• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Technics SL-1600 vs SL-5300

Z

zounds!

Member
I'm in the market for a new turntable and could use some guidance. I've been using a Hitachi HT-45 direct drive TT for the past 8 years which has recently started to fail in various ways. Rather than repair the TT, I'm looking to upgrade and would like to make sure what I choose is worth hanging on to and maintaining. I don't anticipate delving into major audiophilia (who does?) or owning multiple TTs, so I kind of just want to find the best TT for my money, set it up, and enjoy the music. That said, I'm willing to pay up to $200 something that I'm going to keep around and use every day and am not necessarily waiting for a diamond in the rough to show up for $20 in a thrift store (though my eyes are always peeled).

I'm open to suggestions, but the past few days I've been researching used Technics direct drives and could use a hand in sorting them all out. I checked out an $80(CAD) SL-1800 off kijiji today but turned it down -- scraped up, very loose arm bearings, no lid, and a non-functioning anti-skate control (seller bought it of a dj). It was beat but I loved the feel of it and now I've kind of got the bug, so I've been eying the whole SL-1600/1700/1800 series.

From what I've gathered (mostly from this forum and the vintage technics site)- and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong - they are servo direct drive, metal plinth, use the 1200 tonearm (without VTA adjustment) and motor, and have a suspended chassis.

I've also been looking at SL-5100/5200/5300s -- quartz, TNRC plinth, and a tonearm/motor/suspension that I haven't figured out yet. Any info on the tonearm/motor on these would be great.

Can anyone help me compare these? 1600/1700/1800 tonearm, motor, and metal plinth make it pretty attractive. They seem like solid workhorse TTs that are a bit stripped down but have a lot of the features of higher end units. I sort of wish they were quartz though (I know the mkii models are out there, but not for the same price).

The 5100/5200/5300's quartz lock and muting circuit, on the other hand, seem pretty desirable, though I don't know much about the motor or tonearm. The lack of info on that and these TTs in general inspire a little less faith than the 1x00 line does.

Also, the MSRP of the 1800 was $200, the 5100 was $300 which I didn't expect, as the 1x00 seems like a higher end TT, with the 5x00 being maybe less robust(?) but having some more bells and whistles. Agree/disagree with that assessment?

Looking at the specs, they have the same wow and flutter, the 5x00 has better rumble, but the 1x00 weighs more (not sure exactly what to make of that/its indication of quality). Somebody help sort out a newb! Though these are the two series that have caught my eye, suggestions for other respectable TT in this price range would also be cool! Sorry for writing y'all a book, my head is just spinning with specs and stats and model #s!

Oh, and manual/semi/auto doesn't matter to me!
 
Register to hide this ad
zounds! said:
I'm in the market for a new turntable and could use some guidance. I've been using a Hitachi HT-45 direct drive TT for the past 8 years which has recently started to fail in various ways. Rather than repair the TT, I'm looking to upgrade and would like to make sure what I choose is worth hanging on to and maintaining. I don't anticipate delving into major audiophilia (who does?) or owning multiple TTs, so I kind of just want to find the best TT for my money, set it up, and enjoy the music. That said, I'm willing to pay up to $200 something that I'm going to keep around and use every day and am not necessarily waiting for a diamond in the rough to show up for $20 in a thrift store (though my eyes are always peeled).

I'm open to suggestions, but the past few days I've been researching used Technics direct drives and could use a hand in sorting them all out. I checked out an $80(CAD) SL-1800 off kijiji today but turned it down -- scraped up, very loose arm bearings, no lid, and a non-functioning anti-skate control (seller bought it of a dj). It was beat but I loved the feel of it and now I've kind of got the bug, so I've been eying the whole SL-1600/1700/1800 series.

From what I've gathered (mostly from this forum and the vintage technics site)- and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong - they are servo direct drive, metal plinth, use the 1200 tonearm (without VTA adjustment) and motor, and have a suspended chassis.

