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Technics SL-100C

A

AdlerW

Active Member
Technics has recently announced a new SL-100C turntable:

https://electronicgroove.com/technics-announces-new-low-cost-turntable-sl-100c/

It's going to be a cheaper version of the 1500C with a cheaper cartridge (good for me since I have my own cartridges) and without the built-in preamp (also good for me since I have my own preamp and would've bypassed the preamp in the 1500C anyway).

Anyone else interested in this table?
 
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I think Technics understands there are plenty of people who would prefer to choose their own cartridge and preamp and would rather not pay for included parts they won't use. If those are the only corners that were cut compared to the SL-1500C then this looks like a great option. The AT-VM95C cartridge is a perfect choice to get the thing playing out of the box while adding minimal cost to the selling price. I wonder, does this model keep the switchable auto-lift feature?
 
Studio_D said:
I think Technics understands there are plenty of people who would prefer to choose their own cartridge and preamp and would rather not pay for included parts they won't use. If those are the only corners that were cut compared to the SL-1500C then this looks like a great option. The AT-VM95C cartridge is a perfect choice to get the thing playing out of the box while adding minimal cost to the selling price. I wonder, does this model keep the switchable auto-lift feature?
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Plus, the VM95 cartridge can be upgraded by simply replacing the stylus with an elliptical, nude elliptical, microline or Shibata. Better cost/performance than the 2M Red that comes on the SL-1500C.
 
Studio_D said:
I wonder, does this model keep the switchable auto-lift feature?
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Yes, I'm pretty sure it's just a 1500C sans preamp, and packaged with a different cartridge, wouldn't make much sense otherwise, but hard to be certain at this point. The color scheme is a little different from the black 1500C, but likely they will offer a silver one at some point. Listed at the same price as the MK7 in UK and EU, so probably means $999.99 in the US, or $200 less than the 1500C.
 
To me, this is somewhat disappointing, only because I feel that part of the 1200G's $4000 cost is the prestige of it being "Made in Japan". In an era where just about everything is made in China, Taiwan, or Malaysia, the "Made in Japan" badge serves to differentiate a premium, high-end product from everything else. To me, this also applies to other premium products made in countries where labor costs are higher.

Do I think that Technics will allow the actual quality of these "Made in Malaysia" products to slip? Almost certainly not. I am, at least, glad they decided to make the move instead of simply discontinuing the turntables altogether.
 
AdlerW said:
Technics has announced ... a cheaper version of the 1500C with a cheaper cartridge (good for me since I have my own cartridges) and without the built-in preamp (also good for me since I have my own preamp) Anyone else interested in this table?
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I would be ... if they ditched the tonearm too.

With MSRP of ±$1,100 with arm, it should be $7–800 without arm. If the motor and electronics maintain enough quality from their higher-end models, I'd buy it instantly.

I use so-called 'Golden Age' Japanese Direct-Drives made 40 years ago (Micro Seiki, Denon, Sansui) always fearing they'll fail from age, repairs will be sky-high or even impossible. (I kept a Thorens 125 with SME 3009-2 as a belt-drive back-up, but loaned it to a friend. Never saw it again. Or him.)

The idea of buying a new DD of quality for such a low price, with 40 years of progress under the hood, and with a M'fr's guarantee no less, is hard to resist. But Technics won't go that far, they'll always include the arm. Their standard arm will be pretty good, but the improvement with a true high-end tonearm will be a lot more than "pretty good".

Do we know anything about this new model yet? Details on motor, speed-regulation, plinth, bearing, platter? Did they go back to the cheap old thin tin-can platters they used to put on the budget DD's (which gave DD in general a bum rap)?
 
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Has anyone seen thorough reviews? In the UK audio press maybe? It may be too much to ask for, but a review like HiFi News sometimes publishes, with full technical details, build quality, specs etc, would be helpful.
 
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bimasta said:
Has anyone seen thorough reviews? In the UK audio press maybe? It may be too much to ask for, but a review like HiFi News sometimes publishes, with full technical details, build quality, specs etc, would be helpful.
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The SL-1500C has been out for around 2 years now with a lot of reviews, it's the same table as the SL-100C, except the 1500 just has a phono preamp.
 
bimasta said:
Has anyone seen thorough reviews? In the UK audio press maybe? It may be too much to ask for, but a review like HiFi News sometimes publishes, with full technical details, build quality, specs etc, would be helpful.
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Isn't this just the same deck as the new(ish) 1500 just with no built-in preamp and a cheaper VM95C installed as opposed to the 1500's Ortofon 2M Red? I would guess reviews would be unnecessary with such minor differences between the two models.
 
@The Slider and @benricci Thanks, you made it easy. I read 3 reviews, all persuasive (What HiFi, Absolute Sound, Analog Planet). Now to find one in a store so I can inspect it hands-on.

Do such stores exist anymore? I'm in LA.
 
bimasta said:
@The Slider and @benricci Thanks, you made it easy. I read 3 reviews, all persuasive (What HiFi, Absolute Sound, Analog Planet). Now to find one in a store so I can inspect it hands-on.

Do such stores exist anymore? I'm in LA.
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I don't know, they wouldn't have the 100C, but some may have the 1500C, though supply has been sporatic for the last few months. You could call around to dealers, even some of the Best Buy stores carry the lower end Technics tables. No one seems to know when the 100C will be available in the US.
 
benricci said:
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Isn't this (SL-100C) just the same deck as the new(ish) 1500 just with no built-in preamp and a cheaper VM95C installed as opposed to the 1500's Ortofon 2M Red? I would guess reviews would be unnecessary with such minor differences between the two models.
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That seems to be correct by what is said on the internet... When the distribution becomes wider we'll see more youtube 'reviews' I hope
 
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