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Technics SL 1600 MK2 Vs SL 1700 MK2 Vs SL M1 vs etc

Garmore

Garmore

New Member
After 6 years of collecting records I think it's time to finally pick up a turntable

I've been eyeing a few models but some of them rarely surface, I prefer Semi-Auto turntables (for the auto stop/auto return) for home use
-Technics SL 1400 MK2 (a few available, but im just worried about the faulty lift plastic part)
-Technics SL 1600 (plentiful)
-Technics SL 1600 MK2 (occasionally appears, but prices are almost same as SL-1200 MK2)
-Technics SL 1700 (a bit less plentiful than SL 1600)
-Technics SL 1700 MK2 (haven't seen any listings since i started hunting)
-Technics SL M1 (the version without the pitch slider)

Currently available and within my price range: SL 1400 MK2, SL 1600, SL 1700, SL M1
so which one do you guys think I should pick up/wait for?
Also i live in south east asia so I'm getting the TTs from japan
 
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From your list, I prefer the SL-1700, a suspended semi-automatic. I have a pre-Mk2 SL-1800 manual, these things are nearly bulletproof. While I like the looks of the servo DDs, the Mk2s are quartz locked, and they have a better tonearm, with VTA adjustment. But the overall performance of the pre-Mk2 decks is very good. I'm not personally a fan of full-auto tables, there's too many things to go wrong.

For what it's worth, I replaced the SL-1800 in the main system with a Denon DP-1700. I like this one even better than the Technics, and have it set up for LOMC carts. But, the SL-1800, with a Concorde Music Bronze, is now the single source for my headphone set-up. It's a very nice sounding combination. Even though it's not in the main system, it's still one of my favorite decks.
 
Garmore said:
After 6 years of collecting records I think it's time to finally pick up a turntable

I've been eyeing a few models but some of them rarely surface, I prefer Semi-Auto turntables (for the auto stop/auto return) for home use
-Technics SL 1400 MK2 (a few available, but im just worried about the faulty lift plastic part)
-Technics SL 1600 (plentiful)
-Technics SL 1600 MK2 (occasionally appears, but prices are almost same as SL-1200 MK2)
-Technics SL 1700 (a bit less plentiful than SL 1600)
-Technics SL 1700 MK2 (haven't seen any listings since i started hunting)
-Technics SL M1 (the version without the pitch slider)

Currently available and within my price range: SL 1400 MK2, SL 1600, SL 1700, SL M1
so which one do you guys think I should pick up/wait for?
Also i live in south east asia so I'm getting the TTs from japan
Click to expand...
Easy answers. Buy the best SL-1700 you can find (it's the semi automatic you want). The SL-1600 fully automatic would be my second choice. Those are all upper level consumer automatics. Technics build quality at it's best in that class. These are also among the most reliable of that range. The SL-1300 in top condition is also a good third choice (not on your list).
 
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Also I want to ask if the SL-M1 is just a bit higher price than the SL-1700 is it worth it?
all I know it shares the same motor as the SL 1200 MK2 (I work at a record store that sells SL1200 MK2 - MK3D) so spare parts from those are easily accessible
that's also why I'm still trying to see if a SL 1700 MK2 happen to pop up in yahoo auctions/mercari (looks like unlikely)

On paper it's a nice TT:
-Auto Lift
-Quartz Lock
-S-shaped tonearm version with universal mount
-Mechanized Cueing
-0.022% Wow & Flutter
- -82 db Rumble

Also another guy posted this ranking before
 

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KentTeffeteller said:
Easy answers. Buy the best SL-1700 you can find (it's the semi automatic you want). The SL-1600 fully automatic would be my second choice. Those are all upper level consumer automatics. Technics build quality at it's best in that class. These are also among the most reliable of that range. The SL-1300 in top condition is also a good third choice (not on your list).
Click to expand...
How does the SL 1300 MK 1 & SL 1400 MK 1 compare to the SL 1600 1 & SL 1700 MK 1 in terms of reliability?
 
From your list, I'd go SL-M1 without a doubt. Second choices would be the Mk2 SL1x00 models as they're Quartz Lock.

To be fair, though, none of them are a bad choice!
 
