Another good choice.
The Best Vintage Full Automatic Turntable
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katana1100
Well-Known Member
I have a Sony 600 biotracer- it’s an awesome tt.
However, I think the BEST full auto is the Sanyo plus 60
specs: w/f , rumble are equal to the technics 1210
Tone arm: adc , carbon , very nice
It also has things NO other full auto has:
Built in cartridge weight scale - push a button and the scale pops right up!
Built in cartridge timer- push a button and it will tell you exactly how many hours are on your stylus !
However, I think the BEST full auto is the Sanyo plus 60
specs: w/f , rumble are equal to the technics 1210
Tone arm: adc , carbon , very nice
It also has things NO other full auto has:
Built in cartridge weight scale - push a button and the scale pops right up!
Built in cartridge timer- push a button and it will tell you exactly how many hours are on your stylus !
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Sorry, the specs when new are one thing. How it is when it gets age on it, very different. Technics SL-1300 and SL-1600 have aged better than most every other Japanese built single play automatic, the older Sanyo belt drive models with S arms, an example of better than most, once serviced. And CEC of Japan built those well.
katana1100
Well-Known Member
The table is still excellent . Speed dead on from being quartz locked. Btw, this table is not made by Sanyo, it was made by Micro Seiki , who know a thing or two about tt’s.
Sanyo merely glued their name on it.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
It was made by CEC in Japan. (who also built the cheaper Micro-Seiki models as well). Can your Sanyo stand up to working for a living? The SL-1200 can handle broadcast station use, and has a proven track record for high performance, high durability, and high reliability under heavy duty use.
katana1100
Well-Known Member
Your post is massively irrelevant - this thread
Is titled “The Best Vintage Automatic turntable “, the technics 1200 is not an automatic or even
semi automatic turntable !
BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
No, and comparing that Sanyo to a SL-1200 is not a fair one either. Spec sheets don't tell the whole story. Now comparing it to a Technics SL-1300 or SL-1600 is fair (especially the original model SL-1200). Not dissing that Sanyo either, in top condition it's a good turntable for an automatic. Your point is valid here. And well reasoned. But a good Technics well maintained, is a buy once for a lifetime turntable. Even their best automatics, even in heavy use. I've owned both of the models I cite. Long term. Still have my SL-1300.
mythless
Looking for projects!?
As a previous owner of several (I think 4 of them) Sanyo Q50 which is very similar to the Q60 in terms of tonearm quality. As well as a previous owner of various Technics and I still owns a SL-1600mkii. While the Sanyo were really nice and the tonearms (ADC arms) were really nice, the Technics SL-1600/SL1600mkii were better built, better motor, better platter, better isolation, and somewhat less complicated (mki) automation system, even the mkii "looks" easier than the Q50. The Technics tonearms are better suited to more modern cartridges being medium mass. And, all the Q50 I had always suffered from cue arm drop that could not fixed to it's original design.
Did I like the Q50? I did but, in the end Technics is just a "better" table. I would even argue for the most parts Technics as a whole made some incredible solid tables that I think have aged better than some of the more "contemporary" Japanese brands.
Did I like the Q50? I did but, in the end Technics is just a "better" table. I would even argue for the most parts Technics as a whole made some incredible solid tables that I think have aged better than some of the more "contemporary" Japanese brands.
katana1100
Well-Known Member
The adc LM tonearm is better than the crappy arm on any technics. Not only does the Sanyo 60 have stylus counter, it has weight scale , and doesn’t suffer the auto return failure of the technics .
I’m well aware of what a 1210 can do and sound as I have one with Shure 97xe and sas boron stylus , tube preamp, next to my Sanyo q60 which uses a Pickering xsv3000
The Sanyo adc arm tracks better
Sanyo has better tone arm, tracks stylus hours and has built in scale .
No technics has that.
I’m well aware of what a 1210 can do and sound as I have one with Shure 97xe and sas boron stylus , tube preamp, next to my Sanyo q60 which uses a Pickering xsv3000
The Sanyo adc arm tracks better
Sanyo has better tone arm, tracks stylus hours and has built in scale .
No technics has that.
bonzoro
Swill Bucket
mythless
Looking for projects!?
Hrmmm, how to proceed, as there will always be someone always wanting to justify their procession.
The arm on the Technics are not crappy. The ADC tonearm is not crappy, just limited as the modern vinyl world has moved away from high compliance cartridges and low mass tonearms. This has been more apparent to me as I am even more limited having a SME arm.
Depending on which Technics arm that is being referred too, which alignment tool use and the condition of the tonearm itself, I can't say the ADC arm is a better tracker. Neither of them had any issues with tracking when I used a variety of mix compliance cartridges (Shure, Grado, Nagaoka, high output MC, Audio Technica, Stanton etc...).
