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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
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
664 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
664 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!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,152 posts
 
@dsper The one thing that isn't getting mentioned here is that your cartridge is beyond its freshness date.

The cantilever has a suspension which fails over time. It perishes and might get really stiff or might simply melt. Either way the cartridge will sound wrong- no bass, harsher highs, possibly poor tracking. If the cartridge has a replaceable stylus you replace it. If not you get the cartridge rebuilt or replaced.


It ***DOES NOT MATTER*** if the cartridge was stored for a while- that's a pretty good guarantee that it won't sound right years on! Sort this matter out before any other investments, else you'll be dealing with the same issue as you've already seen.


Its also worthy of addressing how the cartridge is loaded and that sort of thing, but not worth discussing now since the cartridge has to be dealt with right now.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Everyone can check cartridge suspension visually, if a cartridge is not a low rider (which is a bad sign) then its compliance can be measured with Hi-Fi News Test LP on your particular tonearm. I’ve seen a few samples out of 60 samples with softened suspension, but not with stiffer suspension.

Audio-Technica MM cartridges are fine for Technics tonearm.
I have never ever seen an AT moving magnet cartridge with deteriorated suspension, even 30 y.o. samples are all great and I’ve tried so many of them.

Now please look at the brand new TopWing super expensive cartridge, this is a low rides and suspension is probably dead or it's normal? Hard to tell. Here is the review. The cost of this brand new High-End cartridge is $16500 and it looks like the suspension already collapsed. 
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