New Technics SL 1200 GAE

This is a second attempt to respond and I apologize in advance if 2 messages appear that are redundant.  I purchased an SL1200GAE last summer.  It sits right next to a VPI Prime.  The Prime has been modified as follows:  Eagle PSU with Roadrunner tach, periphery ring, HRX pulley using 2 belts, CounterIntuitive.  The two are competitive with each other, although they sound different, but the VPI with all the adders cost ~$6K vs. $4K for the GAE.  The GAE sounds faster, tighter, brighter, more open on top with perfect timing.  The Prime seems to have a bit more depth in the base, but is a bit vague with diminished pace and slam somehow.  Overall the G is the better sounding of these two but the difference is subtle, that is to my tastes and YRMV.  Also, VPI is close to the release of a mod for the 3D arm that may tip the balance the other way.  VPI is unsurpassed in customer support, an opinion formed as a continuous customer since 1986.  After months of comparing I sold my SL1200MK2 with full KAB mods.  The MK2 sounded very good indeed, just not as good as either of these others.  The differences are not great, however, and not everyone would find the sound difference worth the cost.  The arm on the G is a strength and in my view something I would not want to give up.  It is the easiest to set up of any arm I have ever used.  It responded well to different headshells and I like the sound of the Zupreme from LP Gear the best of any for use with it.  For cartridges I have found that it works just fine with a wide variety:  Ortofon Per Windfeld, Cadenza Black, 2M Black, 2M Mono SE, Audio Technics AT150ANV, AT 33 Mono SE, Stanton 881.  In terms of ease of set up and ergonomics, Technics got this right years ago and in my view made the right decision to leave well enough alone.  Why change something that they got so right years ago?  In this regard, the G is peerless at any price.  In my opinion these two turntables are hard to top.  They sound terrific, are very well thought out and a delight to use.  I think either would serve any vinyl lover well.  Perhaps the Prime is more audiophile oriented and the G more record-collector friendly.  You can't go wrong with either. 

Associated equipment:  Conrad-Johnson TEA2MAX, ET5, ARTsa, Sony SS-AR2 speakers, Audio Sensibility for all wires.

billstevenson,

I appreciate your comments, comparisons and thoughts on arm and cartridges.
I am a vinyl guy (3000 LPs vs 83 CDs) Have an LP 12 and Kizma Stabi S in main system. 
Heard the Technics at Axpona last April for 20 minutes. Positive comments so far and I do not think the price is outlandish.
I have a 2nd system in a smaller room and want a TT source for it . I think the Technics would be a good fit for this system.
The Direct drive platform seems solid, the arm does not need to be upgraded immediately, Ortofon cartridges are a good match.
I have been interested in DD TTs and Ortofon cartridges. 
Have a 3-4 hr round trip drive ahead of me for an audition ; but think it is a worth while trip.

Thanks
Norb

@andysf

Your plinth looks great but the SP 10 was designed for professional use and looks the part: a bit clunky and 70s bland. I didn’t say it looked bad-just not any better than the SL 1200!

If you prefer just the "look" of the SL1200 mk2 over the SP10mk2 then it’s a matter of taste, but you can’t ignore the fact that SL1200mk2 is not the hi-end turntable at all, in stock condition it’s a dark sounding turntable, not interesting at all, but the SP10mk2 is the ultimate along with SP10mk3 and compete with any modern hi-end decks of any price. Yes, they were made for broadcast studios back in the days which makes them very special, same with broadcast Denon, EMT etc.

I have owned a pair of SL1210mk2 for 20 years and still own them, they were fully upgraded and have been used with top Technics cartridges like EPC-100cmk3 or EPC-205mk4 along with 20 others top of the line MM and a few MC carts. Untill i found SP10mk2 with EPA100 or Thomas Schick tonearm much more atractive.

No matter how much you invest upgrading SL1200mk2, this deck is far away from SP10mk2 and the main problem is the tonearm. For the cost of the upgrade of the SL1200mk2 anyone could buy used SP10mk2 and invest more in tonearm and plinth to get much better turntable than anything on the market today.

I ended up with vintage Luxman PD444 which i like as much as my SP10mk2, but on Luxman i can use 2 tonearms. I also have rare Technics SP20 and 2x1210mk2, but i don’t use them much.

Chakster:  I agree, of course, that the SP10mk2 is a superior sounding turntable to the 1200Mk2.  I just don't think it is as attractive as, say, your Luxman PD 444.
  If I could just drive across town to the "Olde Turntable Shoppe" and buy a SP10 from the kindly gent who rebuilds them and will be on hand to fix things when any problems occur, I would.  I don't think there are any for sale nearby.  I would have to get one off of Ebay or Audiogon.  I have had bad enough experiences buying records online.  The idea of buying a turntable online makes me very nervous!

Atmasphere:  Do you think that the "slight shimmer" that you hear after reducing the torque could be related to what is often referred to as "viscosity" or "liquidity" in the sound?  (Such as HR's review of the new Technics in Stereophile.)

BillStevenson:  Good point about the 1200 being a record collector's table.  It certainly checks all the boxes!

If you prefer just the "look" of the SL1200 mk2 over the SP10mk2 then it’s a matter of taste, but you can’t ignore the fact that SL1200mk2 is not the hi-end turntable at all, in stock condition it’s a dark sounding turntable, not interesting at all, but the SP10mk2 is the ultimate along with SP10mk3 and compete with any modern hi-end decks of any price.

@chakster - just so we are clear here, the SL1200GAE is an entirely different beast and sits between the SP10MkII and the SP10MkIII in terms of speed stability. Its also quite easy to mount a different arm on it.

Atmasphere: Do you think that the "slight shimmer" that you hear after reducing the torque could be related to what is often referred to as "viscosity" or "liquidity" in the sound? (Such as HR's review of the new Technics in Stereophile.)

No. Liquidity and solidarity of the soundstage sound to me like two very different things!