Why Isnt Techincs 1200 Considered Audiophile?

Now in 2018 both statements is right, no matter what you think about SL1200mkII or SL1210mkII or mk3D, mk4, mk5 or ltd.

1) Technics is a DJ turntable, becase for over 30 years it is a worldwide dj standard. This particular model will be in any technical rider and a must have for any night club or radiostation where professional djs are playing records.

2) Technics is not a DJ turntable, because it was invented as a Hi-Fi component for everyone.

The brand new SL1200GR, G or GAE is still an ultimate DJ turntable, but at the same time it is a true High-End turntable.

For DJ world it is extremely expensive, for audiophile world it is relatively cheap.

Audiophiles are more happy about this new product from Technics than DJs, but for the price of the old one any DJ will be happy to buy it and use it too. 

End of discussion

fastdart69;chakster,

Both are correct. 

The Audiophile community now has a brand new HighEnd TT at a Bargain / Value price. Many will be modding with a HighEnd tonearm and get the most out of the cartridge of their choice.

The SQ that I am getting from this rig is astounding. I consider that I got it at a bargain price and have superior value.  IMHO.

Best to All on this Journey 


 
Best to All on this Journey 

kahlenz....I got my 1210GR from Geoff as well....maybe we have met in the store?

Just wanted to chime in and add my 2cents. As an ex 70's/80’s DJ working full time in clubs at the time, I’ve had my hands on the 1200 MK2 for many years, everyday, 6 hours a day and more, which makes me quite sensitive to the looking down comments of the "local experts" here... Don’t bash this old lady that had many qualities, certainly not an approximative tone arm, out of control component noises and hunting and pecking speed control. Speed control and torque was another of its qualities, and was so good that it was not a problem to set and let go 2 1200 playing the same record together, both faders up, for the entire time of an extended 45 without a 100th of a second speed variation. That, added to the general built quality, reasonable price for a professionally usable gear made it the queen of TT to those who were really using them, the DJ’s. Nobody else knows them that deeply. Coming with numbers and unilateral judgements long after their time is just not doing it for me. Of course if you refer to a battered one, which suffered travelling on the back seat of a car or worse, worked for years in tobacco pot, suffering the nicotine infiltration everywhere, or abused or mistreated in any other way, yes you can find it somewhat substandard. Just a word on the weight of the platter, yes quite light, and for the better because again, added to the torque and the exact speed control, you could with a little nudge get back in the beat to carry on your mix successfully. And this was exactly what the DJ’s were after. More than enough torque, light platter, speed control, ergonomy of this S shaped tone arm, 0 to right speed in less than a quarter, stop to 0 in less than a quarter too, and tell me if I forgot something... None of the competition, I say None, full stop, was offering that, not mentioning the trust you could put in it as a pro, and for years and years to come. I know because I played daily on the others, Thorens, Lenco L75, even Dual1218 and Dynacord, + some I forgot. Let me tell you about fishing a belt fallen out inside the case, in the middle of your set on a Saturday evening lol!
The sound quality? In a club it is pretty hard to pretend having a great sound quality. Getting practical and reliable is the first thing. For the rest, speak to the equalizer...
Is it an Audiophile TT? Nah, and has never been, it was a mass production hi fi turntable that turned out to be adequate for a DJ work. I still love the looks (And to see that so many hifi manufacturers have copied it comforts me in my opinion). I also love to see it working, mine (a beautiful 1210) is not perfect though but with a bit of love will be great. It sounds as good as my CD’s with the "emotion" of the analogue on top, thanks to its Ortofon M2 Blue, and I consider that good enough for me, and my old ears.. :). I don’t think it can reach the Audiophile level mentioned by some, and it is not built like that anyway, but who cares about the snobbish, unrealistic comments of a bunch of pretentious auto convinced of their superiority? Peace!

I had the Pioneer PL-600 (c. 1980) which was a close cousin of the Technics 1200 series...quartz locked DD, about the same price, pitch control sacrificed perhaps in favor of an auto arm return/shut off feature.  Good enough turntable.  Lasted nearly 30 years and was outfitted, first with an ADC ZLM cart, later a Shure V15 Type 5.  I replaced it with a Music Hall MMF 5/Goldring 1012 combo when it gave up the ghost.  For my limited funds, the Music Hall was a vast improvement in SQ but I suppose this is subjective as is the case with a lot of things....Fender Strats Vs. Martin acoustic guitars, etc...