What is Technics thinking?

Four grand seems like a lot.  But I grew up on Technics DD.  Vinyl returned to my system a few years ago via an SL-1210M5G.  It's modified with a KAB power supply and tonearm damper plus a Funkfirm achromat.  It sits on the Isonoe footers and sorbothane cups with glass centers.  An AT440MLA was the first cartridge and it reminded me of the sound I heard as a kid.  Next came a DL103R.  That was a nice introduction to MC.  Now it has an OC9MKII.  Love that cartridge.

My GAE has been here a little over a week.  The 103R is on a Sumiko headshell and I promptly installed it on the GAE.  While I can't compare 2 tables with 2 different cartridges it seems like the 103R sounds better than I recall it on the 1210.  Both tables will be set up with the same cartridge for true comparison.  There is zero buyer's remorse here.  An AT-ART9 on a magnesium Jelco HS-25 is likely the next cart for the GAE.

There is no ring at all when the GAE platter is thumped.  That's quite a contrast from the 1210.  I don't hear any cogging at all- but I never heard any on the 1210 either.  The gimbal and it's support looks very similar but look closely- there are differences.  The gimbal support is larger and the tonearm is mounted a bit differently.  I have no idea what the magnesium tonearm mass is on the GAE. 

The GAE is promising so far.  I'll confess to little nostalgia but I'm mid-40s and enjoying vinyl again.  I'd certainly recommend the GAE to anyone who likes Technics direct drives.

I’m sorry, but Denon DL103R on stock Technics SL1210 tonearm is a total mismatch. Low compliance MC Denon 103R works fine only on high mass tonearms. Technics stock arm is ok for MM cartridges of medium compliance, it can handle 30cu compliance cartridges with kab silicon fluid damper, but your Denon is the oppisite story.

I don’t know anything about new technics tonearm, but do you think it’s better than top notch Technics EPA-100 or EPA-100 mk2 or EPA-500 (or any other vintage tonearms like Lustre, Saec, Micro etc) you can easily mount on custom plinth with SP10-mk2 for much less than 4k in total (most likely for half price) to spend the rest on some amazing cartridges.

51 albums later I still cannot shake the bright overall tone in my system.

Not wanting to rewire the tone arm on a brand new table, I called Charles at Cryogenics Int'l to discuss treating the entire turntable. He said he had never Cryo'd an entire turntable. Humm! Myself having commissioned over 1000 pieces the past 10 years felt strangely optimistic. The only issue's I experienced with Charles nitrogen vapor process was glue failures & paint peeling on improperly prepped surfaces, no electronics failures to speak off. (PM me or call Charles directly if you have specific questions on Cryogenics)

Well my entire SL1200GAE took the Cryo plunge last weekend, and a few wrinkles aside, the process was a total sonic success.  After a 2 hours run-in the sound was not only relaxed but had and entirely different musical presentation. Way beyond my expectations, something entirely new is emanating in my room. 

My SL1200GAE is having it's coming out party with friends and family. (Read-scrutinizing-audiophiles) The rubber hits the road tonite my friends!

I hear where you're coming from. After reading the story behind the retooling and considering the SL has become the de-facto Icon for a record player even during the demise of the LP I can understand the manufactures dilemma.

I'm thinking they were considering how they would maintain their current customer base (scratchers) and their ability to mount the players into existing systems road cases. I'm sure they'll be available at every Guitarted Center next to the Neumann microphones in the glass case.

My 1976 SL is on its second long term loan to another friend who has rediscovered the superiority of his LP collection. Since I temporarily relocated his bookshelf speakers unveiling his first experience with sound staging they've been in place for the past seven months. 

Compared to my Well Tempered I do miss the ergonomics and quick startup and the platter torque when dusting a side. The damn thing has a certain pace in its presentation that I don't get with the Well Tempered. Unfortunately, that old arm is a POS.

Friday evening began at Zur Kate for a fine german meal accompanied with un-amplified accordion music. This firmly set the foundation for the late night festivities.

Back in my main listening room the natives were clearly agog, fingering their brutal test LP’s that will surely bring the new Technics GAE to its knee’s. Stupidly I also agreed to a phono amp ’cable’ evaluation. Test LP’s combined with ’cable’ comparisons proved to be a recipe for audiophile neurosis.

What was I thinking ... hey boys ... this is my rodeo!

Grabbing the bull by the horns we regrouped back at my wet bar, the only damage being restricted to my Scotch collection. With everyone’s ego unfettered, we returned to my Technics 1610Mk2/Ortofon Vienna left on auto-repeat playing a virgin re-issue of Kind of Blue. Having previously reset my system back to normal all agreed the music sounded fantastic. After listening to both sides I quickly moved the Vienna & KOB LP over to the GAE. Once again I played both sides, total silence ensued ... no words necessary! I peeled backed the plastic from another virgin LP, the 2013 Mono reissue of Kind of Blue, silent nods agreed. Handshakes, tears, and stares of disbelief ensued after side one. Yes the mono version kills the stereo one, the GAE having laid it all bare.

Sticking with other Modal Jazz recordings, the consensus being the GAE clearly places you like a fly on the wall inside the recording studio.

Switching back to my 1610Mk2 changed perspectives, now we were just some blokes sitting in room listening to great music. A part of me was crushed by that revelation, as was some of the other players. The herd thinned at this point, perhaps realizing that your current analog rig now amounts to no more than a relic of the 20th century is a tough pill to swallow. (Days later some have rationalized that what they heard didn’t actually happen, perhaps I drugged them and unfairly used my Vulcan mind meld)

Those that remained went on to an all night listening session to the GAE. More virgin’s (vinyl) hit the floor Friday night then my high school prom 36 years ago. I personally opened 7 brand new LP’s, I hear the count was over 20 by the end of listening session. I threw in the towel at 3:30 am, others kept spinning records till the sun came up. I woke up for a glass of water at 7 am, ecstatic to find the ruby cantilever still intact on the Vienna.


I like other’s have yet to fully recover from the experience.