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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.

pryso
billallen10
19 posts
 
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.



billallen10
19 posts
 
Sorry here is the slideshow link on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJVW_xHSDU
lewm
12,570 posts
 
Dear Audiolabyrinth, Apart from current offerings from Win Tinnon (Saskia) and OMA, I don't think there ever was a commercially made slate plinth for anything.  The original OEM plinth for the SP10 Mk3 was a nice one made of obsidian (I think).  I've never seen one in the flesh, let alone owned one. For the Mk3, I then had a blank slate slab cut for me to my specs (20X23X3 inches, I believe), with chamfered corners and honed flat on both surfaces. (A company in PA will do this.)  I then found a template for cutting the slate on-line as a pdf file. I had the slab shipped to a water-jet company in York, PA, and they cut the holes for the Mk3 chassis using the pdf file to program their water-jet.  Then I commissioned a carpenter to make me a base using cherry wood.  I bolted the bottom of the slate to the cherrywood base by drilling holes in the slate to accommodate threaded inserts, which I epoxied in place. Five or six hefty bolts.

I had already by this time gone through similar processes to make plinths for an SP10 Mk2, Denon DP80, and Lenco L75, so I had the process down pretty well by the time I found a Mk3.  Except that none of the first 3 plinths received a cherrywood base, just all slate. 

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Strange feeling! Maybe because i’ve been using Technics SL1200mk2 on radiostations, in the clubs and at home for more than 20 years (because of my work). I still don’t understand why their luxury Porsche looks exactly like restored and polished classic Fiat.

P.S. Peronally i’m extremely bored of this design.
Will stick to my SP10mk2
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
What is Technics thinking?

IMO, they were thinking. Audio-Technica and others have a niche market for “Utility Turntables” (UT). With Pioneer’s decision to get in the game with it’s own UT, Technics may have felt they could do better and at the same time make a little money. The sales figures, reviews and customer comments appear to show they hit the nail on the head. Also, I think the timing was perfect.

I own a Technics SL-1210 MKII and it saddens me that if my 1210 dies, I may not be able to afford one of their new TT’s. Yet, I am happy to see Technics back in the game and making products worthy of displaying that well respected Technics logo.

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