Nottingham Spacedeck vs Rega Planar 8 vs Technics SL1200G

different strokes etc etc 

Why would anyone buy a TT with rubber band when they can have a direct drive?

I cover both bases but there are way too many belt drives out there to be quite so disparaging about them.

I listened to a friends new Rega P8 with Aria cartridge for some time couple of weeks ago .One hell of a nice TT , excellent base and the clarity Rega is noted for plus a slight bit of warmth ,with quartz power supply sounded flawless to me .

I’d suggest you read the Analog Planet review, download the samples for yourself.
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/technics-sl-1200g-versus-continuum-caliburn-and-sat-arm

To summarise- Fremer compared the Technics 1200G with the Continuum Calliburn and made 24/96 rips to compare. The catch was he didn’t reveal which TT was which file.

One was better than the other most people agreed- including this blogger who then created this video, explaining why the CC is better than the Technics. He overlaid the waveforms from the downloads and then explained all the benefits of the CC’s isolation, arm design, motor etc. 
https://youtu.be/ZEGj6iim57w

However, he like most listeners was fooled. I smelled a rat when he says towards the end that the CC is more speed accurate than the 1200g ( I don’t think so - belt drive vs the most accurate DD control system based on a Blu-Ray drive and Quartz locked- I thought - he’s got them the wrong way around). Later Fremer announces which file was which! The blogger had confused them - how embarrassing!

The Technics 1200g had beaten the Continuum Calliburn!

Did I mention that the CC costs $180,000?

I bought the Technics - and a used Supercar 😁

The Technics is the biggest bargain in audio. It’s one of the cheapest components in my system, my phone stage cost much more.

Technics have, with their huge economies of scale, engineering expertise and large research budget created a giant killer.  

If Linn made the 1200g it would cost at least £75k their Keel upgrade, a single piece of milled Aluminium cost as much as a 1200g - it’s just ridiculous.

The real question is 1200g or Sp10? I can’t justify the upgrade.

I owned Regas and Linn’s from 1981 till two years ago. Now I have a 1200g. I heard an RP8 recently - no match I’m afraid.

Incidently, some recordings on vinyl - especially older ones and particularly 45rpm 12” are a match or better than my Chord Dave even playing high res files. An under £1k DAC will not be comparable.

My local record shop bought a Technics SL 1100 new in the 1970’s the owner retired recently and has passed the shop to another chap. I was talking to him before Christmas, he said that the 1100 had been used 5 days a week since they bought it, and only last month needed a service. Who needs a local dealer?

On Ralph's recommendation, in whose ears I trust, I ordered the Oracle record mat today from Adirondack Audio.  As soon as they receive it from Oracle, they will ship to me.  Should take 10 business days or so.  I will report back on my findings after I have had time to play with it.