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Just bought a technics SL-7 In apparently good condition, expectations?

ClayTune

ClayTune

Well-Known Member
Hello,

I was getting tired of my current turntable, a Numark TT250 which i've had about three years, and I wanted something with 'vintage' appeal. So I did some research and, somehow my research landed me at a Linear Tracking turntable and the great idea behind it. I.E low or no tracking errors/Inner groove distortion. No need for balancing this, balancing that, no need for a protractor, bla bla bla.

So I checked out several models from Mitsubishi to Yamaha and of course, Technics. Of the Technics Models I was interested in an SL-5 for a little while but somehow landed at an Sl-7, which looked like a more refined version of the Sl-5 and I figured, heck, by the time they got to the 7 perhaps they ironed out some kinks of the 5? Not sure but I bid and paid for a Sl-7, now waiting for it in the mail.

So my question to you guys is, what should I expect if it is in as good of working condition as the seller claims? How should I approach this Turntable? Is it a situation where as long as I have the P-mount cart I like most, I will be content? How much maintenance should I expect to do annually? Is it something i'm going to have to constantly fiddle with?

I would love to know opinions. I am of course keeping my Numark as another turntable I can use wherein I can kind of bounce back and forth between these when I need to. I figured the Technics Sl-7 would be for a somewhat more serious listening experience. What do you think?
 
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Got a p-mount cart for that table?

There are a range of very good p-mount cartridges available out there. Get a good one, don’t just settle.

I have 2 linear tracking tables. They are great sounding and convenient. If yours has been cleaned, freshly lubed, no reason you shouldn’t enjoy it for years to come! The SL-7 is a close-and-play unit, easy to keep the stylus clean.
 
“easy to keep the stylus clean” Has more to do with the condition of the LPs than having a close n play top. ;)
 
MRL_Audio said:
“easy to keep the stylus clean” Has more to do with the condition of the LPs than having a close n play top. ;)
Click to expand...

No it doesn’t. What are you thinking?


When you lift the lid, the stylus is right there! Easiest access to the stylus for cleaning of any other turntable configuration that I’ve ever seen! I remove the headshell on my pivot arm, then closely inspect, and clean if necessary, then reattach the headshell. Can’t inspect the stylus very well while still attached to the arm.

C385A892-2BD8-4A43-BEE1-D6AA6A3719EA.jpeg
D9A8FA9D-0B06-4649-9400-3372C65F2976.jpeg
 
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What was I thinking? :dunno: To each his or her own. Like to see how you inspect this with a scope with the lid up. I don’t need to remove the the headshell from a pivoted arm to clean it. With a brush, moongel or Onzow. Simple process. My point was apparently lost. LPs drive the cleanliness of the stylus not its close n play lid.
 
OP with the SL-7 installed with a decent cartridge and "clean" record the difference between it and your Numark TT250 should be jaw dropping. Agree MRL that a clean record accounts for a clean stylus.
 
MRL_Audio said:
What was I thinking? :dunno: To each his or her own. Like to see how you inspect this with a scope with the lid up. I don’t need to remove the the headshell from a pivoted arm to clean it. With a brush, moongel or Onzow. Simple process. My point was apparently lost. LPs drive the cleanliness of the stylus not its close n play lid.
Click to expand...

Yea, you definitely lost the point here. If you can’t see that with the SL-7 lid open, that the cartridge is up and easy to get to, then the point of my comments are lost on you. And it’s far easier to get a scope on that raised cartridge than it is on the end of a pivot arm. It is for me, and I’m a pretty typical guy. But maybe you just enjoy doing things the hard way? Some do.

I’ve got over 200 hours on my stylus, never had to clean it yet. I keep my records pristinely clean. But, perhaps in the next hour of play a wild hair might miraculously find its way into my stylus; ya never know!
 
The "problem", if you will, with linear trackers, is to compare the complexity of a motorized mechanism that must match the horizontal "speed" of a groove on a record, with the simplicity of a passive pivot point. You really don't want an inexpensive linear tracker. But marketing dictates that they exist. (Well, did 30-something years ago.) I'm guessing that your SL-7 is better than others, (like my Pioneer PL-X100), but still not at "Rabco" quality. Et al. Let your ears be the judge. :)
 
Wolfie62 said:
clean if necessary,

View attachment 1658376
Click to expand...

I think it's necessary, given that photo!! I can't even see the needle there it is so dirty, that one must not sound too good.

My gripe with the close and play record players, is you have to fiddle around to get them to spin with the cover open, to use a carbon fiber record brush. I'm going to put a manual switch on my SL3, so I can make it spin with the cover open to clean the record.
 
