lawnerd
Active Member
I agree. The Technics hands down, for all the reasons presented. And I agree, this was exactly what the OP asked for.
Hypothetical. . Rega RP6 vs. Technics SL-1210MK2 vs. Marantz TT-15S1
- Thread starter kamiraa
- Start date
I agree. The Technics hands down, for all the reasons presented. And I agree, this was exactly what the OP asked for.
ODS123
Super Member
I did listen to the tables I listed. ..AND I still have an Ariston Icon and Dual 505-2 table. My Technics is far and away the quietest of the tables AND has the steadiest pitch.
Here's a short clip if you care to listen...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vr8hjqmq6xsqwz8/TomsDinerWITHKAB.wav
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illini
The Past is Alive
I have had the table, I've heard it plenty, thank you. 2 of them actually, and lived with them as part of my life for 7 years at a significant other's place. I'm not even anti-direct drive. I'm just anti the idea that the Technics 1200 is that fantastic. Because in my opinion, it isn't. You're welcome to your counter opinion. I think the arm sucks compared to the Rega. I think the whole sound of the table has a grainy/harsh aspect in comparison to my other tables, at least the ones that I like here. And altogether beyond a sort of rhythmic drive, it does nothing particularly well beside being reliable (which it most certainly is). It is a very average turntable when all is said and done.
In short, I just don't like how 1200s sound. You can throw around specs all day, that doesn't make me not hear what I don't like about how it sounds.
In short, I just don't like how 1200s sound. You can throw around specs all day, that doesn't make me not hear what I don't like about how it sounds.
Yep. Cactuscowboy is very smart and has tens of thousands of records and actually plays them. Just wait until a professor chimes in and sets everyone strait.
:lmao:
Thanks... I think my head is swelling up.
Admittedly the 1200 isn't the be all/end all in turntables and out of the three listed I'd take it. The 1200 is far and away superior to any of the DD turntables coming out of China today or any of the lower midfi tables of years gone by. My experience has been going from a upper end BD to a upper end DD that what I heard in the BD was what I thought was a lush smooth souind. Going to an upper end DD the overall sound was much like a picture that suddenly came into focus and the BD blured picture was gone. The DD sound wasn't harsh, it was accurate/revealing/detailed.
What was the upper end BD majick? (just asking, no animosity). I don't care for the lower end Regas or Music Halls or Projects, at least in the context of competing with something where cost isn't as much of a consideration. But my VPI certainly is "in focus" and has great speed specs, and other belt drive tables I've listened to (feickert, Kuzma, well tempered, for example) were equally adept at painting the picture, without an overly smooth/warm sound. The Well Tempered somehow managed to do it all, smooth and precise but with drive and detail. Some of the LP-12s I've heard could do that as well, though it seemed to be dependent on setup. I've heard LP-12s sound amazing, and also sound bad...lots of variations to be considered with those.
In these tables, the 1200 has a nice tight rhythmic quality, but at least the TT-15s1 had more subtlety, detail, and presented a more developed sounstage. It sounded less like it was there. The 1200 always just sounded, well, it never got out of the way totally. Its a fine table but there are better to be had, and I personally just think the other two in this case, are two of those options, assuming the RP-6 lives up to other mid-level Regas I've heard.
In these tables, the 1200 has a nice tight rhythmic quality, but at least the TT-15s1 had more subtlety, detail, and presented a more developed sounstage. It sounded less like it was there. The 1200 always just sounded, well, it never got out of the way totally. Its a fine table but there are better to be had, and I personally just think the other two in this case, are two of those options, assuming the RP-6 lives up to other mid-level Regas I've heard.
Easily the RP6. I've owned 6 1200's over the years. Actually have been shopping for my 7th one, but my Rega P7 ate up any of them. And the RP6 is apparently better than the P7. The little I have heard of it gives me no reason to doubt it.
I like the Marantz, but I have never been able to love it. LIke Clearaudio tables, I respect and admire them. I see the quality. But I don't love them.
