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The Official *Technics SL-1200* Owners Club

dogwan said:
I'm running a de-nuded Denon DL-103 on my 1200 with the stock auxiliary weight. It sounds great through a Denon AU-320 SUT to the MM section of a HK PM655Vxi (a very underrated integrated if you ask me). It also sounds great through the HK's MC section and is actually quieter, but seems to lose a little sweetness.

The stock 103 is supposedly 8.5gr, but mine weighed right at 9.0gr.
When I denuded it it weighed right at 7.0gr.
I used the brass top plate from an old dead Sumiko Blue Point Special. The mounting plate weighed 5.0gr and had threaded mounting holes. A couple dabs of epoxy secure the Denon to the mounting plate.
Now the cartridge weighs in at 12.0gr and still balances out nicely with the auxiliary weight and stock headshell.

I didn't know any better and did it, and it sounds great.

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Nice! :thumbsup: Tracking mine at the recommended 2.5 grams VTF with 1.5 grams anti-skating. Using 660 ohm loading, was using 475 ohms. Started with 660 ohms then went down to 475. Going to leave it 660 ohms for now. Getting an excellent 3D sound stage with very wide separation. Excellent depth too. I'm definitely a DL-103 fan!!
 
dogwan said:
I'm running a de-nuded Denon DL-103 on my 1200 with the stock auxiliary weight. It sounds great through a Denon AU-320 SUT to the MM section of a HK PM655Vxi (a very underrated integrated if you ask me). It also sounds great through the HK's MC section and is actually quieter, but seems to lose a little sweetness.

The stock 103 is supposedly 8.5gr, but mine weighed right at 9.0gr.
When I denuded it it weighed right at 7.0gr.
I used the brass top plate from an old dead Sumiko Blue Point Special. The mounting plate weighed 5.0gr and had threaded mounting holes. A couple dabs of epoxy secure the Denon to the mounting plate.
Now the cartridge weighs in at 12.0gr and still balances out nicely with the auxiliary weight and stock headshell.

I didn't know any better and did it, and it sounds great.

View attachment 3132323

View attachment 3132322
Click to expand...
You need the KAB Fluid Damper for your SL-1200. :thumbsup:
 
uurrgghhh! I know I'm repeating some things here, but I need to type out the voices in my head. I've got analysis paralysis now and can't decide which direction to go. So I have read rave reviews of the warm engaging sound of the Nagaoka mp-200, but I've also read complaints about igd and lack of tracking. Then there is the Grado opus 3 actually not a lot of opinions out there, but most are very good and the wood body reduces the issues that some Grade have. Then there is the At-540ml also gets great reviews, but idk how much better it would be than my At-440mla. Next would be going the mc route with much higher price tags and the need for a sut, so even more money.
@Mr Boochie, that At-33sa sounds amazing, but we know the price of those. I'm looking for nice warm engaging 3d sound with good bass...Grado?
Oh yeah almost forgot my other components main preamp is a Mcintosh Mx110z, @Ilikevinyl I have no idea what loading this is looking for, I just always read any MM cart should be fine. I have multiple tube amps from a Mcintosh mc225 to Eico Hf-87 to Hf-60 mono blocks to Dynaco st-35.Yes I have issues with collecting vintage tube amps. Then when I just want solid state setup I use Mx112 preamp and Mc2105 amp, Modded Klipsch Chorus 2 speakers.

Appreciate your opionions,
Mark
 
Madman1 said:
uurrgghhh! I know I'm repeating some things here, but I need to type out the voices in my head. I've got analysis paralysis now and can't decide which direction to go. So I have read rave reviews of the warm engaging sound of the Nagaoka mp-200, but I've also read complaints about igd and lack of tracking. Then there is the Grado opus 3 actually not a lot of opinions out there, but most are very good and the wood body reduces the issues that some Grade have. Then there is the At-540ml also gets great reviews, but idk how much better it would be than my At-440mla. Next would be going the mc route with much higher price tags and the need for a sut, so even more money.
@Mr Boochie, that At-33sa sounds amazing, but we know the price of those. I'm looking for nice warm engaging 3d sound with good bass...Grado?
Oh yeah almost forgot my other components main preamp is a Mcintosh Mx110z, @Ilikevinyl I have no idea what loading this is looking for, I just always read any MM cart should be fine. I have multiple tube amps from a Mcintosh mc225 to Eico Hf-87 to Hf-60 mono blocks to Dynaco st-35.Yes I have issues with collecting vintage tube amps. Then when I just want solid state setup I use Mx112 preamp and Mc2105 amp, Modded Klipsch Chorus 2 speakers.

Appreciate your opionions,
Mark
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Your doing an investigation. A good thing.

Besides on here, you could look for Utube reviews comparing sound signatures of carts your interested in. Audio magazine reviews too.

I personally have some 8k+ hearing loss. Bet I'm not the only one on this site. Keep in mine with opinions.

Consider what your vinyl is like, condition wise. Today and in future. New vinyl is expensive. Will you be playing mint or could it be just good condition? Different carts might be more or less revealing of scratches or tolerant of warps.

My own experience would say, leave some budget for a good record cleaning setup. Maybe Ultrasonic, if you have room. They have got cheaper. And make a BIG difference.
 
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Madman1 said:
@Old Guy8 I do have a Vpi vacuum that works great. I typically will not play any records on my main turntable that aren't near mint.
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Even brand new records new to be cleaned. The record pressing process leaves tons and tons of particles sitting at the bottom of the grooves. Removing those is akin to getting 2 or 3 generations closer to the master tape. VPIs are nice machines but they do not do much to remove these "in the groove" particles which is what everyone is trying to do with an US machine.
 
