Upcoming Technics SP-10R (100th Anniversary Model)

Chakster, What you say about tax is true in Tokyo.  Only the big stores, however, want to be bothered with the paperwork needed in order not to charge the tax.  And one would need to present a valid passport, of course.  Of all the stores I have so far visited, only Yodibashi Camera, an enormous department store that sells everything from audio to cameras to kitchen and bath appliances to etc., are willing to sell tax-free. Someone told me it amounts to 8%, but I would want to verify that. So you could take the price in yen and divide by ~1.1 to account for the value of the dollar vs the yen.  Then deduct 8% from that amount, I guess. I am not feeling the urge or the need to indulge myself with the SP10R.  We are here to spend time with our son; that’s most important.

No sooner did I buy the Oyaide HS-CF than I read that there is an even more expensive CF headshell made by Oyaide, called the HS-TF.  It’s a silvery color, and I have seen it before for sale on line. Not much info is available on line to discuss the differences, except I think the one I bought is made of layers of plastic and CF, not 100% CF.

I heard the SL1000R today for the first time.  Incredible.  

@tzh21y Can you give any more details? Thanks!

It sounded like it is absolutely one of the top turntables in existence.  Very solid lifelike presentation that has a much larger soundstage than the 1200G as it should.  The cartridge was a Ortofon Winfield Ti.  The sustain and decay on this table is as good as it gets anywhere.  If you are a belt drive lover and someone who like to tinker, the table may not be for you.  No tinkering needed.  It could be fully operational in less than an hour with two people as it probably weighs around 100 pounds. Very much an engineering masterpiece.  It sounds as truthful to the source as I have ever heard anywhere. The table does not sound bloated or flabby but very grounded and well.... real.  Like real music sounds.  Listened to Symphonie Fantastique Berlioz Living stereo reissue.  This is one of those records that can tell a lot about your system.  A table and system that is less up to the task will not do this record justice and this is a record where you really notice the difference a high end system can make.  The best equipment will reveal subtleties that really make a you believe you are listening to a real orchestra and you are right there over fifty years ago.  Everything sounded right where it would be if you were there, front to back, side to side.  Bass is extremely tight, solid and very right.  The best bass I have ever heard from a turntable.  It never added its own flavor to the sound, just what is there, in the grooves.   What can I say... it is fantastic but its almost 20K.  So unfortunately I will keep my 1200G for a long time as it is still a very good turntable, but not this one by any stretch of the imagination.

I heard that the older ones sound better  (from those you actually heard them)