Garmore said:
After 6 years of collecting records I think it's time to finally pick up a turntable

I've been eyeing a few models but some of them rarely surface, I prefer Semi-Auto turntables (for the auto stop/auto return) for home use
-Technics SL 1400 MK2 (a few available, but im just worried about the faulty lift plastic part)
-Technics SL 1600 (plentiful)
-Technics SL 1600 MK2 (occasionally appears, but prices are almost same as SL-1200 MK2)
-Technics SL 1700 (a bit less plentiful than SL 1600)
-Technics SL 1700 MK2 (haven't seen any listings since i started hunting)
-Technics SL M1 (the version without the pitch slider)

Currently available and within my price range: SL 1400 MK2, SL 1600, SL 1700, SL M1
so which one do you guys think I should pick up/wait for?
Also i live in south east asia so I'm getting the TTs from japan
Click to expand...
Easy answer.s Buy the best SL-1700 you can find (it's the semi automatic you want). The SL-1600 fully automatic would be my second choice. Those are all upper level consumer automatics. Technics build quality at it's best in that class.
Garmore said:
How does the SL 1300 MK 1 & SL 1400 MK 1 compare to the SL 1600 1 & SL 1700 MK 1 in terms of reliability?
Click to expand...
SL-1300 Mk 1 more reliable than the SL-1400 on average.
 
If you want full auto, no doubt get a 1600mk2, if semi auto is good enough then a 1700mk2. They are the rolls Royce of the Technics line.
 
NachoTemino said:
If you want full auto, no doubt get a 1600mk2, if semi auto is good enough then a 1700mk2. They are the rolls Royce of the Technics line.
Click to expand...
Rolls-Royce of the Technics line is SP series which are manual motor units (SL-1000, SL-1015, and SL-1025 as complete turntables). Nothing wrong with the SL-1600 or SL-1700 (the Mk 2 when working well are fine, but more complex to repair). They are upper end consumer models with automatic features.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Rolls-Royce of the Technics line is SP series which are manual motor units (SL-1000, SL-1015, and SL-1025 as complete turntables). Nothing wrong with the SL-1600 or SL-1700 (the Mk 2 when working well are fine, but more complex to repair). They are upper end consumer models with automatic features.
Click to expand...
I just met a friend of my boss that has a SP-10 MKII, but he had it tucked away somewhere, however they are outside my budget range for the moment

also for the update: Imma get a SL-M1 First since i see it has a lot of common parts with SL-1200 MK2, see a cheaper listing than SL-1600 MK2 and SL-1700 MK2 isn't appearing anytime soon, + this ranking https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/technics-turntable-pecking-order.948813/ says M series is higher than SL 1XX0 series
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Rolls-Royce of the Technics line is SP series which are manual motor units (SL-1000, SL-1015, and SL-1025 as complete turntables). Nothing wrong with the SL-1600 or SL-1700 (the Mk 2 when working well are fine, but more complex to repair). They are upper end consumer models with automatic features.
Click to expand...
Ok, let them be Bentley then
 
Garmore said:
I just met a friend of my boss that has a SP-10 MKII, but he had it tucked away somewhere, however they are outside my budget range for the moment

also for the update: Imma get a SL-M1 First since i see it has a lot of common parts with SL-1200 MK2, see a cheaper listing than SL-1600 MK2 and SL-1700 MK2 isn't appearing anytime soon, + this ranking https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/technics-turntable-pecking-order.948813/ says M series is higher than SL 1XX0 series
Click to expand...
The SL-M1 if buying avoid the T4p mount only version. Cartridge choices limited with genuine stylus support. It is a different turntable from a SL-1200 by the way. It's closer to a SL-Q2 or SL-Q3 motor wise (a good turntable itself but cheaper series). Spare parts also harder to find on an SL-M1 due to being lower production (2 years only).
 
KentTeffeteller said:
The SL-M1 if buying avoid the T4p mount only version. Cartridge choices limited with genuine stylus support. It is a different turntable from a SL-1200 by the way. It's closer to a SL-Q2 or SL-Q3 motor wise (a good turntable itself but cheaper series). Spare parts also harder to find on an SL-M1 due to being lower production (2 years only).
Click to expand...
This one has a S-Shaped tonearm
 

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