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Which TECHNICS TT should I buy...?!

P

Pudsi

New Member
I am a home user - not a DJ - looking to get a new TT.

I was on the brink of buying a second-hand SL-1200 but the sale fell through - so I am now looking at new kit. These are the best prices I can find for brand new Turntables (in the UK hence in £'s) :

Technics SL-1200 MK2 - £339
Technics SL-1210 MK5 - £379
Technics SL-1210 MK5G - £465

My opinion is that it is worth spending the extra £40 on top of the cost of the SL-1200 MK2 to get the SL-1210 MK5 - agreed?!

Is the MK5G worth the extra £90 on top of the price of the MK5?

I was also looking at the VESTAX BDT 2500 - BELT DRIVE TURNTABLE (BLACK) which is only £199. OK, it's not in the same league as the Technics - but does anybody rate it?

Thanks, Ade.
 
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The MK5G is a nice table for the money. I wish it were set up more for home use and not DJ style but that's OK.
 
If you're going to buy new and you're considering which one is best, consider buying from KAB USA. They have wonderful mods geared to making the old DJ standard into an audiophile table and their customer service is great. You can select which additional custom features you want, including wood plinths, extra speeds, wiring upgrades, etc.

http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/1200bld.htm
 
Sansui Louie said:
If you're going to buy new and you're considering which one is best, consider buying from KAB USA. They have wonderful mods geared to making the old DJ standard into an audiophile table and their customer service is great. You can select which additional custom features you want, including wood plinths, extra speeds, wiring upgrades, etc.

http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/1200bld.htm
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Generally good advice, but I don't think a USA-spec SL1200 will work in the UK, and the shipping would be cost prohibitive.
 
Sansui Louie said:
If you're going to buy new and you're considering which one is best, consider buying from KAB USA. They have wonderful mods geared to making the old DJ standard into an audiophile table and their customer service is great. You can select which additional custom features you want, including wood plinths, extra speeds, wiring upgrades, etc.

http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/1200bld.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing that to light. There is so much being said about these tables right now on the forum it is hard to keep up. You are a great help!
 
I was also looking at the Stanton STR8 150 as it looks GORGEOUS and the reviews (here in the UK) are great. Most people seem to rate is higher than the Technics (I guess for DJ's). But it doesn't have a dust cover :-(

Ron - That's a mighty fine TT you have there! What is it and is it for sale??!!!:music:
 
My vote would be for the...

Technics SL-1210 MK5. The next one up: Technics SL-1210 MK5G to me seems like it has features that unless you are a DJ wouldn't ever know any different from the MK5. I like the 1210 black. I have a SL-1200 Mk2 and it's a great TT. If money isn't a concern, go top of the line with the "G".
 
Avoid the Vestax, they're not so well made. The Stanton STR8 150 is for Hip-Hop DJ tricks only. Not suitable for anything but spherical styli only due to that underhung straight tonearm. Get a Technics SL-1200 Mk II or a 1210 Mk 5 and be done with it. The 1210 Mk 5 has better tonearm wiring so is worth the extra money. Nothing wrong with a Mk II though. I use one daily at home and at work and am a happy camper.
 
Agreed with the above - avoid the Stanton.

If you fancy a Vestax, though, the ones to go for are the PDX2300Mk2PRO and the PDX-3000 Mix, both of which have conventional arms and both are good decks. However, I think they're both dearer than the Technics, so I'd stick with one of these, personally.
 
I have and love a sl-1200mk5. i just went with the 1200 because i prefer these tables in the silver vs. the 1210 black.

only things with the mk5 is they don't come with the hinged cover, or the heavy 17 oz mat. but both are easily obtainable from KAB.

what ever route you go you will have a table that willl sound fantastic and last you, well forever since your buying it new, and not abused by a DJ.

and now is the time to buy them, they seemed to be dropping! i paid 399.99 last month for my new 1200mk5. amazing tables!
 
