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TECHNICS SL1200 MKII.......THE REAL FACTS

I have been a very active participant in this hobby for many years (going on 30). I have owned amplifiers by B&K, Marantz, Forte, VanAlstine, Accuphase, GAS, Onkyo Grand Integra, Musical Fidelity.....Speakers by Thiel, Energy, Genesis, Vandersteen, PSB, Definitive Tech, KEF, Mission, B&W....Turntables by Sota, Rega, Linn, AR, Thorens, Dual, and yes; Technics. I have a Technics SL1200 MKII which I have had for a few years now. It has been modified in the following ways (all mods based on trial and error and final listening results):
-TT Weights 454 record weight
-XPM1 Acrylic mat with 1/4" heavy Technics rubber mat underneath
-Steel plinth cover (chrome finish). I cannot explain why, but the background is more quiet and micro dynamics are better with this in place.
-Armtube stuffed loosely with cotton.
-Heat shrink tubing on outside of arm tube.
-Stock headshell replaced with Sumiko with Sumiko headshell wires (do NOT underestimate what headshell quality can do with these things).
-Plugs on the stock cables replaced with better plugs: Vampire OFC RCA plugs.
-Bearings adjusted for minimal play with minimal friction.
-KAB Power Supply added

Now, this is the scoop. I do not want a Technics turntable. I am an audio snob. I want only salon approved brands; period. That is why this situation sucks dog. Out of all the turntables I have owned. This Technics with this combination of mods has the blackest background, the best dynamics, the most detail, the clearest stage, the most pace and timing and overall just simply plays the song in the least-confused manner of ANY turntable I have ever owned. In many ways it makes every other turntable I have ever owned sound like Amateur Night in sonic comparisons. Facts are facts. The Technics SL1200 MKII, when properly tweeked, is one serious LP playback unit. At least the chrome plated steel plinth cover covers up the name.
audiomaster1967
dconsmack
43 posts
 
I've owned hi-end Pro-Jects (which were beautiful and very nice), but I'll never go back to the expensive boutique-style belt drive tables again. My KAB SL-1210M5G performs better than those expensive turntables I've owned, and others I've set up by doing needle drop comparisons (same records, cart, phono stage, interconnect, alignment geometry, A/D converter). Never once in any situation with tracking, noise, speed stability and tone was the Technics bettered. Ever. It's an ugly table. So what. It performs as good as it could reasonably get. The only advantages I can see other tables having over a KAB modded Technics is (maybe) a longer arm, a linear tracking arm, and a vacuum pull down platter. Those things would absolutely help.
The modded SL-1200 is a great sounding, great performing, easy to use, ugly ass turntable. It works where it counts, and is a snob repellant.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Audiofeil mentioned that the most significant factor blocking the Technics SL12x0 series is its tonearm. Fair enough. After all, when first introduced in the mid-'70s, Panasonic also offered the SL-120, which was a turntable only with an armboard to accommodate a SME tonearm. For those who already have SL12x0 turntables, the most cost-effective and logical upgrade would be to get a Rega-compatible armboard from Origin Live or SME armboard from

Before the Technics SL12x0 series was discontinued, you could regularly get an SL1210 mkii for $399 from Musicians Friend. Add $100 for an Oracle/RB30x armboard and an RB250/251/300/301/303 and you could have a killer 'table for under $3K with speed accuracy you normally pay a lot more to get.
davvie's avatar
davvie
83 posts
 
With the Cardas re-wire and fluid damper offered by KAB the whole "myth" about the poor performance of the 1200's arm goes right out the door and makes it at least the sonic equal (or better)to any of the Rega arms you mention.

Kevin at KAB, says it best...
"Here's something to think about: how many high end tonearms can you name that specify bearing finish and friction? (take your time while you dig up the manual to your high-end arm)

Well, while you ponder that, consider this: the Technics SL-1200 tonearm is specified to have a bearing finish of ± 0.5 microns. This and the extra closeness of pivot center to the bearings results in a minimal friction of 7 milligrams. The '1200 arm has friction specified at 7 miligrams. That may be the lowest friction specified in an owners manual.(That is if you can actually find it listed in most manuals) It is important to note that the 1200 arm was designed at a time when tracking forces were pushing the 0.75 gram range. So a good margin of safety would place the bearing friction at 100 times less than that."

So the nit-picking about the 1200's arm has no basis in truth, no matter what any so-called "expert" might say.
dsper
663 posts
 
Assuming that we all hear sound the same way, the only method to truly evaulate if one table sounds better than another would be to compare them in a blind test.

Can anybody recall any threads that describe results from a blind test?
tjnindc
91 posts
 
I found this (and some familiar old characters) and thought that I might spur a conversation about good cartridge matches.

I have been running my 1210 with an SME 309 tonearm for a few years now--while not an expert, I do love the combination I ended up with it when I went to find a $4-5000 table to replace my 1210 but did not find anything I liked that much more. I instead took the plunge on swapping the tonearm and outboarding the power supply.

Any cartridges you love on your 12x0?
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