The automation in the Q60 is probably like the Q50, it runs on polymer gears and rubber belts. So yes, eventually, it will have the same problem as the SL-1600mkii. These tables are getting old.
The extra added stylus hour counter and stylus gauge are niceties but, not necessary. You can get a digital scale and for many of use who buy second hand stylus, the counter is a bit moot. As a digital microscope would probably be more accurate than hours of use on the wear of the diamond. Both methods, however, cannot tell you when a suspension has gone bad.
The SL-1600mkii like the 1200mkii has a stylus light, which the Q60 doesn't have. But, I guess one could buy a lamp.
The SL-1600mkii is also suspended, unlike the Q60. Luckily, my rubber dampers are still in good shape. It provides added isolation. Though, I guess a platform of some sorts can also provide similar performance as I the Technics suspension isn't that great in comparison to 3-point suspension. And, I guess the Technics could also benefit from a platform too.
At least from the Q50, the platter on the SL-1600mkii is heavier (I believe) and had a rubberized undercoating, which the Q50 didn't have to help provide further damping.
The SL-1600mkii also has VTA which the Q50 didn't have and from what I can tell from pictures, the Q60 may not have. VTA is very nice to have as it now allows for greater flexibility in tuning the cartridge.
From the underneath pictures of the Q60 I've seen. I can probably say that the cue arm, drop like a rock and sky rocket upward when using without the automation, might be an issue in the future.
Once again, these tables are getting old.
The arm on the Technics are not crappy. The ADC tonearm is not crappy, just limited as the modern vinyl world has moved away from high compliance cartridges and low mass tonearms. This has been more apparent to me as I am even more limited having a SME arm.
Depending on which Technics arm that is being referred too, which alignment tool use and the condition of the tonearm itself, I can't say the ADC arm is a better tracker. Neither of them had any issues with tracking when I used a variety of mix compliance cartridges (Shure, Grado, Nagaoka, high output MC, Audio Technica, Stanton etc...).
The automation in the Q60 is probably like the Q50, it runs on polymer gears and rubber belts. So yes, eventually, it will have the same problem as the SL-1600mkii. These tables are getting old.
The extra added stylus hour counter and stylus gauge are niceties but, not necessary. You can get a digital scale and for many of use who buy second hand stylus, the counter is a bit moot. As a digital microscope would probably be more accurate than hours of use on the wear of the diamond. Both methods, however, cannot tell you when a suspension has gone bad.
The SL-1600mkii like the 1200mkii has a stylus light, which the Q60 doesn't have. But, I guess one could buy a lamp.
The SL-1600mkii is also suspended, unlike the Q60. Luckily, my rubber dampers are still in good shape. It provides added isolation. Though, I guess a platform of some sorts can also provide similar performance as I the Technics suspension isn't that great in comparison to 3-point suspension. And, I guess the Technics could also benefit from a platform too.
At least from the Q50, the platter on the SL-1600mkii is heavier (I believe) and had a rubberized undercoating, which the Q50 didn't have to help provide further damping.
The SL-1600mkii also has VTA which the Q50 didn't have and from what I can tell from pictures, the Q60 may not have. VTA is very nice to have as it now allows for greater flexibility in tuning the cartridge.
From the underneath pictures of the Q60 I've seen. I can probably say that the cue arm, drop like a rock and sky rocket upward when using without the automation, might be an issue in the future.
Once again, these tables are getting old.
wasclywabbit
When the going gets wierd, the wierd turn pro.
Needs a photo.
Elegant in its simplicity. I own a PL-610, the semi-automatic version. Superb suspension, smooth operation. Sadly, they didn't make many of either. If not the best, it should receive an honorable mention.
I join those suggesting BIC960/980.
As any vintage tt needs or will need work, BICs are simpler than most. Parts can be had from Turntable Experts (also for Dual & Garrard).
There is an excellent video series on BIC repair by Piers Jordan on U Tube. "Try it you'll like it".
As any vintage tt needs or will need work, BICs are simpler than most. Parts can be had from Turntable Experts (also for Dual & Garrard).
There is an excellent video series on BIC repair by Piers Jordan on U Tube. "Try it you'll like it".
There's also the Thorens TD-224, hasn't been mentioned yet.
It has various problematic things about it and it is an extraordinary achievement to get one running perfectly, but it's quite a work of industrial art. I have heard the arm is a clunker that'll chew your records.
It has various problematic things about it and it is an extraordinary achievement to get one running perfectly, but it's quite a work of industrial art. I have heard the arm is a clunker that'll chew your records.
Nice sounding tables. Tend to have a locked up platter. Forcing it can cause very bad things to happen. A little patience and wiell worth the effort. Don't buy one without a headshell!
