TNT Hot Rod vs SL-1200G

testpilot

First of all, the TNT is not a MK5 Hotrod. The HR does not have a removable arm board. The corner posts look like home made or after market. If you google TNT you will not see another table with these types of corner post. IMHO, for the above reasons, I believe the table is over priced. The Technics is a turn key solution and will take up less than half the space of the TNT

If you are talking about this VPI, it looks like a TNT Mk5 Hotrod to me. It does not have a removable armboard and the corner posts are the inflatable bladder version.

Between the two tables, I would go with the Technics.
I recently bought a Technics 1200G and am very happy with it.  See if you can find one to demo, preferably with a few hundred hours on it.  They do have a break in period!

With all the used TTs seemingly coming on the market; everyone should have Two (2) TTs. Get a belt,rim or whatever drive and one of the Technics ( Old or New ) and discover what was recorded in the grooves at the correct speed. The 1200G has performed well beyond my hopes. My LP12 (Tuned by Tom O'keefe at Overture Audio in Ann Arbor, MI.) and my Kuzma TTs ; cannot extract the info in the grooves, the way my Technics / Triplanar rig can. No fuss, no belts, Easy Setup, Very good stock arm. Wow! And if you want to take it to a higher level; You Can.

Easy for me to say? Get a part time gig. Save your nickles! The Technics are Worth it. You can start with a 1200GR for $1700.00. If you can't afford this,unless you hit a lottery; you are never going to get a Walker, Invictus, TechDas, TW Black Knight, etc. Sorry if I missed anyone.

You can buy the Hot Rod VPI (no fiddling ?) except to buy a SDS and convert to string drive ??? I guess that's not fiddling.

Technics does not make mistakes. Just my opinion; I think you are seeing All these TTs come on the market so that the seller can finance the Technics that they want to get. You will not regret the Technics. I like mine more everyday.            

@testpilot In my opinion....

Getting rid of the VPI feet is an improvement that most owners have implemented. They are a known serious weakness in the table and VPI feet limit performance. That upgrade seems to point to an owner that was doing what he could to improve the performance of his table. IMO, that increases the value over a stock table that has not been improved.

Thanks to all for your - as usual - excellent advice and experiences.  I think that given the cost of shipping, SDS and space considerations, the Technics is probably a better option for me. 
Thanks again!