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Technics SL-1200 series as an audiophile turntable?

A SP-10 Mk III cost over $2800 new in 1981 money (sans tonearm or plinth). If this machine was reintroduced today, I would think it would top $10,000 (sans tonearm or plinth). This machine hasn't been built since 1982-1983. The SL-1200 series would cost way more money if they hadn't been in continuous production all these years. That design and tooling was depreciated over the years leading to a bargain for we Audiophiles and the DJ community. :tresbon:
 
KentTeffeteller said:
A SP-10 Mk III cost over $2800 new in 1981 money (sans tonearm or plinth). If this machine was reintroduced today, I would think it would top $10,000 (sans tonearm or plinth). This machine hasn't been built since 1982-1983. The SL-1200 series would cost way more money if they hadn't been in continuous production all these years. That design and tooling was depreciated over the years leading to a bargain for we Audiophiles and the DJ community. :tresbon:
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Great points!

Now here's what gets me. I've always had a soft spot for the Linn LP12. It was introduced, I believe, in 1972. That's 7 years earlier than the 1200MK2, right? Well... has anyone had a look at the price of the "entry level" LP12 lately? According to their website..... USD 3,750 !!!!! While this is most likely, I hope, MSRP... even if you halved that, it's still way more than a 1200MK2. Now, considering they first came out years before the 1200MK2, why are they not far less expensive in 2009??? Surely, all their tooling is paid for at this point. What's wrong with this picture?

"...bargain for we Audiophiles and the DJ community...", you hit the nail on the head with that one!!!
 
Linn LP 12 has also been in continuous production since 1972. Minor improvements along the way. Not really a true high volume production item. Also, consider Scottish exchange rate along the way and the US importers high markup due to being a limited distribution item. Technics has likely made more SL-1200 MK II turntables in one year than Linn has LP 12 turntables in all those years combined. I am also a Linn LP 12 fan.
 
One could spend over $100,000 on a turntable. Spending over $500 is beyond my budget.

It's the point on diminishing returns that I care about.
 
Tapehead47 said:
One could spend over $100,000 on a turntable. Spending over $500 is beyond my budget.

It's the point on diminishing returns that I care about.
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Very true, very true. My budget is bone dry except for minimally expensive tweaks, at the moment. However, I'm sure I'd poop a little if I stood next to a Goldmund Reference. :D
 
To be fair for poor Linn in the late 70s, Matsushita was the biggest electronics manufacturer in the world at the time- they had the resources, the talent and the available technology to produce a dazzling array of turntables of the highest quality. There simply was no other company that could compete. A 1981/2/3 catalogue shows pages and pages of incredible pieces of engineering. Linn was a tinpot operation bashing together a cheap belt drive, created in the early seventies and by luck, or just plain anti-Japanese sentiment, it survived as a niche product into the 90's when a small vinyl resurgence spotlighted the ancient design once again... The Japanese know which side their bread was buttered and moved on decades before. With a thriving economy, the Japanese can build anything, so we may see a statement 150 year celebration of the phongraph or a 75 year anniversary SL12000 (extra 0 for effect). Who knows. One thing though, we will all be using them in 50 years as that will be all that is left, parts will still be found and there may be a thriving restoration of these TTs. That's only if Matsushita discontinued them...
 
All I know is that I <heart> my 1210. As for "cheapness", anything that has sold in so many numbers over so many years is going to bring economies of scale. Rega, for all its "cachet" would probably cream its jeans at the prospect of selling 1/10 of what the SL1200 sells *today*. Matsushita has recouped its R&D costs thousands of times over so that $65 arm would probably retail for $6500 if someone were to start from scratch today. I'll take my stock arm, thanks.

Consideration of the SL1200 as a "DJ Turntable" is my pet peeve, to be honest. Its just a fine turntable, period. Yes, you can buy esoteric models at esoteric prices, but for pure bang for buck and engineering wonder, its impossible to go past this deck.
 
Since we bought a house with a nice big room for my gear I've taken a major step forward. It's so much more "airy" now.

