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Technics 1210/RB-250 vs. stock arm + fluid damper

I'm in the market for a new (used) turntable, and I'd like to try a Technics 1200 variant. I have the opportunity to buy a used SL-1210 with Rega RB-250 arm & armboard at a reasonable price. An alternative would be a used SL-1210 with the stock arm, and adding the KAB fluid damper. (I assume that the fluid damper does not fit the Rega arm, both literally and figuratively). I plan on using an Audio-Technica AT440MLa cartridge that I recently bought for my outgoing table.

In theory, the Rega arm is better than the stock Technics arm. But does this automatically hold true on this TT? And what about the addition of the damper? Does anyone have any ears-on experience? Your true-life experience or wild, theoretical prognostication is requested.
davetherave
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davetherave OP
95 posts
 
Alright Tvad, you got me. The fact that I'm going against the audiophile tide to a direct-drive Technics table should be enough of an example to go against the tide of audiophile noise on the tonearm as well. Touché.
les_creative_edge
174 posts
 
Having owned a Rega RB-250 arm and now owning a SL-1200MKII with Cardas rewire done by KAB I will say I find little to no quality difference in overall performance between an SL-12xxMKII arm and the RB-250 in fact with the Cardas rewire I suggest my SL-120MKII arm performs better. Both the Rega and SL-12xxMKII arms are about the same mass, both have very close tolerance bearings and both do a superb job at tracking a record groove.

I would not bother swapping an SL-12xxMKII arm out for a Rega. The money in upgrades should more likely be as in order.

1: Cardas arm rewire, or you can but an SL-1200M5G which has improved wiring from Technics.

2: KAB fluid damper.

3: Outboard power supply.

Note you do not need any of these to have a Technics turntable that operates very well for its price (in fact it punches above its weight), a dead stock SL-12xx is a good performer but if one is looking at tweaks or upgrades I suggest as I did above.

I will be adding a fluid damper later on for my setup but as is with the Cardas rewire my SL-1200MKII with Denon DL-110 cartridge sounds KICK BUT!!!
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patrick_odonnell
35 posts
 
Alright Tvad, you got me. The fact that I'm going against the audiophile tide to a direct-drive Technics table should be enough of an example to go against the tide of audiophile noise on the tonearm as well. Touché.

I feel like most audiophiles would still tell you to go with the stock arm on the Technics - the RB250 is very good tonearm, but the Technics arm was, well, made for the Technics tables. And with the KAB upgrades available for it, I really see no need to switch out the stock tonearm.

Nowadays you'd be hard pressed to find that many audiophiles who don't consider the Technics 1200 series to be solid turntables, especially now that KAB has addressed some of the issues that kept it out of the audiophile realm. If I personally am prejudiced against the 1200 (and similar tables) it's just because they have a lot of features I don't need/don't care for, and my experiences in the past with turntables with bells & whistles has lead me to follow the KISS philosophy. The build quality is legendary, and some people really like that "fast," punchy sound the direct drive gives music.
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