I also don't get the economies of scale argument. There is lots of 1970's technology that could have been cheap to produce if kept in production, but is of no significance to anyone. Technics themselves built better than the 1200. Had Technics continued updating the 1200 over the years, it likely would not have been what it was when it went out of production.
I like the Marantz, but I have never been able to love it. LIke Clearaudio tables, I respect and admire them. I see the quality. But I don't love them.
I also don't get the economies of scale argument. There is lots of 1970's technology that could have been cheap to produce if kept in production, but is of no significance to anyone. Technics themselves built better than the 1200. Had Technics continued updating the 1200 over the years, it likely would not have been what it was when it went out of production.
livestrong
Well-Known Member
If I had the choice, I'd take the RP6 - it is one of my dream tables. Love the arm, love the power supply. And although beauty doesn't make it sound better, it is sure nice to look at (in my opinion)
Typical bullshit poser argument. The techie all the way man!
You'd think after owning six and being on the hunt for a seventh the man would have some experience with the things and be entitled to an opinion? Apparently not.... :scratch2:
I admit haven't owned a 1200, though I have heard a plethora of them. I do own a couple of lower order Technics DDs (SLD2) and an SP-15 and clearly see their merits. Are they my favourites to listen to? Not necessarily. My late lamented TD-125 once really dialed in was no less steady (and I am very sensitive to that) and more musical. I have heard both of the other two tables mentioned and thought they were very good, the Marantz being a bit the cooler of the two.
Then again I'm about to buy an idler, so what do I know!
I like a variety of design types and am quite happy to put them to service. Chaque à son goût.
ODS123
Super Member
:scratch2:So we're to believe that the guy who has owned 6 and is looking for a 7th is not really that much of a fan of the SL1200?
..Usually, if I don't like something, I'll stop buying it after maybe the 4th or 5th time.
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ODS123
Super Member
So the fact that Technics offered a pricier model is somehow an indictment of the SL1200? ..Technics bested the SL1200 w/ a table that offered (very slightly) better measured performance, but it's not certain these improvements in wow & flutter, or ever rumble were even audible. My SL1200 speed accuracy already rivals my CD player, and motor noise is already below the noise floor of the needle. ..So it was better how? ..Probably in that it was meant to hold up for years and years with near-constant use in a commercial setting. So, yes, it has greater durability, but I doubt demonstrably better sound.
And what is it about the "economies of scale" argument you don't get? ..You seem to suggest the technologies that arose from their spending advantage were non-significant. ..Well, to those of us who like piano music and care about steadiness of pitch, their rock solid speed accuracy is very important. ...And ditto the quieter background which is also attributable to DD.
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gusten
Addicted Member
This is only rambling, don´t know if it will lead to anything.
If choosing between these tables, how is it done. I imagine not by a serious listening test, because that is in most cases just too difficult. How many have done that? By reputation or from reviews maybe?
By the looks, they look rather different, so one that like the look of the RP6 might not like the Marantz, and the 1200 is of an very old style.
By hearing or reading that some has better specs than another, does that mean anything, maybe, maybe not. One has a better arm, maybe, how do we in that case hear that? We cannot choose the RP6 because as always with Rega the W&F is just too much, is it, can we actually hear that, or is it just hearsay? The Rega is the obvious choice because it´s quieter than the others, at least I heard that when listening at the shop, come on.
It´s not easy.
gusten
Edit: If I could choose I would take the RP6 with Technics drive system.
If choosing between these tables, how is it done. I imagine not by a serious listening test, because that is in most cases just too difficult. How many have done that? By reputation or from reviews maybe?
By the looks, they look rather different, so one that like the look of the RP6 might not like the Marantz, and the 1200 is of an very old style.
By hearing or reading that some has better specs than another, does that mean anything, maybe, maybe not. One has a better arm, maybe, how do we in that case hear that? We cannot choose the RP6 because as always with Rega the W&F is just too much, is it, can we actually hear that, or is it just hearsay? The Rega is the obvious choice because it´s quieter than the others, at least I heard that when listening at the shop, come on.
It´s not easy.
gusten
Edit: If I could choose I would take the RP6 with Technics drive system.
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