If you have a modded Technics SL-1200, check in...

[MWalt]

For those of you that have a modded Technics SL-1200, please check in with the mods you have and how you feel they improved your deck. I'll start:

Technics SL-1200 MKII with the following current mods:

-Isonoe Footers (They improve the looks a lot and really reduce vibration well)
-Jelco Armboard
-Audioquest phono cable
-Sumiko Premier MMT tone arm (also ordered a new AT 33EV cart to try also. Currently using a Denon DL-103R)

I just ordered an Applied Fidelity Generation II bearing, a KAB Strobe Disabler, and a KAB Power supply. I am also considering the TTWeights Alloy Mat based on the advice of my friend, Paul Jacob (aka thedelihaus).

The big improvement so far has been from the tonearm and cable. I also had a highly modified delihaus stock arm that I feel was a huge improvement over stock, but was barely edged out by the Sumiko. That may be due to the superior audioquest phono cable. I am seriously looking forward to report the other mods. I am also going to break the TT down and paint the plinth (color to remain a secret until unveiled).

What do the rest of you have?

 

[levlhed]

Audioquest PT-9 Tonearm
Armboard from seller in Greece
Improved Bearing by Applied Fidelity
KAB USA External Power Supply & Strobe Disable
Oyaide Mat
KAB Super Mat
Isonoe Feet
Removed & Bypassed Pitch Slider
Custom Mirror to cover Pitch Slider hole
Gloss Black Powder Coating
Also, custom MintLP Best Protractor

I pretty much did everything at once so impossible for me to say what did what

next?
ATM I am giving some serious consideration to a Terminator T3pro air bearing linear tracking tonearm. Yes, seriously.

 

[MWalt]

Audioquest PT-9 Tonearm
Armboard from seller in Greece
Improved Bearing by Applied Fidelity
KAB USA External Power Supply & Strobe Disable
Oyaide Mat
KAB Super Mat
Isonoe Feet
Removed & Bypassed Pitch Slider
Custom Mirror to cover Pitch Slider hole
Gloss Black Powder Coating
Also, custom MintLP Best Protractor

I pretty much did everything at once so impossible for me to say what did what

next?
ATM I am giving some serious consideration to a Terminator T3pro air bearing linear tracking tonearm. Yes, seriously.

I bet my armboard is from the same seller in Greece. Where do you get the Oyaide mat? What cart are you using with the Audioquest arm that is almost identical to the Sumiko MMT (both made by Jelco I believe). After a while, I may splurge on an SME 309 arm, but I want to everything else to see how it sounds first.

 

[levlhed]

OYAIDE MJ-12 off the auction site from Hong Kong. I liked it better than the copper mat and think it looks way cooler.
The PT-9 is actually a straight arm with the damping fluid thingy on the top. Yes, made by Jelco. I forgot I also got a custom short Ultimate Cables C4 for it. I had been running the Soundsmith CL/Ruby re-tipped aluminum body DL103r into a Bob's Devices Cinemag for awhile. Recently switched out to an Adante E MM cart. The DL103r will end up back on at some point. They both sound great, just different flavors I guess.
I just bumped my thread, you can see some pics there towards the end...

 

[Alminavil]

M3d with KAB Super Mat and new dustcover.

Does that qualify?

 

[MWalt]

M3d with KAB Super Mat and new dustcover.

Does that qualify?

It's a start, right?

 

[MWalt]

OYAIDE MJ-12 off the auction site from Hong Kong. I liked it better than the copper mat and think it looks way cooler.
The PT-9 is actually a straight arm with the damping fluid thingy on the top. Yes, made by Jelco. I forgot I also got a custom short Ultimate Cables C4 for it. I had been running the Soundsmith CL/Ruby re-tipped aluminum body DL103r into a Bob's Devices Cinemag for awhile. Recently switched out to an Adante E MM cart. The DL103r will end up back on at some point. They both sound great, just different flavors I guess.
I just bumped my thread, you can see some pics there towards the end...

Ah, that's right. The PT-9 is similar to the Sumiko FT-3 that I just sold to Redboy except I believe it is rated a little better. I am going to try and find that OYAIDE MJ-12 mat because I am still not sure which one I am going to buy. It looks nice!

 

[Alminavil]

It's a start, right?

& for me, the end.

 

[Miguel760]

Just a kab super mat and a kab om20.

 

[golana]

Silicone trough from KAB- added coherence throughout the ranges.
And helped the bass in ways I can't find in any other table, let alone medium.
Cardas rewire- I have drilled through the connector (din?) jack. For one continuous run cartridge to rca jack board, added. Takes a couple minutes more to reconnect wires, but its still the fastest game in town. I honestly dont change set-ups that much to matter.
I've meant for more, and will add in the near future.

 

[rebellovw]

I got one of the last new M5Gs from KAB - with the Damper, strobe disabler, ext powersupply with kimber DC cable, KAB Ortofon ProS30 - basically the works.

Beautiful table - not sure what the mods have done since it was extremely quiet prior to applying each one - total black background. It was understood at the time I purchased it that many of the mods were not going to make much difference for this table - but I thought what the heck - I want the works.

I'm now adding the drop in wood base to just pretty it up a bit more - just trying to decide on cherry or walnut finish.

