I'm curious because I can find very little information about the Technics sl 1400 itself on the web and could use some advice. Any sages out there that could offer opinions or advice would be very much appreciated. Thx
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Anybody own or have information about the Technics sl 1400?
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Cylontymany
Super Member
I own one. What do you want to know about it? What cartridge are you running? ect...
Bone Yard
Super Member
I'm a big fan of Technics Turntables, they are pretty much bulletproof. I've gotten most of mine for pretty cheap, price is a factor with them, my bang for the buck is awesome. I had to look up the SL-1400, it's looks like an obscure model without strobe markings on the turntable, or maybe they had them, there's a few different photos on the net.
For a young kid, Technics came out with these beautiful, simple turntables, even with the plastic they were much more elegant then the competition. Some of the Sl-1400s in my search don't have the strobe markings on the platter, this was like magic dust to us kids, watching our older brothers fine tune in the speed was like they were sending people through space. Maybe some of the photos are wrong, I can't tell without a true catalog photo.
If the price is right, it's a great starting point, you can always upgrade and sell it if you don't like it, people really like Technics and there will always be demand for them.
For a young kid, Technics came out with these beautiful, simple turntables, even with the plastic they were much more elegant then the competition. Some of the Sl-1400s in my search don't have the strobe markings on the platter, this was like magic dust to us kids, watching our older brothers fine tune in the speed was like they were sending people through space. Maybe some of the photos are wrong, I can't tell without a true catalog photo.
If the price is right, it's a great starting point, you can always upgrade and sell it if you don't like it, people really like Technics and there will always be demand for them.
Thanks! It Is the Mark 1 version and it does have the strobes and pitch control and all controls are under the dust cover. It is in mint condition absolutely looks brand new!!, I have since found out that it is the semi auto sl 1300 which suits me well because I like to listen to albums, as I go to sleep at night, and it’s nice to have a table that cuts off . It also has the same muting circuit as the 1300. I am the owner of it now but I can’t listen to it until I pick up my Yamaha CR 820 on Tuesday...It came with a Realistic RPX cartridge and that is my next question. Anybody have an opinion or info on that cartridge? Can I mount an Sumiko Ranier or Ortofon red or blue?
It came with a nos Realistic RPX cart which I don’t know much about except that is supposed to be a rebadged version of a fairly good Shure cart. What are you running and what do you recommend? Anything I can’t run etc...? Anything I should know or look out for as far a problems? Any suggested upgrades? Your experience with yours. I own it now and it absolutely looks brand new .... just mint. Like I took it out of the box! I have tested the speed and adjusted it and it holds speed perfectly . Unfortunately I can’t listen to it until I pick up my, new to me, Yamaha CR 820 on a Tuesday.
Cylontymany
Super Member
I have the original 1400 not the mark 2. I am running a Stanton 681EEE on mine. You really cant go wrong with Technics tables but I dont have any Mk2 type tables in my stable.
Mine is first gen as well...all controls under dustcover right?
Cylontymany
Super Member
Yes! I simply dont care for the MkII models.
The SL1400 is a work horse semi auto table that was sold during 1976 to 77 as far as I can remember. The owners manual is on Vinylengine.com. That's a free site but you do need to register. The photo on the page for the SL1400 is actually the MK2, but there is the standard 1400 manual. The cart mine came with was an audio technica AT95E, so any of the new variants would be good. Lube the motor (The manual shows where) and mine needed to have the shaft for the tone arm lift recharged if you will. The tonearm would drop when you lowered the lever, so me careful. They are really great tables. In this photo I'm running an AT12Sa cart, Very nice and detailed sound.
I'm having problems with my new to me Technics sl1400. I hooked it up to my new system and it will not hold speed. It sounds like David gilmour took a bunch of Quaaludes. I rebalanced the arm and adjusted the weight to what the cartridge called for. the funny thing is the guy I bought it from said he had set it up and it was plug and Play, but the anti skate was on zero and the tone arm weight was on two grams neither of which fall into the parameters. He is willing to give me a refund. I tried balancing the arm and setting the weight based on the manufacturers parameters but still it would not hold speed. I tested the turntable and adjusted it to exactly 33 and a third but when you put a record on it it slows down and I cannot figure out why. anyway I'm going to return it and get my money back and probably buy something new. Maybe the fluance RT 84 or the project debut carbon Evo... As a Nooby I would appreciate any opinions thoughts information on what turntable I should seek.. thanks in advance
MonkeyRelish
Active Member
Most common fix is to spray De-Oxit in the pitch adjustment pots (main two as well as the ones under the platter), as well as the 33 - 45 switch.