I've also been looking at SL-5100/5200/5300s -- quartz, TNRC plinth, and a tonearm/motor/suspension that I haven't figured out yet. Any info on the tonearm/motor on these would be great.

Can anyone help me compare these? 1600/1700/1800 tonearm, motor, and metal plinth make it pretty attractive. They seem like solid workhorse TTs that are a bit stripped down but have a lot of the features of higher end units. I sort of wish they were quartz though (I know the mkii models are out there, but not for the same price).

The 5100/5200/5300's quartz lock and muting circuit, on the other hand, seem pretty desirable, though I don't know much about the motor or tonearm. The lack of info on that and these TTs in general inspire a little less faith than the 1x00 line does.

Also, the MSRP of the 1800 was $200, the 5100 was $300 which I didn't expect, as the 1x00 seems like a higher end TT, with the 5x00 being maybe less robust(?) but having some more bells and whistles. Agree/disagree with that assessment?

Looking at the specs, they have the same wow and flutter, the 5x00 has better rumble, but the 1x00 weighs more (not sure exactly what to make of that/its indication of quality). Somebody help sort out a newb! Though these are the two series that have caught my eye, suggestions for other respectable TT in this price range would also be cool! Sorry for writing y'all a book, my head is just spinning with specs and stats and model #s!

Oh, and manual/semi/auto doesn't matter to me!
Click to expand...

Get the SL 1600 if you want a better (metal) plinth and suspended components or get the SL-5300 if you want quartz lock, the SL-5300 is not suspended either it just has four rubber and spring feet on the bottom of the deck.

Either way you can't go wrong and there isn't much difference between the two beyond that.

Technics turntables have amazing build quality and sound great.

If I had the choice I would go with the Sl-1600 as it is a higher end unit.
 
I have an SL-1600, so I can tell you a little about it. Never have even seen an SL-5300.

The SL-1600 is a nice turntable. You could buy nicer turntables, but I've never felt like I needed to buy a nicer one. This one does the job very well.

I'd stay away from the Mk II version. Some of the Mk II's (can't remember if the 1600 Mk II is in that bunch) had a major design defect that shows up with age and disables automatic functions. Replacement part is not available so you'd have to fabricate one.

Mine has had two problems since I bought it used a few years ago. The signal cable had a internal break at the strain relief. Cables are easy to replace. The tone arm drop damper is a little weak. Arm drops faster than I would like but not too fast . . . yet. The damping fluid can be replaced, although I haven't done it.

All of the SL-1x00 turntables (except certain Mk II models) have a good reputation for sound quality and durability. The SL-1x10's are the same turntables, just for markets other than the US. If you prefer a record changer model, the SL-1x50's and SL-1x60's are good. I have an SL-1360 that I like. Similar to the SL-1600 (but a little older) except that it does not have a suspended chassis. Same problem with the damping fluid.

A guy was selling rebuilt 1600's on ebay for a while. Haven't seen him lately, though. Might be worth watching.
 
I'd go for the best condition unit I could find between the two, the feature set isn't that much different. The SL-5x00 line had plastic plinths, which makes them less appealing now after 30+ years of use and marks, but when it was new I see why it sold for more in the consumer market. Not sure I agree the SL-1600 was ever a higher end unit, how could it be without quartz lock? But most folks will say it was.....
 
Thanks for your input everybody! It sounds like either choice will be an upgrade for me in some way, with both being sort of a compromise between higher end models. What I want is really the 1x00's suspended subchassis, aluminium plinth, and arm/motor with the 5x00's quartz lock, which I guess means I just want a 1x00 MKII but can't afford one! Nor do I want to deal with the MKII automation problems. That said, should I be concerned with the auto functions on the original 1x00 versions or the 5x00s? My gut feeling is that I should stick with the manual or semi-automatic versions of these, as I've never even had an automatic so I don't know/care what I'm missing and would avoid potential failure. I guess I'm leery of buying something with features I don't need if those features could cause problems. Is this concern unfounded when it comes to the 1x00 (not MKII) or 5x00?
 
