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technics sl-1600 upgrade question

My speakers are alon model 1's so they are fine. My amp is a proton d1200 which I am. Very impressed with. My preamp is a yamaha cx-2, again, I feel its doing its job. I am simply interested in making the sl-1600 as good as it can be...I think at this point ill try a new stylus and swap out the interconnects and make sure everything is aligned properly. Thank you all for dealing with my newbie questions....I hope to eventually take this to a much higher level but need to learn the basics first. The sl-1600 is in great shape...near mint in appearance and all functions work properly. It just needs some tweaking I think. I havent read any negative reviews on the table other than its limited upgrading options.

Scott
 
You have an awesome table to learn the basics on. I think you will be most impressed with a new stylus and /or cartridge. The cartridge database on vinyl engine is a good search tool. Hifishark is a good search engine to find deals.

The only trouble I have found on technics tables is the light, ringy platter. I added a sds 1kg isoplat mat, herbies audiolab 2mm mat and bren 1 record weight to my sl-1025 replica and noticed a subtle but def. cleaner sound. Personally I wouldn't put more into the table mod wise than what the table is worth.
 
I think your right....my table sounds good enough that im slowly replacing favorite cd's with the vinyl version...a new stylus and maybe new rca interconnects would be an improvement. ...if I didnt truly think my vinyl on my table didnt sound better to my ears, I would only play cd's....you cant really appreciate vinyl until you switch back from cd....we gave up what I consider a richer sound for more sterile, dead quiet music on cd...my technics is good enough for now but I know it can be better and thats half the fun...getting there. I will look into a mat...I have heard about people using weight placed on thier plinth to balance out any resonance or vibration. That interests me as well as getting a marble slab to sit my table on...so many things to test out...
 
Can anyone tell me what my tracking weight on my sl-1600 with stanton 681EEE cart and db6800es stylus should be set to? I have the stylus brush still attached. I have it currently set to 2.5 grams. Also where should anti skating be set?

Thanks
scott
 
honestabe316 said:
Can anyone tell me what my tracking weight on my sl-1600 with stanton 681EEE cart and db6800es stylus should be set to? I have the stylus brush still attached. I have it currently set to 2.5 grams. Also where should anti skating be set?

Thanks
scott
Click to expand...

D6800SE stylus. Stanton's recommendation for the stylus is between 2.0 and 4.0 grams. I'd start at around 3.0 or 3.25 grams and adjust (within fairly narrow limits) to taste.

John
 
I have a compatibility question if anyone has an answer or some much needed input. My Technics SL-1600 MK1 has a Stanton 681EEE Calibration Standard cartridge. I plan on buying an LPGEAR Vivid Line Stylus for the 681EEE. I am trying to find out if a Yamamoto (H-4) wooden headshell would be a compatible Head shell alternative to the stock headshell or if there are any other alternative headshells that would be a good fit. I know the SL-1600 MK1 is not very upgradeable, but I thought this might be an option.
 
honestabe316 said:
I have a compatibility question if anyone has an answer or some much needed input. My Technics SL-1600 MK1 has a Stanton 681EEE Calibration Standard cartridge. I plan on buying an LPGEAR Vivid Line Stylus for the 681EEE. I am trying to find out if a Yamamoto (H-4) wooden headshell would be a compatible Head shell alternative to the stock headshell or if there are any other alternative headshells that would be a good fit.
Click to expand...
Welcome Back to your 12-year thread!
Glad to offer some input - wish it was better feedback.
I think our compatibility concerns begin with the compliance of the cartridge/stylus.

The Vivid line styli specs are lacking, but most info indicates they tried to mimic OEM products; 681EEE compliance = 25
This is going to be a tough fit on a 16g tonearm (9.5g shell).
I can't find any info on a H-4 shell, but it is not a fix for this.
There are some other styli for this cartridge with lower compliance, but I do not know of any specific recommendations, especially one with an advanced profile like Vivid.
 
honestabe316 said:
I am trying to find out if a Yamamoto (H-4) wooden headshell would be a compatible Head shell alternative.
Click to expand...
I bought a wooden Yamamoto headshell. I'll warn you — it's heavier than some stock headshells (7.5 grams for the OEM Technics 1200, versus 10.7 grams for the Yamamoto). So take that into consideration, re: the resonance and the counterbalance.
 
Yea, I took a little break in between posts lol... a lot happened and what goes around comes around I guess and im back to my SL-1600. I just had it serviced by CTH turntables in Easley S.C. and I have to pick it up this week. Im just trying to make any upgrades possible on my MK1 and a headshell upgrade caught my attention. There are others made with different materials other than wood with different weights as well. With the stylus I want, what weight would I be looking for? The idea is that the stock headshell can ring like a tuning fork and there are alternatives that won't.
 
honestabe316 said:
The idea is that the stock headshell can ring like a tuning fork and there are alternatives that won't.
Click to expand...
I use the stock Technics headshell. I haven't had "ringing" issues. But, then again, I haven't tested it on any sophisticated scope setup. My little opinion here: the Technics engineers knew what they were doing. ;)

I tried to find a nice, quiet tune I uploaded. Dual AKG mics, subwoofers on.
Killing Me Softly.
Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly." Atlantic Records. SD 7271. Richmond Pressing. 1973.
Runout: ST-A-732915-HHH-1 AT PR D.
 
honestabe316 said:
.... I just had it serviced by CTH turntables in Easley S.C. and I have to pick it up this week. Im just trying to make any upgrades possible on my MK1 and a headshell upgrade caught my attention. There are others made with different materials other than wood with different weights as well. With the stylus I want, what weight would I be looking for? The idea is that the stock headshell can ring like a tuning fork and there are alternatives that won't.
Click to expand...
Service = good upgrade!
Consider asking CTH about your cartridge plans & other upgrade options.
There might be some plinth/feet/isolation options, but your best TT upgrade may be a more compatible cartridge.

If you want to further evaluate Vivid stylus, a lighter headshell will help, but you really can't go low enough with your arm.
I got a 681EEE & plan to use it on my 10.5g arm w/lightest shell.
Using a tonearm resonance calculator as an estimating tool, I hope to get close to:
1781557859546.png
Technics shells are fine & readily available @ 7.5g. There are some other good lighter shells, but we still have a less than ideal fit.
 
You might look for an ADC aluminum headshell. Also, I believe there is a vintage Audio Technica headshell that is about 6 grams. Not sure if it is aluminum or magnesium. You might look at an older thread here in AK that discusses lightweight headshells. Part of what you are trying to do with a lighter headshell is to be able to move the counterweight closer to the pivot, which effectively decreases the inertia of the tonearm.
 
sound hound said:
Part of what you are trying to do with a lighter headshell is to be able to move the counterweight closer to the pivot, which effectively decreases the inertia of the tonearm.
Click to expand...
You know that this changes the inherent resonance frequency of the arm and cartridge. This may adversely affect the bass response and rumble issues.

:idea:
 
Maybe the stock headshell should stay then....a better stylus will be good enough. The other reason I was looking at a different head shell was so I could adjust VTA as some headshells allow you to adjust it. I was also interested in the shibata stylus but what I read was that the shibata was more unforgiving with adjustments
 
honestabe316 said:
Maybe the stock headshell should stay then....a better stylus will be good enough. The other reason I was looking at a different head shell was so I could adjust VTA as some headshells allow you to adjust it. I was also interested in the shibata stylus but what I read was that the shibata was more unforgiving with adjustments
Click to expand...
I have a Shibata tip on my 1200. Yes, you need to take your time with the alignment. But, really, all microtip styluses should be carefully aligned to get the most out of them. Including the life.
 
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