TECHNICS SL1200 MKII.......THE REAL FACTS


I have been a very active participant in this hobby for many years (going on 30). I have owned amplifiers by B&K, Marantz, Forte, VanAlstine, Accuphase, GAS, Onkyo Grand Integra, Musical Fidelity.....Speakers by Thiel, Energy, Genesis, Vandersteen, PSB, Definitive Tech, KEF, Mission, B&W....Turntables by Sota, Rega, Linn, AR, Thorens, Dual, and yes; Technics. I have a Technics SL1200 MKII which I have had for a few years now. It has been modified in the following ways (all mods based on trial and error and final listening results):
-TT Weights 454 record weight
-XPM1 Acrylic mat with 1/4" heavy Technics rubber mat underneath
-Steel plinth cover (chrome finish). I cannot explain why, but the background is more quiet and micro dynamics are better with this in place.
-Armtube stuffed loosely with cotton.
-Heat shrink tubing on outside of arm tube.
-Stock headshell replaced with Sumiko with Sumiko headshell wires (do NOT underestimate what headshell quality can do with these things).
-Plugs on the stock cables replaced with better plugs: Vampire OFC RCA plugs.
-Bearings adjusted for minimal play with minimal friction.
-KAB Power Supply added

Now, this is the scoop. I do not want a Technics turntable. I am an audio snob. I want only salon approved brands; period. That is why this situation sucks dog. Out of all the turntables I have owned. This Technics with this combination of mods has the blackest background, the best dynamics, the most detail, the clearest stage, the most pace and timing and overall just simply plays the song in the least-confused manner of ANY turntable I have ever owned. In many ways it makes every other turntable I have ever owned sound like Amateur Night in sonic comparisons. Facts are facts. The Technics SL1200 MKII, when properly tweeked, is one serious LP playback unit. At least the chrome plated steel plinth cover covers up the name.
audiomaster1967
Just goes to show that sentimentality trumps 'ears' every time. It's practically an epidemic in the 'high end' community. We will always find reasons to rationalize something either sentimental or 'cool looking' over something that actually does articulate music better.
09-29-15: Jw_dewdney
Just goes to show that sentimentality trumps 'ears' every time. It's practically an epidemic in the 'high end' community. We will always find reasons to rationalize something either sentimental or 'cool looking' over something that actually does articulate music better.

No, the high-end world is much more complicated than this simplistic summation of how audio "always" works "every time."
May i ask you @vinny55
Do you have this turntable ?
Just add KAB fluid damper and Isonoe footers, replace all wires, buy cardas litz or discovery litz (for tonearm) and Zu Audio Mission Phono RCA cable that you can buy on ebay every week for promotional price directly from Zu Audio (USA) under $150 max. Find yourself a good MM cartridge and listen to this deck first! This is minimum investment and maximum improvement you can do with SL1200mkII if you’re not gonna invest more than the actual price of the better turntable (SP-20 or SP-10mkII).

If you want to change tonearm you have limited space on the armboard, you need a new custom armboard, you have to measure pivot to spindle distance. You can mount any toneam with appropriate pivot to spindle distance if this arm can be fixed on the new custom armboard. That’s all you need to know, really. Internet is full of info about SL1210 mods, Jelco is one of the most popular solution, old or new SME is another one. I can add Luxman TA-1 tonearm (made by Micro Seiki) or Victor UA-7045 or Infinity Black Widow for extremely high compliance MM carts... But as i said any toneam can be mounted if the pivot to spindle distance is ok with the new armboard.

If you don’t have this turntable my strong advice is to buy SP-10mkII instead and invest to infinity to this (better) turntable.
@chakster i just got the 1200mk2.  I doubt sp20 is any better than a 1200 and sp10 mk2 prices not worth the quality i may as well modify a lenco than to pay for inflated price for overrated sp10mk2/3. Half The money id spend on a lenco would blow away any technics table ever made.