 

[MWalt]

Silicone trough from KAB- added coherence throughout the ranges.
And helped the bass in ways I can't find in any other table, let alone medium.
Cardas rewire- I have drilled through the connector (din?) jack. For one continuous run cartridge to rca jack board, added. Takes a couple minutes more to reconnect wires, but its still the fastest game in town. I honestly dont change set-ups that much to matter.
I've meant for more, and will add in the near future.

What a great mod. That sounds like the wire set up similar to the Incognito that is used on Rega arms. This is what I was hoping to hear. Ingenious ways of improvement. Do you have any pics of that work?

I got one of the last new M5Gs from KAB - with the Damper, strobe disabler, ext powersupply with kimber DC cable, KAB Ortofon ProS30 - basically the works.

Beautiful table - not sure what the mods have done since it was extremely quiet prior to applying each one - total black background. It was understood at the time I purchased it that many of the mods were not going to make much difference for this table - but I thought what the heck - I want the works.

I'm now adding the drop in wood base to just pretty it up a bit more - just trying to decide on cherry or walnut finish.

Nice. Pics of that base! It's too bad we can't line all these TT's up and listen to how the mods affect the sound.

 

[golana]

What a great mod. That sounds like the wire set up similar to the Incognito that is used on Rega arms. This is what I was hoping to hear. Ingenious ways of improvement. Do you have any pics of that

Sorry I don't. I have a new laptop. and lost the camera software.

It came about, the resault of melting the receiver at the TA end, changing wires. After that the connection never was as consistant. Sometimes a pin wouls stick, and not touch. So I rewired again and did away with the useless.

 

[beatcomber]

My SL-1200MK2 has been given the full thedelihaus treatment... internal and extenal damping of the wand, Cardas tonearm wire, M5G interconnects, KAB end plug, etc. Made a HUGE improvement in its performance, really opened things up.

For a while I had removed the stock footers and propped it up on some half-sliced racquetballs, which did a nice job of eliminating feedback, but it was fugly. I went to Home Depot and bought an 18" square, thick, heavy concrete patio tile and put that on top of the racquetballs, and then put the table on top of that with the stock footers re-installed, and the backgrounds are still quiet and it looks much better. I also put a small glob of Blue Stik around the footer threads for more vibration control, but I'm not sure if it has made any difference or not.

My next planned mod is the fluid damper from KAB.

I had considered getting the KAB 78 speed mod done as well, but opted instead to have bohhey rebuild my Dual 1019 (which he's doing now).

 

[sxty8goats]

My mods are the same as beatcomber's sans the concrete slab. I did the work myself. Looking at a damping troth next. May buy from KAB, may try to make one myself.

Second 1200mk2 is 60% done, painted with the same arm mods. Honestly just been lazy. I need to get it together soon

 

[cactuscowboy]

I bought a new KAB SL-1200MK5 four years ago with:

78 RPM mod
Cardas tonearm rewire
tonearm dampener
Remote power supply

For those of you that have a modded Technics SL-1200, please check in with the mods you have and how you feel they improved your deck.

The 78 rpm mod makes the turntable far more versatile, allowing playback of almost any historical disc. The SL-1200's plus/minus 8% pitch control is an essential feature for playing acoustic recordings, some of which vary from the 78.26 RPM standard.

I had no chance to compare without Cardas tonearm rewire. Suffice to say the sound quality and performance of the Technics tonearm is excellent.

The tonearm dampener is a worthwhile mod, providing improvement in sound and tracking performance.

I'm hard pressed to notice a big difference in using the remote power supply, but in all fairness, I didn't spend any time doing exhaustive A:B comparisons.

 

[Andy_H]

My SL-1200 is not too heavily modded, but it is customized a bit. The main upgrade is an arm with the full 'thedelihaus' treatment - Isokinetic Litz wire, M5G cables, internal and external damping and end plug. It does sit on an MDF sheet atop racquetball halves, which is a kind of tweak I guess. I'm already very happy with its performance. One of these days I may spring for the KAB fluid damper. I tried a few aftermarket mats but went back to the stock rubber mat, although perhaps I'll experiment with other mats again at some point. Record weight is a Purest Audio from eBay. Cartridges used are a Denon DL-160 and more recently a Soundsmith-rebuilt Grado Reference Sonata, which is what's mounted at the moment and is starting to open up quite beautifully.

 

[hendertuckie]

1210MKII:
Jelco SA750 arm.
Armboard from seller in Greece.

The entire character of the TT changed. Going from what I would describe as slightly dark to open and clear. I like to switch out cartridges when the mood strikes and the new arm helps with compliance issues.

No special tools or skills were required for the upgrade, only a screw driver, Youtube disassembly video and money. It turned out to be a fun afternoon project.

 

[MWalt]

1210MKII:
Jelco SA750 arm.
Armboard from seller in Greece.

The entire character of the TT changed. Going from what I would describe as slightly dark to open and clear. I like to switch out cartridges when the mood strikes and the new arm helps with compliance issues.

No special tools or skills were required for the upgrade, only a screw driver, Youtube disassembly video and money. It turned out to be a fun afternoon project.

That Jelco 750 is a nice arm. You are the third of us that have a Jelco arm and an armboard from the Greek vendor on the Bay.

 

[ChairSpud]

SL-1210Mk2 here with the KAB damping plug and silicone trough helps improve overall resolution and compatibility with a wider range of cartridges.

Dave/ChairSpud