TECHNICS 100th Anniversary 2018 Premium Turntables. Their best ever.


I discovered this morning that Technics announced at CES the about to be released later this year their premium Special edition 100th Anniversary Turntables. Head and shoulder's above the SL-1200G and SL-1200GR. The two new models are the SP-10R, which has an outboard power supply with no tonearm and will retail for $10K. Panasonic claims the SP-10R has the highest S/N ratio in the world against any belt drive or direct drive tables on the market. 
The other model is the all in one unit including tonearm, the SL-1000R which will retail for $20K. Only one word comes to mind looking at the pics this morning of the SL-1000R, DROOL! They upgraded and improved the coreless motor thats in the SL-1200G and SL-1200GR models. SME and SOTA, eat your heart's out!
audiozen
@atmasphere what mat would recommend for the SL-1200G?  I'm using the stock mat and it sounds pretty good. I tried my Herbies mat that improved my prior acrylic platter table but it didn't sound so good on the 1200G.
We've been using the Oracle mat but it is a bit thick if you want to also use a clamp.
@audiozen Yup. I'm definitely going for an SME. SME makes the best engineered, built, finished, sounding, and measuring turntables in the world. Followed by TechDas. 

If I was getting a Technics, it would have to be the SL-1000R with an SME V 12 tonearm. But the price would be closer to $30K. At that point I would be crazy not to just go for an SME Model 20, or 30. Both are best measuring turntables in the world.

I would not want to put an SP-10R into some nonmetal wood DIY garage plinth. 

I think people are getting out of hand in regards to praising these direct drive turntables. They're very good, but that's all that they are.


I am using the Boston Acoustics Mat.  I would like to try the Luxman mat.  Has anyone used the Luxman?
The SME and Technics are 2 different animals.  The SME is Smooth, quiet, and slow sounding.  The Technics is fast, great timing, pretty darn quiet, great bass, and fairly neutral with a slight hint of warmth. I would say one of the best values in audio today.. If SME made the 1200g, it would cost 15 grand.