Yet another "best" tonearm for my technics sl-1200

murphythecat

murphythecat

Active Member
Hi, I finally decided to get a technics sl-1200 on ebay and upgrade it as my first table.

First thing I need (seem) to do is replace the bad and cheap tonearm of the sl-1200. What do you guys suggest?

I'm willing to put up to 300$ on a tonearm, any suggestions? Would it even be worth it to put so much on a tonearm?

I also plan on getting a good cartridge, so maybe suggest a tonearm that allow a lot of cartridge fit?

I head about the rega one, but would love to see my other option, I could put even a bit more if there's a incredible arm for 400$ or something.
thanks a lolt
 
Register to hide this ad
murphythecat said:
Hi, I finally decided to get a technics sl-1200 on ebay and upgrade it as my first table.

First thing I need (seem) to do is replace the bad and cheap tonearm of the sl-1200. What do you guys suggest?

I'm willing to put up to 300$ on a tonearm, any suggestions? Would it even be worth it to put so much on a tonearm?

I also plan on getting a good cartridge, so maybe suggest a tonearm that allow a lot of cartridge fit?

I head about the rega one, but would love to see my other option, I could put even a bit more if there's a incredible arm for 400$ or something.
thanks a lolt
Click to expand...

Most tonearms are a tube of Aluminium. I believe there are a lots of other things that are much more beneficial to do.
gusten
 
If you are talking about a 1200MK2 arm, IMHO, a $300 arm will not better it. I would put my money on a cartridge or upgrading the stock arm.
 
yeah, the arm is the weak link. one of my early TTs was a technics SL120 (armless 1200) with a grace 707 arm. its still a great arm today and easy to use.

when i need to change carts, i undo the retaining screws and unplug the wire, and take it out of the tt. i then can invert it and prop the bearing end up with something heave (cans of food work) so i can remove and replace the cart conveniently.

other arms are the jelcos (see audiogon) and mmt (a jelco) and the mayware formula 4 plus many others. one of the guys at the asylum put a linear arm on his 1200. great idea.
 
vincei said:
If you are talking about a 1200MK2 arm, IMHO, a $300 arm will not better it. I would put my money on a cartridge or upgrading the stock arm.
Click to expand...

KentTeffeteller said:
$300 won't buy you much. Get a KAB Damper and rewire it and be amazed at the improvements you get.
Click to expand...

Yep.

Other good things I read here on re donig the arm yourself besides Kent's tips;
And the KAB screw in piece for the end stub. Expandable lightweight foam in the end stub.
When rewiring the arm also fill it with cotton and shrinkwrap the outside of the tube.

If I had to buy a new arm it might be this (depending on choice of cartridge);
http://www.audiomods.co.uk/technicsarm.html
But you could agrue that this arm needs a different table than the SL to really shine. I'd just mod the original arm.

Here's a topic on a nicely modded SL1200MKII arm by one of our forum members;
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=368005
 
There's a few threads (including a few I've done) discussing modding the 1200's stock arm (we are talking about the MK2, correct?).

I did AKer MWalt's Sumiko arm, and then his stock arm, and he said both modified arms were equal.
 
wow, I'm surprise at those response and quite happy. I will get the kab damper for sure and try a couple of mods some of you have suggested.

Just one question, how much then I should put on a arm to really step up to a new game?

Also, How much should I put toward a cartridge then? And mostly what should I look for?
 
oups there seems to be a problem, kab tamper doesnt seem to work on a mk1 sl-1200, and thats what I won... What are my options then? the damper seemed to be a amazing thing.... damn!
 
Last edited:
Most really good tonearms cost more than the whole SL-1200 price new. Tonearms which are really fine are an investment. And yes, you own the original SL-1200 model. I use the SL-1200 Mk II's big brother in broadcasting livery, the SP-25 (which lets you mount it in the plinth of your choice and use any tonearm or even multiple tonearms you like).
 
murphythecat said:
just to make sure, this is the sl-1200 I won: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...189129&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1383wt_932

This is a mk1 right?
Click to expand...

Let's clear something up here and now there is no such animal as a SL1200 MK1 it's for future reference an SL1200 Period......... and yes yours is the first generation an SL1200.

Get the table and get your self an AT110E cartridge works very well with that arm as well a Nagaoka MP11 works nicely to...........
 
Stanton681EEES said:
Let's clear something up here and now there is no such animal as a SL1200 MK1 it's for future reference an SL1200 Period......... and yes yours is the first generation an SL1200.

Get the table and get your self an AT110E cartridge works very well with that arm as well a Nagaoka MP11 works nicely to...........
Click to expand...

okay, thanks for the recommendation for the cartridges.

As for the arm, is there a way to "damper" it even if its a mk1?
 
First of all the SL1200 is a well regarded table and arm.

Secondly it appears to be coming with a Stanton 680 series cartridge...

So I would suggest, fitting it with a nice stylus, either a top notch original or a Jico Shibata - with the Stanton damper brush...

The Brush - contrary to many (even in period) - reviews was not intended primarily as a "sweeper" - but was in fact designed as a damper - Shure was Stanton's big competitor and the two were always trying to outdo one another!

A D6800EEE-S shibata stylus, either original or Jico will provide some arm damping and very high quality performance... (not so cheap though!)

A Notch down in price you may be able to find a D6800EEE - same thing but with a high quality eliptical.

Alternatively a Shure M97xE with the damper brush, or if you are more ambitious a Shure V15IV or V15V with the damper brush...
The cartridges can be found at around $75 on fleabay - but a good stylus is expensive - only recommended ones are non-original... Jico SAS, and Ed Saunders...
If looking at the Shure option the M97xE can be had for around $70 - and can in turn also be upgraded with a Jico SAS at a later date.

The Shure damper brushes are more effective than the Stanton ones...

But the Stanton ones are more effective than people think - they just need to be adjusted right, and the bristles "brushed" a bit to get them to settle in the right direction - then they are fine!
(Pickering XV series styli with brushes should also fit that cartridge - same deal - pickering and stanton shared production and are close cousins...)

Bye for now

David
 
The damper is for the MKII arm.

The original ('MKI') is a nice table too, go for it!
And just get a nice stylus for that 680 cart if it's one of those. :thmbsp:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom