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Tell about your experience with your old Audio-Technica SL-1200s..

I've had an SL-1200 MKii for about 40 years now - did some KAB upgrades, added a Hana SL cartridge (have a Shure V15 MR Type V as well with the original and a new JICO stylus).  Was thinking about an upgrade to a GR or something else around $2k-$3k and wanted to know, if you came from an old 1200, where did you go from there?  Did you go anywhere?  What did you gain from your next turntable?  Did you keep your old one and are you currently using it as a lazy susan?   I had been considering a tonearm upgrade as a possible option but it looks as if the SME and Jelco arms are disappearing fast or are going for crazy prices.  I understand that if you've never had one, you have no basis on which to make a comparison, but if you have something that knocks your socks off that doesn't require a second mortgage, please share.
bikerbw
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
It’s not necessary to stay with Technics, but if you want to keep the cost lower than new G then SP-10 mk2 and EPA-100 tonearm is the way to go, you need at least ‘10.5 inch (or longer) tonearm for SP-10 mk2. You can look for ‘12 inch Thomas Schick tonearms (they are new) if your cart is not high compliance. SP-10 mk2 does not have a pitch control of any kind. You will have to make a custom plinth for this drive. 

You could look for PD-444 turntable if you can spend about $2k (probably nearly $3k with tonearm). Two arms can be used, you don’t gave to think about plinth or mods, and this is beautiful turntable.





billstevenson
545 posts
 
For the record the VPI HW40 is also a direct drive turntable.  With that said, direct drive or belt drive in high level turntables is not a big difference anymore.  I would not encourage anyone to base a decision based on turntable drive mechanism these days.  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
HW-40 costs $15k, but what do we know about that DD motor?

Technics made the best DD motor and SP-10R drive cost about $9k , there are $6k left for assembling a custom plinth and tonearm for SP-10R drive to make a total cost on par with VPI Hw-40, but it’s not necessary to go that high.

Direct Drive motors are not the same, there are very cheap dd motors and very expensive dd motors, high torque or low torque, old and new. The reference is coreless DD motor, now it’s Technics. 

However, I think even $4k for the G is too much for the OP (and I wouldn’t pay more for any turntable too).
big_greg
6,713 posts
 
I picked up a used SL-1200 MK2 some time back.  It had the KAB RCA upgrade when I bought it.  I added some MNPCTECH feet to it (very worthwhile) and the KAB fluid damper (not much difference if any) and put some FoQ tape on the tonearm (again, not a noticeable difference) and use a Funk Achromat.  I currently have a Soundsmith Aida II cartridge on a LP Gear Zupreme headshell (another very worthwhile upgrade) on it and have been using the MM input on my Herron Audio VTPH-2A phono stage. 

The "lowly" MK2 now sounds nearly as good as my much more expensive main table.  It has responded really well to the headshell/cartridge/phono stage combination I'm using.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with stock Technics headshell, it's one of the lightest headshells on the market (and very cheap). However, for my pair of upgraded SL1210mkII I bought two GOLD Technics shells made for their limited edition gold turntable long time ago, and for my Grado cartridges they are perfect. I think Technics stock headshells are very nice for the money, using a lower compliance carts one may need to find heavier headshells for sure.   
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