BigManAndy said:
I have and love a sl-1200mk5. i just went with the 1200 because i prefer these tables in the silver vs. the 1210 black.

only things with the mk5 is they don't come with the hinged cover, or the heavy 17 oz mat. but both are easily obtainable from KAB.

what ever route you go you will have a table that willl sound fantastic and last you, well forever since your buying it new, and not abused by a DJ.

and now is the time to buy them, they seemed to be dropping! i paid 399.99 last month for my new 1200mk5. amazing tables!
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Andy - Does the MK5 come with any sort of dust cover (even if not hinged)? I can get a new MK5 here in the UK for only £50 more than the MK2 but I really want a proper solid (perspex?) dust cover (which the MK2 has).
 
The MK5 does have a dust cover, with out hinges. If you buy your MK5 from KAB, you get hinges attached and the thicker rubber mat for free. the MK5 has a pitch lock that the mark two doesnt have, and there are no detents in the pitch slider thats handy if you get it modified for 78rpm as I did on mine. if you are not going to use it for 78s, you can just get a MK2. Also a fine turntable. yes, its great for just playing records, as I am not a DJ either. Great table, MUCH better than Stanton or Vestax IMHO.
 
Pudsi said:
Andy - Does the MK5 come with any sort of dust cover (even if not hinged)? I can get a new MK5 here in the UK for only £50 more than the MK2 but I really want a proper solid (perspex?) dust cover (which the MK2 has).
Click to expand...

as said from above. the MK5 does have a cover, no hinges. I don't know the material, but its plastic of some sort with a bubble over the tone arm thing to compensate for high VTA's i guess. i got the hinge kit coming in the mail from KAB as we speak. it comes with the 1/8 inch mat, i also upgraded to the 1/4 mat from KAB. without it my at-440mla couldn't be properly VTA'd. i couldn't go any lower, and the extra 1/8 inch from the KAB mat made that able to be level. without that issue i would probably still be using the 1/8 stock mat.

the lack of hinges isnt a real big deal to me, but i like to keep the cover on when im not playing, and i see it a accident waiting to happen putting that cover back on every day, or a couple times a day. luckily i haven't hit anything putting it back on yet.

and yea its got that pitch reset button, but i don't mess with the pitch slider so thats no issue for me. only other minor difference is the mk5 has a halogen pop up light and the mk2 has incandescent which has a tendency to burn out. no matter to me, i think i used that light once, the first day i got it to make sure it worked.

but there both built like tanks and can't go wrong with either. neither is technically better or worse than the other. all personally preference, or availability.
 
I don't know the material, but its plastic of some sort with a bubble over the tone arm thing to compensate for high VTA's i guess.
Click to expand...

Not exactly. The original 1972 SL1200 was also available as an armless model called the SL120. The bubble is there to ensure enough clearance for aftermarket tonearm pivots that have a higher profile than stock Technics arms.

it comes with the 1/8 inch mat, i also upgraded to the 1/4 mat from KAB. without it my at-440mla couldn't be properly VTA'd. i couldn't go any lower, and the extra 1/8 inch from the KAB mat made that able to be level. without that issue i would probably still be using the 1/8 stock mat.
Click to expand...

I have an AT440MLa on my MK2 (with 1/4" mat), and like many others, I keep the VTA set at the lowest point so that the tail of the cart is slightly down. It brings out the bass more in what is inherently a bright-sounding cart, and really fills out the sound better.
 
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beatcomber said:
Not exactly. The original 1972 SL1200 was also available as an armless model called the SL120. The bubble is there to ensure enough clearance for aftermarket tonearm pivots that have a higher profile than stock Technics arms.
Click to expand...

Ditto for the Mk2. I've got an SL-120Mk2 with the original user manual, and those came stock with an SME armboard.
 
I've set my heart on the MK5 but the cheapest price I can find in the UK (where it is in stock!) is a big £461 ($680). Ouch:tears:

Oh well, sod it .... you only live once! I'm getting it......:music:
 
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