Can I ask why?? Aesthetics? I have the mk2. It's amazing.
damacman
Resident Psycho
The fabled cueing issue ... I fixed my 1300 Mk2 in the 90s and never looked back.
What I can't figure out is why it would run at speed just fine until you put a record on it. I really like the Technics 1400 it's a great looking well made turntable and I wish it worked. If it was the pots on the pitch adjustment wouldn't that show up without a record on it? I'm really disappointed because I spent months trying to assemble what I wanted to play all my old vinyl and I payed the most for the turntable, and it's the one part that doesn't work. I measure the speed of the platter without a record and it's perfect I put a record on... drop the stylus...dragggginnng..
I've got the SL1800 (courtesy of a local AKer), and it had the infamous speed issues when I got it. You have to spray a bit (not a lot!) of deoxit into the speed selector AND the pitch control pots, and REALLY work the crap out of them until they move easily and freely. It definitely shouldn't drag simply because of the miniscule amount of friction caused by a tiny diamond putting 2g of pressure on an extremely smooth piece of vinyl, rotated by one of the best direct drive motors in the biz.
Great advice!
I didn't spray the 33-45 switch for mine, but did the Pitch adjustment pots this morning, and now it's dead-on solid for speed (after being all over the place before or not even adjusting when moving the pitch adjustment).
I really like this turntable so far. Very solid and simple enough that even someone as inexperienced as I am I can deal with it.
I want to do the normal service to lube the motor and one of the RCA cables seems a bit sketchy (in and out unless I have it in exactly the right spot. I'll definitely try to do the normal service, and if I practice soldering, may convert the RCA cables to RCA jacks on the side as well to take away the problem if an RCA cable goes bad again
AudioFeline
Super Member
Congratulations with your SL-1400 - it is an excellent turntable to begin with and much better than many of the new brands that are popular now.
I don't understand what you mean by "one of the RCA cables seems a bit sketchy (in and out unless I have it in exactly the right spot". If you mean that one of the RCA plugs is loose, you can tighten the metal "ring" at the end of the plug so it is more secure. Alternately, you can replace the RCA plugs if you are confident soldering. I wouldn't bother cutting the cable and installing RCA sockets. Because this is a phono cable, ordinary RCA-RCA interconnect is not suitable. You will need need a "low capacitance" phono cable, which is more expensive than as standard interconnect. There is no reason to replace the one that comes with this turntable unless it is faulty.
I don't understand what you mean by "one of the RCA cables seems a bit sketchy (in and out unless I have it in exactly the right spot". If you mean that one of the RCA plugs is loose, you can tighten the metal "ring" at the end of the plug so it is more secure. Alternately, you can replace the RCA plugs if you are confident soldering. I wouldn't bother cutting the cable and installing RCA sockets. Because this is a phono cable, ordinary RCA-RCA interconnect is not suitable. You will need need a "low capacitance" phono cable, which is more expensive than as standard interconnect. There is no reason to replace the one that comes with this turntable unless it is faulty.
I meant that a channel goes in and out unless I move the RCA cable around until the channel comes on and then keep it in that place. So I think the one on the turntable is faulty, but I don't know if it's the cable itself, the RCA plug, or the connection inside the turntable. When I had it open, it didn't look like there was a disconnect where the cables attach to the turntable.
Good suggestion on the RCA plug. It's possible that is what is loose and I'll check that.
I've got a turntable in the shop already, and I can live with this for now, but was thinking ahead that I need to learn to replace the cables myself as this is the second turntable I've come across where the RCA cables have gone bad. I've seen some people also put in jacks to make switching the cables easier in the future.
AudioFeline
Super Member
It might be a loose connection that can be fixed by resoldering. Turntable leads shouldn't be subjected to a lot of movement, so it is unlikely that the wires within the cable have broken. However, this can occur, so part of your troubleshooting could be to systematically gently flex the lead to see if there is a spot where the wires have broken. But check the soldering first.