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Technics SL-1200 versus SL-1200 MK2

guitarman50

guitarman50

Super Member
Just wondering what the difference is between these tables. There are 2 in my area for sale for a reasonable price and I'm going to buy one of them. They are both SL-1200. I've seen SL-1200MK2 mentioned on the Internet so I'm just wondering what the difference is. Googling to find the differences doesn't seem to be too succesful.
 
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All the upgrades tweaks and mods work on the MkII

The MkI is also a nice TT, but not as much upgrade potential...
 
The Vintage Technics Web site at http://www.vintagetechnics.co.uk/turntables.htm offers some hints.

For starters, the Mk2 is a newer design. The original SL-1200 was made from 1975 through 1977. The Mk2 came out in 1979 and remained in production through 2010.

Performance-wise, the original SL-1200 was an FG servo direct-drive turntable. Its wow and flutter specs were very close to the Mk2's (0.03% WRMS vs. 0.025%, a difference that will not be audible), but its absolute speed accuracy was not quite as good (0.01% vs. 0.002%, which is also an inaudible difference). The Mk2 had a lower (better) rumble spec than the original, though both numbers are low enough that audible rumble should not be a problem. The Mk2's tonearm had lower effective mass than the original, which is good, and a vertical height adjustment that allowed the user to adjust vertical tracking angle easily, which is also good.

Both of these models are fine performers, so the decision will come down to price and condition. If those are equal or close, I'd go for the Mk2 because of the improved tonearm and the fact that repair and upgrade parts are more readily available for that model than for the original SL-1200.
 
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this would be for my wife so audiophile sonics isn't a must, although I'd like it to be decent incase I ever had to use it temporarily for a backup. I wasn't aware this table wasn't automatic. And that is a must for my wife. Or at least end of record lift.
 
guitarman50 said:
this would be for my wife so audiophile sonics isn't a must, although I'd like it to be decent incase I ever had to use it temporarily for a backup. I wasn't aware this table wasn't automatic. And that is a must for my wife. Or at least end of record lift.
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In that case, pull up the turntable list in my earlier link and look for Technics models that offer semi-automatic operation (the arm lift at the end of the side) or full auto operation. Don't ignore the belt-drives, which are quite good for the money and are rather plentiful on the used market. The fully-automatic SL-23 and SL-230 would be very good choices, as would the semi-auto SL-220. For a bit more money, the direct-drive semi-automatic SL-1700 and its full auto cousin, the SL-1600, are also worth considering, though these tend to be rarer on the used market than the SL-23, 220 or 230.

The other Japanese majors also made some good semi-auto or full auto turntables or put their badges on CEC turntables, and Philips and Dual competed in this market as well. My only caveat about the Duals is they're mechanically complex and may need a cleaning and lubrication by someone who's familiar with their quirks.
 
Dr Tinear said:
My only caveat about the Duals is they're mechanically complex and may need a cleaning and lubrication by someone who's familiar with their quirks.
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does this apply to the new Duals. I'm considering the new CS-415 2. It seems like a good little plug and play no muss no fuss package.
 
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