Hey guys I posted on here a few months back about being new to turntables. I got busy with work so I wasn't able to get too deep into it. I found a Technics SL1200MK2 for sale near me that was just recently serviced and already comes with a cartridge so its ready to go. They are asking $550 for it. This is what I'd like to get but I wanted to hear from you guys if you think I should go with it or just get a new TT like a U-Turn or a Pro-Ject for around the same price. What do you guys think? My gut says the technics but I dont really know much about turntables. My current setup is a Sansui G8000 and DCM TF1000's. Thanks guys
Technics SL1200MK2 or something new?
- Thread starter bicroti
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Why'd you end up selling? Just wondering
vinylkid58
Super Member
I agree. Put a Herbie's mat and a decent cartridge on one, and it's going to be hard to beat for under a grand.
jeff
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Add a Kab damper and a Kab external psu and strobe disable and it becomes a very special turntable indeed.
Chris
Chris
Jon S
Super Member
Make sure you check out the anti-skate before buying. i used an old laserdisc as a test, a CD is not recommended as it will only test the AS on the inner section of the platter... I would adjust the AS and see if the arm would stay stationary when the stylus was set down.One player had AS that only worked on the inner section and did not work on the outer edge of the laserdisc.
I have checked several MK 5's and people are really trying to rip you off. A few were in really sad shape, others were missing all kinds of parts or were damaged with bad bearings. Almost all had AS issues. They all want $600+, even with no dust cover, rubber platter mat. Almost all were selling with no headshell/cartridge. The best ones were the sellers who insisted the deck was never used for DJing but the speed slider was all shot or sloppy or they were decked out with slip mats.
New dust cover is about $140, platter mats are $30, so the parts can add up if you want to restore it. My big concern is that all the Technics players are at least 19 years old. That is a lot of use for most of the players. You are betting your money on something that may not last much longer or need costly repairs.
Sicne I could not find a decent Technics in the past couple of months, I ended up buying a Pioneer PLX-1000 (not yet delivered)... I know it is a Chinese Hanpin knock off and finding one that does not have a warped platter, motor bearing noise and a defective AS is a crap shoot...
I have checked several MK 5's and people are really trying to rip you off. A few were in really sad shape, others were missing all kinds of parts or were damaged with bad bearings. Almost all had AS issues. They all want $600+, even with no dust cover, rubber platter mat. Almost all were selling with no headshell/cartridge. The best ones were the sellers who insisted the deck was never used for DJing but the speed slider was all shot or sloppy or they were decked out with slip mats.
New dust cover is about $140, platter mats are $30, so the parts can add up if you want to restore it. My big concern is that all the Technics players are at least 19 years old. That is a lot of use for most of the players. You are betting your money on something that may not last much longer or need costly repairs.
Sicne I could not find a decent Technics in the past couple of months, I ended up buying a Pioneer PLX-1000 (not yet delivered)... I know it is a Chinese Hanpin knock off and finding one that does not have a warped platter, motor bearing noise and a defective AS is a crap shoot...
Moby Dick
Active Member
If the sl1200 is in good working order, you won’t find anything better for double the price.
The only question you should ask yourself is;
Is the sl1200 the type of turntable you want?
It is a manual turntable, I prefer a turntable with auto-return, but I would stick with used regardless of which turntable unless you have a budget greater than $1500.
The only question you should ask yourself is;
Is the sl1200 the type of turntable you want?
It is a manual turntable, I prefer a turntable with auto-return, but I would stick with used regardless of which turntable unless you have a budget greater than $1500.
Ichi
New Member
I found this useful for checking tonearm bearings.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/sl1200tonearm.htm
Will there be a rash of people selling vintage SL 1200's after this new one comes out in June? Guitar Center taking pre-orders .. $999.99
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/sl1200tonearm.htm
Will there be a rash of people selling vintage SL 1200's after this new one comes out in June? Guitar Center taking pre-orders .. $999.99
Well, no the last SL1200 of the old models was manufactured in 2010, so at least 9 or more years old, not 19. The 1200 is a rather sturdy turntable which was why DJs, who can be rather abusive, loved it. If you are buying one and the seller says not used by a DJ, you want to check:: Does it come with the dust-cover or not? (DJs would toss this part) Original mat available? (A slip-mat not a good sign) Original Technics head-shell? (Again the lack is a hint it may have been used by a DJ). Original boxes and packing materials? If the seller has all of that, it is likely they were not using the turntable for DJ purposes. Not certain of course, but a good sign. I bought a used one several years ago for around the same price (with boxes, dust-cover, etc...) manufactured in 2004. Working great and will probably last another 30 years. I agree with others posting here: You will not be able to purchase a new turntable for less than $1000 that will come close on quality based on rumble / wow and flutter numbers. Whether it sounds better to you is an individual judgement
I guess the price is ok, but I see them all the time in pristine condition for a lot less. Helped a young friend getting into vinyl with his first setup, amp and speakers were new, the table wasn't. The table is pictured below, all in $300, including the cartridge and NIB stylus.
In the pics it was being tested on my bedroom equipment after I set the arm parameters.
Jon S
Super Member
Yeah, but the new Technics is notably lighter than the last models that came out. Obviously, Technics must have cut corners. The $1600 model is really the next gen player. The MK 7 will sell for $1000 which is quite a bit. I actually was hoping that the SL1500C would be affordable as I would not be using this for DJ stuff, but so far the price on that is supposed to be $1400-1500, out of my price range.
You're right... Sorry, my math is bad... old age.
Still my favorite table...ever. It's a workhorse, few moving parts and stable.
Have you decided on a table? If not I just saw this on eBay, good price for a fantastic deck. But keep in mind if interested this is a large table, and quite heavy with its concrete resin base. With a working dust cover this is actually a steal, ask anybody that needs one lol.
