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Technics SL-23 or Technics SL-DD33

T

technics11

New Member
Background, I've been using a Technics SL-DD33 everyday for about a year now. I think it sounds great and it runs flawlessly well aside from the cueing dropping too fast so I have to slowly move the switch each time. I recently acquired a Technics SL-23 for free, cleaned it up, installed a new belt, added an old but good ATECD92 cartridge and used DeOxit on the pots and it runs perfectly now. After trying to audition them against each other I can't really tell much of a difference.

What are everyone's thoughts on these two tables comparatively?

Receiver - Pioneer SX-737
Speakers - Pioneer Bookshelfs from the 2000's

Technics SL-DD33 w/LP Gear CFT4PSE cart (30 playing hours)

Technics SL-23 w/AT AT92ECD cart (1,000 playing hours)
 
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I would prefer the SL-23. It might not be better on paper but it does have more versatility with respect to cartridges and headshells. IMO it looks better too.

If you haven't already you probably should get a couple of drops of oil in the motor on the 23. Sometimes those Technics belt drives seize.
 
I'm definitely keeping them both for the long run. I was thinking the same thing for versatility of the SL-23 not being a P-mount. But I don't think I'll be spending money on new carts anytime soon as I just bought that LP gear CFT4PSE. The other silly nuance is that the SL-DD33 have a brand new OEM dust cover which is really nice. The SL-23 did not come with a dust cover but hey, I can't complain for it being free.
 
Bump for any more thoughts? I'm thinking of maybe looking an Ortofon Red on the SL-23 in the future. Right now I have an LP Gear CFT4PSE on both SL-DD33 & SL-23, would the Red/SL-23 be an improvement?

TIA
 
The SL-DD33. I have had one for over 30 years and it's still running like the day I bought in 1987. I've been through about 6 different P-Mount cartridges ranging from 4 different Audio-Technica ones and 2 Shure carts. It came with a really good Shure cart that I still have but there are no replacement stylus for it. Right now, it's using a Audio Technica AT85EP cartridge purchased last year since AT92ECD is discontinued. The dust cover hinge tabs broke but that's not so important to me. It came with a universal cart adaptor anything different than P-Mount but never used it. I keep waiting for it to die but it keeps going.
 
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