If I were you, I would consider looking at the SL-D2 (semi-auto) or D3 (full-auto). Also the SL-Q2 adds quartz lock and a better tonearm. (Q3 is the full auto version). The SL-Q series has quartz lock (no adjustable pitch control) and an aluminum plinth, the SL-D series has the TNRC base and has a pitch control. I have both and enjoy them enormously because of the very reliable automation. They are easily found within your budget on a fairly frequently basis and are excellent performers.
 
Ohh, interesting. I had read that the Q2/3 were plastic so I had been sort of dismissing them. Aluminum plinth + quartz definitely catches my attention, but as a newb I guess I also need to be prioritizing exactly what features are important to me and which I'll ever even know the difference between...I imagine aluminum would offer the "feel" of quality (aside from sonic considerations which I can't claim to have an ear for...yet) while quartz would lock the speed and allow me to stop checking the strobe for drift....

Any info on how the Q2/3 arms and motors stack up to the 1x00 or 5x00? I find for all of the Technics TTs I've been researching, folks on various forums like to compare motors and tonearms to the 1200 MKII, some saying one model has THE same motor and tonearm, others saying the same model has a totally different and lesser tonearm....lots of contradictions, hard to keep track of....

Q2/3 wow and flutter, rumble, and weight are identical to the 5x00. Are they essentially metal plinth 5x00s without the muting circuit and stylus light, or do their motors, tonearms, or suspension (/lack of) differ? Thanks again to everyone for sharing their knowledge with me!
 
Last edited:
The motor in SL-Q2/3 turntables and SL-1200MkII is identical.

Arms are almost identical too.
The biggest difference is in the arm base - no VTA adjustment with SL-Q tables.
 
Better even, the motor on the SL-Q2/3, D2/3, 5x00 and 1600 is equivalent / identical. The MK2 series just has a bit more torque, but the use of materials in the motor parts is the same, as is the circuit (apart from the quartz-lock / non quartz-lock difference). I've serviced many of these so I know how they are built.

Actually, arm-, motor- and convenience wise and also sonically they are all pretty close. A much more important variable is which cartridge you mount on it.

Metal is nice for the looks and tends to age better in that respect than painted plastic, but sonically it does not have an advantage over the TNRC plastic that Technics used.
That is why the D- and 5x00-series sound so good for the price.

So get the one which has a good price and is in good condition. A 5x00 that has been taken good care of will look lovely too. ;)
 
Don't discount the 'Mk1' versions of the 1300/1400/1500 or 1600/1700/1800 just because they don't have quartz lock. The servo controls on these give very good results.

But .... if you want suspended, quartz lock and metal plinth, look for a SL-1301/1401/1501. Rather rare and a bit of an odd-bird 'transition' model. Quartz lock but no pitch control. The tonearm and bearing/yoke style of the Mk2's rather than the Mk1's but no VTA. But the exact same plinth and suspension as the SL-1600/1700/1800 Mk1. I believe only made 1 year ('78) so fairly rare.

I've had a SL-1700 and a SL-1401. Wonderful turntables, both of them.
 
... and re-reading your 1st post ... as I alluded to above, the tonearm on the SL-1600/1700/1800 Mk1 isn't the same as the tonearm on the SL-1200Mk2. The whole pivot/bearing/yoke assembly is different. The tonearm on the Mk2 is the same.
 
Wow, great information everybody. Thanks so much. As a newcomer it sounds like I'd be pretty set with any of the discussed models - SL-1300-1500, 1600-1800, Q2/3, or 5100-5300.

I didn't mean to write off the servo models! I think I'm just a little shellshocked from dealing with my dying Hitachi, so I see a feature like quartz lock and start drooling. I'm sure a properly functioning servo TT can perform just as well, so you're right, Van Isle, I should let that be a deal-breaker for any of the 1x00 models.