I had one several years ago. It was Ok. I moved on to a Sony PS FL-7, which I like better, but don't use much now. One of the things I didn't like about it (and I don't want to wade into a pissing match-this is only my opinion) was cleaning the stylus. I use magic eraser and I prefer to just drop the arm into the eraser a couple of times and then brush it of. You cannot do that very well with the SL-7
 
ClayTune said:
Hello,

I was getting tired of my current turntable, a Numark TT250 which i've had about three years, and I wanted something with 'vintage' appeal. So I did some research and, somehow my research landed me at a Linear Tracking turntable and the great idea behind it. I.E low or no tracking errors/Inner groove distortion. No need for balancing this, balancing that, no need for a protractor, bla bla bla.

So I checked out several models from Mitsubishi to Yamaha and of course, Technics. Of the Technics Models I was interested in an SL-5 for a little while but somehow landed at an Sl-7, which looked like a more refined version of the Sl-5 and I figured, heck, by the time they got to the 7 perhaps they ironed out some kinks of the 5? Not sure but I bid and paid for a Sl-7, now waiting for it in the mail.

So my question to you guys is, what should I expect if it is in as good of working condition as the seller claims? How should I approach this Turntable? Is it a situation where as long as I have the P-mount cart I like most, I will be content? How much maintenance should I expect to do annually? Is it something i'm going to have to constantly fiddle with?

I would love to know opinions. I am of course keeping my Numark as another turntable I can use wherein I can kind of bounce back and forth between these when I need to. I figured the Technics Sl-7 would be for a somewhat more serious listening experience. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Congrats! I have an SL-5 that I ALMOST sold, but decided to keep as my secondary table. It's a surprising great sounding table, with a decent cartridge installed. The S-7 should be even better! Plus it looks cool. Post some photos when you have a chance. Did it come with a cartridge? If not, I suggest the Audio Technica AT450 that is available NOS on eBay. It's a heck of a deal. One step up, but at 2x the cost for the stylus alone, is an AT132EP. I have both plus a few lesser AT P-Mount carts/styli (even they sound pretty good on my SL-5).

As far as maintenance goes, it really depends on the unit's current condition. In the 11 months I've had my SL-5, I've re-calibrated the speeds once, and that's it. I also got a set of feet off eBay (mine was missing 3 when I got it) and I am using a pair of Acoustic Research Pro Series Directional Balanced Line Audio Cable interconnects in place of the flimsy, poorly shielded interconnect cables that came with mine.

I plan on keeping my SL-5 long term. Unless, of course, an SL-7 happens to come my way at a price that's too good to pass up!
 
maxhifi said:
I think it's necessary, given that photo!! I can't even see the needle there it is so dirty, that one must not sound too good.

My gripe with the close and play record players, is you have to fiddle around to get them to spin with the cover open, to use a carbon fiber record brush. I'm going to put a manual switch on my SL3, so I can make it spin with the cover open to clean the record.
Click to expand...


That photo was snagged off the web. Obvious from the verbiage beneath it.

It was just to illustrate how easy it is to inspect and service the stylus, a point lost on some folks.

In that position (SL-7) I can get my scope a full 360 degrees around the stylus, or brush it if ever needed. Without removing the headshell, I don’t know how any one can (easily) scope the stylus while mounted on a pivot arm.

I never owned an SL-7. A college friend did, back in 1982. I don’t remember what he did to turn the platter so he could use his DiscWasher brush, but he did.

Finally, a good review on this table by Grammaphone from back when it was a new kid on the block.
 
Find the nicest t4p (p-mount) cartridge you can find and enjoy that table. For moving magnet carts, the at450 is still available....
 
Wolfie62 said:
Got a p-mount cart for that table?

There are a range of very good p-mount cartridges available out there. Get a good one, don’t just settle.

I have 2 linear tracking tables. They are great sounding and convenient. If yours has been cleaned, freshly lubed, no reason you shouldn’t enjoy it for years to come! The SL-7 is a close-and-play unit, easy to keep the stylus clean.
Click to expand...

I do have a Audio technica AT92ECD which is basically brand new. I will likely install that one onto the turntable.

With regard to another question I had. I heard some vinyl cannot be played on linear tracking turntables due to being "Off center"??? What exactly does this mean? And also, how many vinyl should I expect to have difficulty with on this table?
 
majick47 said:
OP with the SL-7 installed with a decent cartridge and "clean" record the difference between it and your Numark TT250 should be jaw dropping. Agree MRL that a clean record accounts for a clean stylus.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That is precisely what I am hoping for. Without having to do set-up, balance, bubble level, protractor, anti-skate etc.

I hope that the theory vs reality favors the realty aspect more. That is, that the table, being one of Technics better Linear tracking models, tracks the records very close to how they're meant to be heard.

By the way, I heard some Linear tracking tables cannot play "some" records????
 
zebra03 said:
I had the SL-7 new when they came out . Never cared for the way the lid snapped in place . I have a SL-5 now . Great unit .
Click to expand...

Did you have any noticeable issues with the SL-7, from my understanding it is a more refined model than the Sl-5, and I had several opportunities to buy an SL-5 for much cheaper than the SL-7.
 
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