Technics SL-MA1 - Worth repairing or selling for spares?

[MRL_Audio]

I don't know. They are generally priced fairly and to me that's a solid value at <$350 which is what I generally see them go for. There were two versions. One had a removable headshell. The other did not.

 

[The-Mule]

Maybe that cheap low torque motor indeed performed better for rumble. I don't see Technics lying about that.

 

[restorer-john]

Maybe that cheap low torque motor indeed performed better for rumble. I don't see Technics lying about that.

Maybe it did perform well in terms of rumble. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to confirm rumble figures and not many people do. The motor was however used in many of their lower range Quartz PLL DDs and is nice enough, but not remotely in the same league as say a SL1200/1500/1600mk2 or above.

If anyone is interested, I have the exact motor on my bench right now. If you want to see the remarkable similarities between this motor and the new Technics motor...

 

[Ds2000]

Maybe it did perform well in terms of rumble. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to confirm rumble figures and not many people do. The motor was however used in many of their lower range Quartz PLL DDs and is nice enough, but not remotely in the same league as say a SL1200/1500/1600mk2 or above.

If anyone is interested, I have the exact motor on my bench right now. If you want to see the remarkable similarities between this motor and the new Technics motor...

No dog in this thread, but I’d like to see the motor comparison.

 

[restorer-john]

No dog in this thread, but I’d like to see the motor comparison.

Here's the motor as used in the SL-MA1 (and a bunch of other cheap Quartz Technics DDs):



The motor drive showing the hall sensors and the FG coil (magnet sits above)



Shaft, sleeve bearing and hall sensors



Thrust plate, support, and nylon bearing sleeve mount



Windings, offset coils in pairs, 12 in total



Ring magnets and hall detector positional angle commutations



Upper magnet ring bell housing (attaches to platter with three screws)



Technics motor drive IC

 

[restorer-john]

Here's the "new" motors alongside their repsective TTs. The one I pictured above is from 1980!

Notice the 1500c and the 1200 use variations on these motors. Hardly different at all. Same three point attachment of the magnet to the underside of the platter.

The only real difference is adaptable digital drive that can be customized
for each and every production line motor to ensure consistency and the drive circuitry is on a separate PCB.

The old SL-1200mk2 motor would be significantly more expensive to manufacture than these pancake motors on the mid range models. (not applicable to the top models)

 

[Ds2000]

Here's the "new" motors alongside their repsective TTs. The one I pictured above is from 1980!

Notice the 1500c and the 1200 use variations on these motors. Hardly different at all. Same three point attachment of the magnet to the underside of the platter.

The only real difference is adaptable digital drive that can be customized
for each and every production line motor to ensure consistency and the drive circuitry is on a separate PCB.

The old SL-1200mk2 motor would be significantly more expensive to manufacture than these pancake motors on the mid range models. (not applicable to the top models)

View attachment 1633473

Big difference between the motor in the foreground and the two in the background.

 

[The-Mule]

Any wow and flutter/speed stability comparisons between those motors?