First run of new Technics SL-1200 sells out in under 30 minutes

[ARJohn]

So in the end, what have we learned? That in 7 years the price has gone from $475 to $4000. And it has 78 speed now.

I wish I would have bought one then. I expected big things from this "new" Technics. Sounds like a bunch of marketing to me.

Pass.

Man wish I had bought a dozen back in 2009 before they pulled the plug , would have been a nice nest egg at today's price .

 

[Mister Pig]

Will there be a run of non-Special Edition 1200s for under $4K?

I've been following the development of this new, reborn deck ever since the news broke about it and I saw those "deli sandwich cutter" prototype pictures...

If these prices come down to a good amount below $1K, I will seriously consider replacing my AT-LP120 for one...

Below 1K? I I don't think you will be buying one anytime soon. The press release was that the production version was going to be the same price as the Anniversary edition. Perhaps there will be some dealer discounts off MSRP.....but it ain't going to be a $3K off sale.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[Mister Pig]

So in the end, what have we learned? That in 7 years the price has gone from $475 to $4000. And it has 78 speed now.

I wish I would have bought one then. I expected big things from this "new" Technics. Sounds like a bunch of marketing to me.

Pass.

Passing judgment on something no one has laid hooves on yet? A turntable is far more than just speed stability, and there have been a lot of changes in this version. Perhaps it would be best to wait until it gets into the hands of people who can make a proper evaluation of how it sounds and performs, before deciding its not worth the money? Or perhaps it will be worth every dollar?

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[kirk57]

While this batch did sell quickly, I wonder if in the long term Technics won't regret making this new table look so much like the old one. To me this creates the impression that it's just a (much) more expensive version of the table that folks can find on Craigslist all day long for $400.

Given the actual improvements they've made in this new design, I'd think they go with a cool new design, or at least something more like the SP-10, which was a high-end item.

 

[SA-708]

The non-anniversary editions are supposed to be $4K as well?

I was hoping these would come down to what I bought my older 1200's for back when I had a mobile DJ business, approximately $800...

The non-limited model is also slated for a $4K list price. While the limited anniversary models are selling for full list price, it is more likely that the later non-limited model will sell for below list price. Exactly what the sale price will be is still an unknown.

Years ago, I was saving up my money for an SL-1200 (Mk2 or M5G), but spent my $600 on an SL-M3 (with Grado Silver cart) in great condition instead. My reasoning was that the 1200s would still be available in the future, but the M3 was a one-time opportunity. If I had know that the 1200s were going to be discontinued and the price go up so much, perhaps I would have made a different choice. On the other hand, I have enjoyed the years with the SL-M3.

At this price point, even as a Technics fan, I would want to audition some other options like a Merrill PolyTable before spending between $3K and $4K on an SL-1200G. At what I make and with two kids, this is a sizable investment for me, and I would definitely want to hear (and not just compare specs) before I buy. To be honest, with a 15 year old that is starting to learn to drive, I probably should buy another car instead of a turntable.

 

[muovimies]

I think this thread is a very good example of why it was perhaps not such a great move to call the new table SL-1200 and make it look so closely like the original...

 

[jdwk]

the 1200's do not "cog" this confusion in this comes from the fact that different direct drive motors are used in various direct drive tables. The one that Technics developed is patended and there for other direct drive motors designed by other companies MAY "cog" but all those people who keep bringing this up should read more.

 

[SA-708]

the 1200's do not "cog" this confusion in this comes from the fact that different direct drive motors are used in various direct drive tables. The one that Technics developed is patended and there for other direct drive motors designed by other companies MAY "cog" but all those people who keep bringing this up should read more.

Technics/Panasonic brought it up in this press release, so does that mean they are confused or ignorant?

From http://shop.panasonic.com/about-us-...ases/ces2016-technics-sl-1200g-turntable.html

Overcoming Analogue Issues of the Past
Direct drive turntable systems have been beloved by HiFi enthusiasts since their birth in 1972. However, one problem that direct-drive systems have always faced was sound quality degradation caused by 'cogging’, or tiny vibrations of the motor and rotational speed fluctuations. However, by combining the knowledge and expertise gained as the originator of direct-drive turntable systems with a newly developed coreless direct-drive motor without iron core, this ‘cogging’ can be eliminated. Any potential minute motor vibrations are suppressed even further by high-precision rotary positioning sensors guided by a microprocessor controlled system; a feature unique to the new Technics turntable.

 

[rebellovw]

They brought up Cogging - because it was a fear/concern that was raised by Fremer a while back - a highly dismissed fear. It only makes sense that they (Technics) try to appease the critics. Now if cogging was a real problem then the sl1200 would have been shot down a long time ago. No one would be able to tolerate it - I certainly wouldn't. Technics certainly did their homework on this re-introduction.

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=37817

 

[Pronto]

The Technics motor* is a three phase motor and is therefore not suffering from cogging.

*The standard SL-12xx

 

[majick47]

Quartz Lock or anyone else who is thinking that they will ever be able to buy the new Technics 1200 for well under $1000 you are dreaming, not in your lifetime. If anything till Technics gets a lot of them in the pipeline they may well sell for higher than list price due to demand, as in a bidding war.

 

[jetstream]

If Technics goes for $800, Pioneer should be given away for free. Not gonna happen, though I'd love to see the Technics at a reasonable price.

 

[vinylkid58]

Perhaps I am indeed "dreaming," but I don't think it would be out of their sphere of reality to offer these for around $800 or so...

That probably won't even cover the cost (per unit) of all the tooling to manufacture the new deck, over the projected production lifespan. So you are dreaming.

jeff

 

[jetstream]

Tooling + know-how + no decent DD table on the market in the price range + the MK2 mass mourning and calls for resurrection as never seen before for a hifi product = $4000

 

[grottyash]

Besides all that, they've just sold all they could make for a price well under what they could have asked. If anything, Panasonuc must be kickîng themselves for not having jacked up the price further - their marketing people stuffed up big time.

 

[NJguy]

Im more than happy with my sl1300 $20 goodwill find!

 

[muovimies]

But why would it cost them so much to make this new version, as compared to what the classic 1200s were offered at? What's drastically so different besides a relatively upgraded chassis?

Size of market, product lifespan... the original Mk2 was made for decades in huge amounts. After a certain amount is sold, the mfg has covered the cost for tooling and after that they can keep making them for "free" (apart from the cost of materials, parts & labour of course). I'm not sure what the original retail price of SL-1200mk2 was, but it wasn't probably that far off the retail price at the end, the difference being there was 30 years of inflation in between...

EDIT: And as opposed what many people seem to imply, clearly the new version is more expensive to make even without taking into consideration things like tooling.

 

[mace]

Seems like they were around 500. towards the end of their run. I can't imagine there was a lot of re-tooling that had to be done, and sure wouldn't buy a BMW at todays prices with 30 year old styling.

 

[jetstream]

How about a Volkswagen Beetle?

 

[mace]

How about a Volkswagen Beetle?

Definitely not.