Billallen, You are certainly entitled to your conclusion that direct-drive turntables "need" a tuned suspension, but there is a legion of direct-drive aficionados who would disagree with you. Yes, it's important to isolate any turntable from environmental disturbance, but most "direct-drivers" think that is best done by the liberal application of mass, using materials that are as non-resonant as possible. The problem with designing a built in suspension that really works is that the torque of the direct-drive motor tends to want to induce the plinth to rotate in the direction opposite to that of the platter. A suspension based on springs or the like cannot resist that unwanted effect. High mass firmly anchored does the trick. From what you wrote, it would seem you have made your observations based on comparing the performance of one or two Technics tables of relatively light weight/low mass. You might come to believe in the superiority of high mass/no suspension, if you were to do more experimentation. My SP10 Mk3 sits in a 100-lb plinth of slate and hardwood. You could put something like a Minus K air-based isolation platform UNDER such a construct, if needed. I don't perceive the need in my listening room.
What is Technics thinking?
Lots has been said, both pro and con, about the new Technics turntable. Description here -
http://www.sl1200gae.info/about
Some are excited about the potential, given the upgrades since their last production table/arm, the venerable SL-12XX series. Others see it simply as an excuse to raise the price significantly of the 1200s.
In my view they shot themselves in the foot. They copied the model number of their best selling table (I can only imagine in the hope the familiarity will carry over) and also ended up with a very similar appearance. Given the information on all the upgrades over their prior model, the similarities make it appear like something less than what it might be.
Technics had a room at THE Show Newport and that was my first chance to see a SL-1200GAE. The fit and finish appeared to be very good but it did look like a "polished up" SL-12XX. I ask the Technics rep why they didn't do more to distinguish this as a new model, given their efforts with engineer upgrades. He said he could understand my question but then really didn't offer a reasonable explanation. After describing all the components which had been redesigned/upgraded from the prior model he offered a demo. However the room was crowded and the remainder of the system was completely unfamiliar, so no fair impression could be made.
I believe it should have had a more unique model designation and more might have been done to the physical package so it didn't look so much like the prior model.
http://www.sl1200gae.info/about
Some are excited about the potential, given the upgrades since their last production table/arm, the venerable SL-12XX series. Others see it simply as an excuse to raise the price significantly of the 1200s.
In my view they shot themselves in the foot. They copied the model number of their best selling table (I can only imagine in the hope the familiarity will carry over) and also ended up with a very similar appearance. Given the information on all the upgrades over their prior model, the similarities make it appear like something less than what it might be.
Technics had a room at THE Show Newport and that was my first chance to see a SL-1200GAE. The fit and finish appeared to be very good but it did look like a "polished up" SL-12XX. I ask the Technics rep why they didn't do more to distinguish this as a new model, given their efforts with engineer upgrades. He said he could understand my question but then really didn't offer a reasonable explanation. After describing all the components which had been redesigned/upgraded from the prior model he offered a demo. However the room was crowded and the remainder of the system was completely unfamiliar, so no fair impression could be made.
I believe it should have had a more unique model designation and more might have been done to the physical package so it didn't look so much like the prior model.
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- 116 posts total
My Technics SL-1200GAE Turntable finally arrived this morning & I’ve been listening all afternoon. I posted a slide show on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koCqMxzBdLY I swung for the fences and mounted my Kondo IO, while the IO is my favorite cartridge, I mainly choose it because it’s the least fussy of my 3 evaluation cartridges to setup. For kicks I started by using the included Technics headshell and interconnect cable, which is ridiculous with a 10K cartridge I know, but hey, I’m curious how they compare to my references. First listen was Depeche Mode Personal Jesus on both 33 1/3 & 45 speed 12" LP’s. Speeds are dead on from the factory while playing these albums with the pitch reset button "pushed on". On the scope the needle is tracking dead center in the groove and the VTA knob is easily adjustable on the fly. Antiskate works as advertised. From unboxing, assembly, setup, to my first listen ... so far everything has exceeded my expectations. Worth every penny! What more can I say, this robust $4k turntable just looks, feels, smells, and sounds damn good. Hell, I might even try tasting it later tonite. Stay tuned for further observations. |
- 116 posts total