Technics 1200 Critic Fremer Praises the newer 1200G

@chakster

At no point in this thread has the OP yet mentioned that he bought a Technics.

HR of Stereophile conducted side by side tests of a mkii 1200 and PLX-1000, using the same carts. His conclusion is that they're equals in performance. So other than the 1200’s proven track record of reliability, there’s little reason to not consider the PLX over a Technics in that price range. Then consider that the only 1200s you’ll find for $700 anymore will be ones that have had a rough life, so cosmetically damaged that they’re not really worth modding.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve handled both decks and there’s absolutely nothing that indicates a mkii 1200 is of better quality, If anything, it’s the other way around. If you’ve experienced the PLX as you claim, you’d know this as well. I think you continually lambaste the Pioneer as you do because deep down you know it’s the equal of your precious 1200s.

roberjerman,

I think that both of these turntables have their place in the market. I have no experience with new SL 1200 (GR, G, GAE), but, from what I hear, they are impeccably put together. I have experience with Pioneer, a friend of mine has it and I have played with it, in fact got it out of the box and set it up for him. It is great but if I wanted to be picky I could find a few things that feel imperfect. Platter somehow feels light and is a little bit, just the tinniest little bit, off balance. If you watch closely, you can see the edge going up and down slightly. I have no idea if Technics is better than that. By the way, it does not influence the sound no matter how hard I listen.



Pioneer can surely produce decent turntable for $700 and I am sure that Technics could do the same. There may be some additional expense incurred on fit, finish, and actual materials used and price of labor (China vs. Japan). There may also be some cost in research and all that goes in before the production. I also do not see too many ads for Pioneer, but have ran across many for Technics and that must cost something. Lastly, as in most of the products on any kind of market and especially for products as, realistically, unnecessary as a turntable is in 2018, there is a price inflation for cache of the brand and perceived higher value. In a sense, cashing in on better material, more adds, "fancier-perceived" product, and coolness of lineage from 1970s. It happens in all kinds of products so it happens here, too. Louis Vuitton bag will not carry books any better than a $20 bag from Chinatown store, but it costs a bit more. Both have their clientele.

One thing that seems to me to be going in favor of anybody buying a Pioneer is that it can be easily bought. Technics is somehow missing in stores, even websites. I would like to see and feel one, but no luck.

@helomech actually the OP @vinny55 started new (or posted in every old) thread about Technics on audiogon to justify his new purchase - the old Technics SL1200mkII, so he’s got this turntable, what he can do now is to upgrade some parts or even replace stock tonearm. It’s better to advice him how to mod this Technics, than just advice him to buy Pioneer because it’s equal to the Technics which he alsready bought not so long ago.

Companies like Vestax released higher torque dj turntables, but no one can beat Technics as this is the original product with legendary status that all of them trying to copy.

I am not trying to start any fire and have never even heard of Vestax, but this sentence implies that Vestax already beat Technics. At least when it comes to torque. I doubt than anyone truly needs more torque than 40-year-old Technics DD turntable has, but still....Vestax has more.

But for $1700 Technics with SL1200GR can satisfy both (audiophiles and vinyl deejays).

I may be seriously interested in 1200GR so do not dismiss me just yet. However, I have been asking on forums, without much success, to find out what makes a turntable "audiophile". Why would this one satisfy DJs and "audiophiles" while some other one would not? I am trying to learn as I see these "audiophile" statements thrown around a lot, but no substantial answer.

atmasphere,

are we the only two people out there who think a new design would have been a better idea?

@glupson anyone can make higher torque but will it sound musical