Now that the 1300-1500 are in the mix, I'm starting to think about chassis suspension/lack of. As a newbie should I even be worrying about this? Trying not to split hairs since all of these TTs sound like they're pretty high quality, but the weight difference between the suspended 1600-1800 and the non-suspended 1300-1500 is huge! Is one method of construction/suspension preferable to the other? I have potential leads right now on a 1700 and 1400, with the 1400 being $50 cheaper.
 
Might also want to throw the SL-3200/3300 into your mix. Servo control, semi/full auto respectively, TNRC base, no suspension.

I have an SL-1700 downstairs and SL-3200 upstairs. The stylus and cartridge used has more effect on the sound than the minor differences from 1700 to 3200. Neither are quartz and once the pitch control is set you don't need to mess with it.

I also have an SL-D3 that I never use. I prefer the semi auto.
 
zounds! said:
That said, should I be concerned with the auto functions on the original 1x00 versions or the 5x00s?
Click to expand...

Can't say about auto functions with the 5x00's. The only problem I have heard of with the auto mechanism on the SL-1600 Mk I is that the grease on the auto mechanism hardens with age. When that occurs the auto mechanism stops working correctly. No parts breakage that I've heard of, so it's just a matter of cleaning off the old hardened grease, relubing, and you're good to go.
 
Check out barter town. I picked up a perfect sl 1600 few months back. And recently linear sl ql15 quartz lock. I know its not what your considering but its a neat table to have in the mix.
.
 
So I have a lead on an SL-1400 for $120 and an SL-1700 for $160, both local. I haven’t tried to haggle and have yet to see them, but they both appear to be in excellent condition. If they are in equally good condition, is the 1700 worth the extra $40? Is it superior in any way besides the suspension?
 
Got to chat with the seller of the 1700. He won't budge from $200, but he is also the original owner and has had the TT in storage since early 90s. Sounds like it's in mint condition. What do you all think?
 
Although there is something to be said about it being a "one owner" and "in storage", I would reserve judgement until you actually see it. It could have been stored in a hostile environment (attic, garage, etc.). If it has been stored in a closet in a climate controlled area of a home, it may be in relatively good condition. If it is in close to mint condition, it is probably worth the price - as long as it has all the original accessories, headshell, dustcover intact, etc. Any way you can post some photos?
 
_28.jpg

_27.jpg
 
That's a nice turntable indeed. Don't worry about the omission of quartz lock, this model arrived on the market just around the time quartz lock was introduced ('77), but that was expensive then (the first IC's!) and reserved for the absolute top models. This 1700 too was a higher end model, just lacking the quartz lock but quality wise up there with the best. 5 years later the lower models had quartz lock too, but that does not make them better turntables. The MK1 series is beautifully built and lasts forever.

What about the condition of the SL-1400? $120 is not bad at all. If that one too is undamaged (just a bit of dust does not hurt, you can remove it yourself ;)) and in full working order, that is presenting stiff competition to the SL-1700 for $200.

Also take into account what cartridge is mounted - and if it still has a good stylus, preferably the original brand, no replacement brand.

So the the total math would be:

TT model + TT technical condition + TT cosmetic condition +
Cartridge model + Stylus make + Stylus condition +
+ a large a mount of personal, irrational preference :)

MacNoob said:
Might also want to throw the SL-3200/3300 into your mix. Servo control, semi/full auto respectively, TNRC base, no suspension.

I have an SL-1700 downstairs and SL-3200 upstairs. The stylus and cartridge used has more effect on the sound than the minor differences from 1700 to 3200. Neither are quartz and once the pitch control is set you don't need to mess with it.

I also have an SL-D3 that I never use. I prefer the semi auto.
Click to expand...

True: The 3x00 series is the non quartz-locked version of the 5x00 series, just as good. ;)
Their successors in the lineup where the D and Q series, respectively.

PS No worries about suspended vs non-suspended models, both work great. And on all these models, the automatic mechanisms work fine as long as someone found the time to clean the dried out grease on it and put some fresh grease back. Which is perfectly normal after 35+ years. But mechanically there is nothing there a handy guy cannot fix.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom