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New Sl-100c wobble

ivanhoe123

New Member
Hi everyone, I bought a new technics sl-100c turntable 10 days ago and was wondering if the amount of platter wobble it has, as shown in the linked video, is acceptable, or should I ask for a replacement?

 
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That doesn't look great. Have you tried removing the platter and reinstalling it? See if that changes anything.
 
So I sent the video to panasonic, and this is their response:
"Hello,

Thank you for providing us with the video demonstrating the wobble.

It's important to note that dot wobble can indeed occur in turntables and is generally considered a normal characteristic.
Minor dot wobble typically does not significantly impact playback quality and is within expected parameters, as long as it does not result in the record skipping or jumping.

Several factors can contribute to dot wobble, including the printing pattern of the dots and variations in the thickness of records. Even with precise leveling of the platter, some degree of wobble may persist. The dots are timing marks used with the strobe to adjust pitch (rotation speed). Their placement and presence were not intended, and do not have the physical accuracy to approximate the platter’s vertical deviation.

If your record playback remains unaffected by the wobble, it is likely not a critical issue requiring service.

After reviewing the video you provided, we promptly consulted with our engineers to assess the situation.
Based on their evaluation, they do not believe that your turntable exhibits any defects.

In our previous analyses of similar cases involving turntable wobble, it was determined that such wobbling is not indicative of a defective unit.

The engineers' suggestion to potentially enhance your experience is to ensure that the platter mat in use is the factory-provided one rather than an aftermarket alternative.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.


Sincerely,
Technics Support for United States".

I suspect it is a generic response, since sl-100c doesnt have dots, and the platter mat is removed in the video as to ensure that its height variability doesn't affect the percieved wobble.
I am dissapointed that a 1000 Euros turntable is produced with such low qc tolerances for wobble. This also makes me wonder about quality of other parts. My thinking when purchasing it was that even though it is expensive, at least some serious craftmanship is involved in its production, and it will last me some decades. If I had known this beforehand I would've bought something cheaper. What would you guys respond to this?
 
Hi everyone, I bought a new technics sl-100c turntable 10 days ago and was wondering if the amount of platter wobble it has, as shown in the linked video, is acceptable, or should I ask for a replacement?

That isn't right, My fairly new SL-1500C does not do that.

Mike
 
It's difficult to see in that picture. It's better to look at it from the side, so you can see if the top of the platter actually wobbles:
 
. . . I suspect it is a generic response, since sl-100c doesnt have dots, and the platter mat is removed in the video as to ensure that its height variability doesn't affect the percieved wobble.
I am dissapointed that a 1000 Euros turntable is produced with such low qc tolerances for wobble. This also makes me wonder about quality of other parts. My thinking when purchasing it was that even though it is expensive, at least some serious craftmanship is involved in its production, and it will last me some decades. If I had known this beforehand I would've bought something cheaper. What would you guys respond to this?
Far from a satisfactory response from Panasonic, but since you said your dealer was returning the unit for service, I don't think any response is needed until you get their hands-on report.
 
My guess is the platter fell outside of acceptable specs yet it went out anyway. Hopefully you’ll get a remedy in the form of a new platter. Otherwise, they should refund your money and/or an exchange for another TT. It should be dead level without any visible wobble.
 
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