I am curious as I am shopping. Would you rather have a Technics SL-1600, SL-1600 mk2, or Pioneer PL-518? And please say why. Thanks!
Would you rather have a Technics SL-1600, SL-1600 mk2, or Pioneer PL-518?
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Balifly
Listening
guiller
Toscaninichus Australis
Technics SL-1600MKII.
Totally bias, I have the Technics SL-1600 MKI, and MKII.
+1 !!!
i would go with the 1600 mk2 it has VTA adjustment the 1600 does not
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Wanna buy a vowel? The II has the outside the cover controls and is quartz locked. The SL-1600 is servo controlled.
I have a 1600II and had an 1800II so I guess I'm with everyone else, the SL-1600 II is the one to get.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
This ^
The VTA adjust and the suspended platter and the quartz lock. 1600 mk2 all the way.
Johnny B
Well-Known Member
Dammit. Yeah, that should have been Sl-1600 Mk II.
I prefer the original SL-1600 / SL-1700 version for it's simple and effective arm movement design. IME the SL-1600MkII and SL-700MkII arm movement mechanism is overly complicated and trouble prone. Sometimes it's just the "O" ring, sometimes it's a cracked gear.
Thanks for the thoughts folks!
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
Another 1600 MKII vote.
I know what you mean. I also like the simple designs of the SL-1300, 1400 and 1500 with no strobe dots.
SaSi
Seriously Illogical
Not familiar with the Pioneer, but I would also recommend the SL-1600MkII, provided it functions. It may be a headache to fix it if it has problems. The only expected fault that is easy to fix is the tonearm cueing belt that gets loose or snaps. The electronics are a headache.
Additionally, the MkII will most likely require adjustment of the spring loaded feet to make the suspended sub-chasis horizontal again.
If you don't really need an automatic turntable, a 1200MkII would be a great choice as well. Same tonearm, simpler electronics and endless potential for tweaking.
Additionally, the MkII will most likely require adjustment of the spring loaded feet to make the suspended sub-chasis horizontal again.
If you don't really need an automatic turntable, a 1200MkII would be a great choice as well. Same tonearm, simpler electronics and endless potential for tweaking.
Tiver
Enjoy the music
The PL-518 is a pretty fair piece that seems to just continue to work. It's a simple and capable unit that sounds quite good with a lot of cartridges that won't break the bank.
Its plinth is also incredibly easy to veneer or just replace altogether. The guts and placards are easy to remove, and building a custom plinth is a relatively easy option (yes, woodworking required).
With a little patience and luck, a PL-518 can be found in good mechanical condition with poor cosmetics for cheap enough (under a hundred) so that someone with the requisite skills could have a really handsome and capable deck for cheap.
Here is one in white oak
prior to logo an dust cover
Here is all there is to the plinth. This one is lace wood over a laminated veneer core and just needs to have the innards and feet put on.
Its plinth is also incredibly easy to veneer or just replace altogether. The guts and placards are easy to remove, and building a custom plinth is a relatively easy option (yes, woodworking required).
With a little patience and luck, a PL-518 can be found in good mechanical condition with poor cosmetics for cheap enough (under a hundred) so that someone with the requisite skills could have a really handsome and capable deck for cheap.
Here is one in white oak
prior to logo an dust cover
Here is all there is to the plinth. This one is lace wood over a laminated veneer core and just needs to have the innards and feet put on.
