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Life After Technics SL1200 Mk5

Hi All,

i am starting the hunt for a new turntable and what to hear from past owners of Technics TT's.

My first real turntable was a Luxman PD272 with a Shure V15 Type IV cartridge, both of which I wore out. Given it was my formative years, I loved that set-up. I acquired my Technics 1200 Mk5 about ten years ago after a long journey down the digital fork in the road. 

Due to some technical furniture issues and WAF, I had to set the TT aside, again. I have rolled through various digital gear and currently use a PS Audio PWT and Theta ProBasic III R2R ladder DAC.

Anyway...I set up the Technics again with an AT150 MLX cartridge and....lo and behold...the digital setup, while not possessing that vinyl sound, does sound better than the SL1200 and AT150.

I did not want to believe this, so I reinstalled the cartridge and realigned the table. Same resort. Basically, the sound is a bit tilted to the treble, the bass is a bit thin compared to my digital gear, and the overall sound seems lean.I have fiddled with cartridge tracking and tonearm balance with no improvement.

So what is next? Is it I do not like the AT cartridge? Has my digital gear outgrown my TT?

That is why I want to learn about the experiences of those of you that moved to a different turntable from Technics. What Technics table did you have and what cartridge? What new turntable and cartridge replaced your Technics setup? How did the sound improve? I would appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks for listening,

Dsper


dsper
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
dsper, you are not alone. Your problem now is that you are using the digital as a reference. Before you had none. Ignorance is bliss. 
If you have a treasured collection of LPs and want to hear them in all their glory then you will have to look for a turntable/arm combination that does not impinge or allow impingement on the cartridge's ability to do it's job.
It has to isolate the cartridge from the environment and itself or you will be hearing all sorts of vibration that has nothing to do with music. IMHO you would be best served by a belt driven turntable with an isolating suspension. The Sota Sapphire is a standout. There are any number of fine arms that will work. You want the motor as far away from the cartridge as you can get it. Putting it right under the cartridge has to be one of the silliest concepts man has yet to come up with only eclipsed by the flying aircraft carrier. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Honestly, I have no idea what mijostyn is talking about when it comes to vibration. But i want to remind you that Technics SL1200 mk2 - mk7 turntables are often used on the dancefloor where at least 200-500 (sometimes even 10 000) people are dancing in front of the deejay booth and it wasn’t a problem to reproduce vinyl using those turntables, even when the nearest sound system is 100 000 Watts.

It’s hard to understand that an audiophile alone can cause a problem sitting in his listening chair at home unless there is an earthquake in his town.

P.S. You can add isonoe feet to your Technics if you like.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
I have AT150mlx with Clearaudio Bluemotion and Satisfy arm. AT150mlx certainly sounds far better than my Oppo 105D and Esoteric UZ1. For example, I have both CD and LP for Patricia Barber. Simply there is no comparison.
I suspect the phono preamp may be a problem? Or, the cartridge is worn out? Or, your LPs have problem? Or, it could be phono cable.
I have two phono pre: Magi phonomenal and built-in phono in Plinius M16P. Both produces excellent sound from AT150mlx. I've had two of them so far. The only downside is it is no longer manufactured and its price went up significantly for the last two years or so.
dsper OP
663 posts
 
ihico wrote " I have AT150mlx with..."   
I am using an AT150mlx that is probably too heavy for the light weight Technics tonearm. It might have 100 hours on it from about five years ago. I suspect that I have to do a better job of aligning it as the channels were not balanced and will try it again.

In the meantime, I am using an Ortofon Pro S, that was outfitted with a better stylus by KABUSA. Its depth of field is better than my digital but the width is much worse. Not sure that it is appreciably smoother than my DAC. 

My phono pre is a Jolida JD9 modified with better op amps and capacitors. Those two mods made a big difference. However, I should take another look at what tubes I am running in it. They could be part of the problem...

I had an Oppo 105 modified by Ric Schultz and thought it was lifeless in my system; which was Maggie 3.6, Coda CS amp, and PL Prologue Premium preamp. I moved to a Hegel HD25, which was much better than the Oppo due in part to better bass response. I switched to Thiel CS5 speakers and the Hegel did not play nice with the Thiel tweeters. I then switched to a Theta ProBasic III, based on advice from another Thiel owner, which proved to be much more musical and smoother than the Hegel. I added a PS Audio PWT and the musicality improved even more. 

Thanks for listening,

Dsper
dsper OP
663 posts
 
If you're listening to new music produced/mastered digitally then you don't need vinyl at all.

If you're listening to original records produced? mastered and pressed in analog era then you don't need digital at all.
I get it and agree. Too many great rock albums from the late 60s and 70's not to get the vinyl right!
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