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Technics SL 1300 .............$125 a decent deal?

Krains

Krains

Member
I've been console-less for 2 months an really want to buy a new player...
I've been hemming and hawing on the Audio Technica LP-60 $99 new - I have $75 in Best Buy Bucks so I 'd only be paying $25
a TEAC TN-100 $149 new - I have $75 in Best Buy Bucks so I 'd only be paying $75
or a used Technics SL 1300 with a good Stanton cartridge for $125

Which is the better buy here?

I'm not an audiophile as I've been rocking a 1965 RCA console for 8 years with no complaints but a little better system would be appreciated

Picked up a JVC mid 70s receiver and Realistic M-1000s as well

thanks
 
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If the 1300 is in good working order, that's a pretty good deal! Especially with a cartridge...go get it.
 
IMHO it all depends on condition... if the 1300 is good to go that would be my pick. It was built back when turntables were a current viable medium, not 20 years later, and my sense is that you *can* buy a good new turntable today, but not for $1-200. U-turn Orbit may be an exception but reviews are mixed and I haven't had the opportunity to hear one. Me, i'm a bottom feeder, I only have one table that I have more than $100 in because I buy old stuff cheap and fix it up myself.
 
Also...does Krokus sound better on better turntables or do they really not sound that good? #hardheaded
 
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on that table, especially with a 'good' cartridge. It is a quality table, a worthy addition to any good system.

S.J.
 
I would take the Technics if working properly. If it needs only basic clean up the that is a good price.

Check the cueing, the speed, and the auto functions.
 
The other tables mentioned aren't in the same class as the Technics at all.

If you want to use your bestbuy card, look at a Teac TN-300 or Audio Technica LP-120 at the minimum. Not as good as the Technics but still acceptable tables that won't chew up Krokus.
 
I have the MKI version of the 1300, with an AT15Sa cart and a new Shibata stylus, it is a FANTASTIC table, I've never owned a better setup.

Is yours MKI or II? Is it the quartz lock version?
 
Krains I'd high tail it over to the seller of that SL-1300 and check it out with cash in your wallet before it's gone. In comparison to the Best Buy tables listed the SL-1300 is high end/audiophile if in decent working condition and has a good Stanton cartridge installed. If the seller is a mature adult original owner you hit the audio gold standard.
 
Ok I bought it- I hooked up the amp and speakers and they are clean sounding on the receiver radio stations- the turntable sounds very staticy - I even tried a brand new record out of the package and got heavy static-I brushed off the new record in case there was dust on it and still lots of static - also all 4 records I played it don't appear to spin clean- they look like there is a warp including the new one......any ideas on why this is? is the stylus bad ? the seller indicated he balanced at zero and then added I believe 1.3 oz for weight of needle although I m not sure what that means -much appreciated for any ideas-
 
got to set up "by the book"

Is the platter spinning at a steady, correct speed? If so that's half the battle

Now zero the tracking force dial and anti-skate and balance the tonearm with the weight - I mean balance it so it just hovers about level if you let go of it

dial in the recommended tracking force for your cartride, 1.5-1.75 is probably a good starting point if you don't know. That's grams not ounces (I hope!)

Set anti-skate to match

get a plain magic eraser and drop the stylus on it a few times gently

try it again... how's it sound? Hopefully not staticky. If it does check connections from cartridge to tonearm wires, muting switch (if any, I don't really know Technics) and RCA connections, deoxit if necessary

once you get the static out then check cartridge alignment with protractor, you can download from vinylengine and print/cut out - there's yootoob videos that show you how to do it if you're not sure. Bad alignment won't cause static but it might make it sound a little off and/or one channel louder than the other

Also what receiver are you using and have you ever used the phono stage before? If not try (at a VERY low level) another source through it... music through your phone through a 3.5mm to 2xRCA cord would be my go to. TURN THE VOLUME DOWN THOUGH the phono stage is expecting a much lower level than a "line level" input like tape, CD, etc. if you feed it more than a very low level you may blow s**t up and that's no bueno. It will sound like crap because it'll apply a RIAA EQ curve to your tunes, but we're just trying to determine if the problem is the table or the phono stage here. If it's still staticky pop the top and deoxit the selector switch & try again.

Good luck!
 
Krains go over to Vinyl Engine, sign up, download/print out the owners manual, it will have step by step set up and operating instructions. Also read your owners manual for your receiver in relation to using a turntable. Read up on record and cartridge/stylus cleaning here on AK.
 
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