Cartridge for Technics SL-1200G or SL-1200GR

the newer technics reference table is in another league. its very, very good.  Its much different than a SP 10 MKII.  there are similarities in the 1200g, the newer reference table and the sp-10 mkII.  I would say that the Sp10 mkII has a very smooth sound, the 1200g has a very accurate sound and a little more detailed to my ears to the sp 10 MKII.  Maybe its the Lyra I am hearing but that is what I heard,  SP-10 is very smooth, a great table, the 1200g is very accurate and the new table is in another league all together IMHO.  If I could have an sp10 MKII I would.  I would have both the 1200G and the SP10 MK II.  I could easily live with either.  I have not heard a sp-10 Mk III. so maybe its closer to the newer reference...  How easy is it to keep a SP-10 MkII going if it breaks, they are older?  The 1200G sounds more like the SL-1000R than the sp-10 MKII to my ears.  yours may differ.

"I don’t think a turntable has sound" I would think that accurately describes what I heard when I listened to the SL-1000R. I think that pretty much says it perfectly. Thats a good one Chakster. You got that right on the money.

 You can still change out the arm on a 1200G if the stock arm does not do it for you.  I think the stock arm is very good and a fantastic value and very versatile.  You can use a MC or MM cart of fairly high compliance with it and get great results.  you cannot put a 12 inch arm or 3 arms on it and I guess that is a compromise of sorts. However, some do not need 3 arms and the 1200G gives a great performance of a very high end turntable for a fraction of the cost of a sp-10R.  its still not inexpensive, but its not 10K or 20K though its sounds pretty close to a table in that range IMO,  maybe even surpassing some as well.  the pickering that I ordered is the one you mentioned.  it will be interesting.

Do you remember review posted by Pani here on audiogon? It’s opposite opinion in favor of SP-10 mkII over the SL1200G

Anyway, i sold my Technics turntables (SP-10mkII and SP-20) in favor of Luxman PD-444

New Technics must be on the used market sooner or later

I read the review by Pani and unfortunate for him, he did not give the 1200G table a proper run in.  I heard the same things he eluded to when I first started listening to it.  I could tell that the table just needed more run in.  Any sp-10 in existence will be sufficiently run in.  I understand what he heard in the sp-10 mk II after i heard it.  it is a great table in its own right.  I could easily live with either.