Am I a hopeless audio snob?

I wrote “brief fling”, so no, I certainly don’t still own it. It still has a certain kitsch however for having been featured in the movie “Clockwork Orange “. If I had one I’d display it with the platter in rotation but I’d not connect it to an audio system.

The current Technics SL-1200G is a fine turntable at its price point. It is stronger on rythmic drive and bass coherence than it is on tonal refinement, but an excellent performer nonetheless. While it looks like the old disco 1200, it does not look or feel cheap in use. However, if aesthetics are a problem, there is the SP-10R, or the SAT XD1, which does use the latter's drive system. Costs a few $$$ though :))

Richopp, sorry old chap, but your paragraph on tangential tonearms is rife with misinformation. For one example, The best part about the B&O SL turntables was the MMC1 or MMC2 MI type cartridges with which the best of them were equipped.

Furthermore, the vintage Technics direct drive turn tables at the highest level (SP10 Mk3) are competitive with just about anything you can buy today for under $10,000. Whether one given individual will prefer the sound to that of a modern turntable is of course a matter of taste. On that scale, the current prices of properly refurbished and repainted examples are not exorbitant. My opinion, of course.

lewm+2

The newer Technics tt's certainly have strong visual connection to the cheaper DJ tt's.

The SP line is another tt altogether, visual appearance up to user, many routes with custom plinths such as mine.

And I prefer my SP MKII to VPI I formerly owned, both visually and performance wise.