I was keen on getting another turntable but my SL1200 Mk2 fitted with a Grado Gold in the bigger room is now first class. Even my SL1700 with Grado Blue is no slouch either.

I put on one of my old favorites The Fox by Elton John, and listening to side two gives me goose bumps.

The SL1700 is more mellow with the Grado Blue, the SL1200 Mk2 with the Grado Gold is much more detailed with a sparkling top end.

If anyone want's a really good turntable look no further than the better Technics models and never underestimate the SL1200 Mk2.
 
I wouldn't change a thing on a stock SL1200 II. IMO it's the best little table money can buy in its price category. It's a no brainer really.

This is the table I use on my second system (Arcam A9 pre&power amp, ProAc studio 125 speakers, Clearaudio cart) and I play everything from $5 to $75 vinyl. Absolutely no complaints. The key, I guess, is a good sounding cartridge and good quality vinyl and I would put the 1200 up against tables that cost a good chunk more $$.

Again, keep it stock and enjoy it. :thmbsp:
 
the_nines said:
I wouldn't change a thing on a stock SL1200 II. IMO it's the best little table money can buy in its price category. It's a no brainer really.

This is the table I use on my second system (Arcam A9 pre&power amp, ProAc studio 125 speakers, Clearaudio cart) and I play everything from $5 to $75 vinyl. Absolutely no complaints. The key, I guess, is a good sounding cartridge and good quality vinyl and I would put the 1200 up against tables that cost a good chunk more $$.

Again, keep it stock and enjoy it. :thmbsp:
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basicly I agree with you nines, it is good as it arrives out of the box, but coming from somone who got his mooded, the table get noticably better with out even listening very closely. I also like playing 78's somtimes, which I know most people dont need.......but the tone arm re wire is a nice thing. the fluid damper is really good when it comes to playing slightly warped 78's. a warp can be a nightmare for even a good cart at 78 RPM!
 
The SL-1200 is one of the best tables ever made imo. The point of a turntable is to spin a record in a rock solid manner so that outside factors don't affect the pitch and sound quality. The SL-1200 does a good job of that.

The arm is a work of art. I love the VTA adjustment. It's well designed and durable. Audiophile quality for sure.
 
A great turntable, the SL1200 types...................I have an sl1200 mKII in use here, with an Ortofon Concorde OM20 or a Shure M44-7ED depending what Im listening to. A mate of mine uses his sl1200 with a Stanton G800e on it. ianj
 
I really like the stock 1200 and supposedly finally a soon to arrive beat SL1200 is finally going to make it here. Currently I have the SL-1710, SL-120 and SL-110.

I'll KAB mod the 1200 arm and love it.

But I also have an SME 3009, a Sony PUA, a funky JVC, and a carbon fibre ADC I can play around with.

It's fun to screw around with this deck- not only does it love swapping and working with numerous carts, it loves the KAB mods, and it will do wonders with a multitude of arms.


I may let both the SL-110 and SL-120 go and finance an outboard power supply and this fancy feet....
 
Got my 1210 mk II spinning today, i have taken some pics of my setting that i am going to post
Now can you guys take a quick look at the pics. and see if i have the correct settings for the AT 440 mla cartridge.
Thks in advance
[img=http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7348/hpim1458.th.jpg]
[img=http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/651/hpim1459.th.jpg]
[img=http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8651/hpim1457.th.jpg]
[img=http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/55/hpim1460i.th.jpg]

I adjusted 1.5g pressure on stylus and 1.8 tracking force.

Couple improvements i noticed right away surface noise almost none!!!! end of lp distortion 99% improvement

I am enjoying every minute,and this will really help since i have many records that have played many times.
 
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Quick question, are the wood cases that KAB sells really worth the money? Anyone know where to get one a little more reasonably priced?
 
mcnail said:
Quick question, are the wood cases that KAB sells really worth the money? Anyone know where to get one a little more reasonably priced?
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How do you define "worth the money"? Everything the Kevin sell seems pretty reasonably priced to me.
 
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