I don't need it but I think it's good. Especially for younger people who can't pay thousands for a turntable. Put Grado Gold or whatever cartridge and there will be acceptable engaging sound.
It's Back - Technics SL-1200 MKGAE
I would think that some are going to scream from the rafters with joy while others will shake their heads with distain.
But I am sure we are all going to interested.
http://www.technics.com/global/introduction/hifi-direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200gae/
I for one applaud Technics for paying attention to the vinyl resurgence and responding to its huge worldwide fan base to bring this legendary turntable back. I know there have petitions going around for some time but I really didn't think it was going to happen.
25 responses Add your response
bill_k537 posts01-06-2016 9:09am I read elsewhere that the price is expected to be around $10K, muchTrust me, it won't be $10k. The price will compete with Pioneer PLX-1000. Otherwise no sense. True classic deck is back and that's what counts.higher than many were expecting from Technics. |
It's not just a turntable. Panasonic has revived the Technics brand as originally conceived--a full line of high end audio components. Their new coaxial stand-mounted speaker was the cover story review for the January 2016 issue of Stereophile. They also have a large (49" tall, 159 lbs. ea.) 6-driver floorstander based on that same coaxial driver. They also have DACs, streamers, amplifiers, etc. coming out in 2016. Surf through this: http://www.technics.com |
Looks like Technics will have (2) of these tables. One as a limited Edition with only 1200 being made. I bet that one will be expensive. http://gizmodo.com/the-technics-1200-turntable-is-back-1751157898 |
johnnyb53 , Technics used to have SB-7000 high def speakers with 3 separate cabinets for woofer, mid-range and tweeter stacked. |
czarivey, I remember seeing a pair of those SB-7000s in a stereo store's high end room in 1975 the same year I became familar with Dahlquist DQ-10s. By that time the Technics line was offering high end preamps, turntables, and soon offered a 350wpc power amp. Ten years earlier, Matsushita's first product under the Technics brand was a 2-way sealed bookshelf speaker introduced in 1965, the Technics 1. |
Let's not forget that, adjusted for inflation, the $350 SL-1200 in 1975 is equivalent to $1544 today. The actual price of the SL12x0 series kept dropping relative to inflation because the R&D had been paid back decades ago. With this new product they have new R&D costs to factor into the selling price. The 2016 SL1200 weighs about 15 lbs. more than the original. I bought my SL1210 M5G in 2007 for $500. That would have been just $113 in 1975 money--the price of a mid-pack Garrard with rim drive and plastic base back then. |
Harry is not worried! When it is out it has to beat a Scout JR with the same cartridge for me to get excited. I'm using a Scout JR in my big system right now with an Ortofon 2M Red (Roughly $1500 retail for both) and it really sounds amazing!!! In 1988 a well known amp maker said to me "What are you going to do in 5 years", The answer for 2015 is :Sell more tables then we have ever sold". HW |
"Now if I can just get my hands on a Shure V-15 Type V ..."Would a Type III do? http://www.lpgear.com/product/SHEC02IIIHE.html As an alternative, the Audio Technica AT150MLX has a lot of high end internals (PCOCC wiring, boron cantilever ...) and its MicroLine stylus is probably the same profile as Shure's MR--MicroRidge stylus. http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC0150MLX.html |
This is a 1200 in styling only. The newly designed coreless motor and magnesium arm should make for a great sounding table. I've placed an order for the GAE with an industry insider. I think this is a great price considering the tech involved. I honestly think this ($4k) is a very reasonable price. A lot better than $30k for a slab of MDF amid two sheets of aluminum. I can't what to hear how it compares to my Technics SP10 MK3. |