Madman1 said:
uurrgghhh! I know I'm repeating some things here, but I need to type out the voices in my head. I've got analysis paralysis now and can't decide which direction to go. So I have read rave reviews of the warm engaging sound of the Nagaoka mp-200, but I've also read complaints about igd and lack of tracking. Then there is the Grado opus 3 actually not a lot of opinions out there, but most are very good and the wood body reduces the issues that some Grade have. Then there is the At-540ml also gets great reviews, but idk how much better it would be than my At-440mla. Next would be going the mc route with much higher price tags and the need for a sut, so even more money.
@Mr Boochie, that At-33sa sounds amazing, but we know the price of those. I'm looking for nice warm engaging 3d sound with good bass...Grado?
Oh yeah almost forgot my other components main preamp is a Mcintosh Mx110z, @Ilikevinyl I have no idea what loading this is looking for, I just always read any MM cart should be fine. I have multiple tube amps from a Mcintosh mc225 to Eico Hf-87 to Hf-60 mono blocks to Dynaco st-35.Yes I have issues with collecting vintage tube amps. Then when I just want solid state setup I use Mx112 preamp and Mc2105 amp, Modded Klipsch Chorus 2 speakers.

Appreciate your opionions,
Mark
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad, collecting tube amps is part of the audiophile disease. I have enough tube amps for 30 people or more. With regards to your Q on carts, that is not an easy one. The AT 440, 540, 740, and Nagoka MP-200 are nice carts (have them all as well as quite a few others). If you are going to venture into LOMC land just be careful. The cash will flow out of your hands like popcorn on a commercial popcorn machine. If you are looking at MC carts at the lower end, stick with the MM carts. Am speaking from experience. I have a number of LOMC carts. You can quickly get well above $5k fast. Some are really nice and some I don't care for. With regards to the comment on the MP-200 cart, it does have a super engaging sound. One of the most musical carts I have heard at its price point. And if you like it the MP-500 is even better. Does everything the MP-200 does but more of it.

If it were me, I may want to try an outboard phono stage first such as the EAR clone or the Marantz 7 clone. Can plug them into an aux input on the 110. Both are considerably better than the phono stage in the MX110. (am not knocking the 110, own one as well as the C20 and C22). Or if you budget allows take a look at a used Manley Chinook. And if you go down that phono stage road further, you can consider some other really good phono stages that will run MM or MC carts.
 
Madman1 said:
@mcgjohn i was about to pull the trigger on a At-33ptg/2 just before your message came thru. Thoughts?
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That is one of the few AT carts I have not heard. Have most of the others though. If you go that route you will need a step up transformer or a pre-headamp to bring the .33mv output up to MM level. You won't be able to run the 33 directly into the MAC without a step up first. The quality of that step up will also affect the performance of the cart.
 
Madman1 said:
uurrgghhh! I know I'm repeating some things here, but I need to type out the voices in my head. I've got analysis paralysis now and can't decide which direction to go. So I have read rave reviews of the warm engaging sound of the Nagaoka mp-200, but I've also read complaints about igd and lack of tracking. Then there is the Grado opus 3 actually not a lot of opinions out there, but most are very good and the wood body reduces the issues that some Grade have. Then there is the At-540ml also gets great reviews, but idk how much better it would be than my At-440mla. Next would be going the mc route with much higher price tags and the need for a sut, so even more money.
@Mr Boochie, that At-33sa sounds amazing, but we know the price of those. I'm looking for nice warm engaging 3d sound with good bass...Grado?
Oh yeah almost forgot my other components main preamp is a Mcintosh Mx110z, @Ilikevinyl I have no idea what loading this is looking for, I just always read any MM cart should be fine. I have multiple tube amps from a Mcintosh mc225 to Eico Hf-87 to Hf-60 mono blocks to Dynaco st-35.Yes I have issues with collecting vintage tube amps. Then when I just want solid state setup I use Mx112 preamp and Mc2105 amp, Modded Klipsch Chorus 2 speakers.

Appreciate your opionions,
Mark
Click to expand...
I have the AT33 PTGII, which is an excellent cartridge and cheaper than AT33Sa. Both will have the same loading. Best for both is 150-250 ohms loading. Have my AT33 PTGII at 243 ohms and it sounds wonderful!
 
I'm back in the club!

In the mid-80s I was mobile DJ and had a pair of 1200's that I later traded for a dual Denon CD deck when CD's splashed onto the scene. One of the few regrets I've ever had in life.

Anyways, during the pandemic I dusted off my Onkyo system from the late 80's. I found a new in the box PLX-1000 for $250, so I've been playing with that for the past few years.

But I always wanted another 1200...

So I got a mint condition 1200MK3D from Japan!

The table sits in a flight case, which sits on top of a 3" thick Boos butcher block table. I keep the table in the case so the kitties can't mess with it, but I purposefully bought the butcher block table as a solid footing for my equipment.

Current setup is a Yamaha MX600U amp, Onkyo P301 preamp, Mani 2 phono stage, driving 4 Event 20/20 monitors at 4ohms with a 12" Mirage sub. I have 2 main carts for it, an AT95ML w/AT headshell, and a Jico J44-7 w/Technics headshell.

Like most of us...I'm considering a couple of KAB upgrades.

Are there any opinions on the interconnect/internal ground upgrade vs. keeping a traditional ground wire?

IMG_0192.jpg
 
The Fonz said:
Are there any opinions on the interconnect/internal ground upgrade vs. keeping a traditional ground wire?
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You can install output socket like this:

www.ebay.com

Technics SL-1200 External RCA Kit - Internal / External ground connection switch 6447822841178| eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Technics SL-1200 External RCA Kit - Internal / External ground connection switch at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
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