2. analog
  3. 125140-118

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
audiofun
799 posts
 
All direct drives do not cog. Any non-coreless motor can cog, including belt drive tables. Also, because a belt drive is usually turning at 300rpm, multiple resonance modes are being induced into the platter. Now, I'll admit that I have yet to hear a belt drive that I like as I prefer idlers and direct drive table. I can always hear the motors in belt drive tables from several feet away at 33.3 rpm, including one very nice $40k belt drive table I have recently evaluated. I was shocked that I could hear the very very heavy motor as it spun. I can not hear my GAE or SP10 mk3 motors at 33.3 rpm even with my ear on the plinth. 

The belt drives have their place I am sure but for me they simply lack drive/force, a sense of power if you will. Idlers and directs have this attribute which I am partial to. 

Better direct drive including the SL1200 Mk2 also do not "hunt and seek" as Mr. Framer and others have alleged in times past. That is why it is call a Quartz -Lock. It locks to speed and adjusts when a load change is detected. All one has to do is scope (O'scope) the table and look at the resultant wave-form. Cheap tables may exhibit that undesirable behavior but even the SL1200 MK X did not behave in that manner. 

Now, having made my thoughts public, I have nothing against belt drive tables other than the fact that I've never heard one that I prefer over a direct or idler. Never heard a Caliburn :)

Just wanted to comment on some things I see posted over and over and which I know to be in error. 
audiofun
799 posts
 
OOPS!!! I literally ment to type "Mr. Fremer" and not Framer. That was autocorrect and it did it again when I was trying to post this retraction but I caught it this time. 

No disrespect intended, I generally enjoy Mr. Fremers reviews and I certainly appreciate what he does for the world of vinyl. I also enjoy getting to hear his Caliburn on the YouTube vids he posts. 
raymonda
855 posts
 
I frankly don't care what it does or doesn't do. This is what has been reported by others and the subsequent mods they have done to correct it.

Now if they would have improved upon its look they might have hooked me. I also feel I would preferred leaving the tone arm choice up to me.

audiofun
799 posts
 
To those interested there is an interesting article discussing how Abbey Road Studios was so impressed with the table that they have installed them in their mastering studios.

http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/abbey-road-technics-sl-1200-turntables/
pkaram
40 posts
 
Agreed .... $4000 is a bargain. Can't imagine any other manufacturer producing this table for under $10k. Easily one of the most significant audio products released in many years. Bravo Technics.

More to discover