No, I'm not a DJ. I am a hydrologist who started in audio when I was 15 years old (I'm 39 now) and who helped financed college working at a couple audio stores...this exposed me to the Voodoo when I was a mere 20 years old.
The 1200 is the only decent priced TT on which you can install a fluid damper on the tonearm (www.kabusa.com). You would have to get an SME arm or similar to get this level of performance. I have become one of the few 1200 evangelists out there...
By the way, I recently received an e-mail from a member who's an electrical engineer and has modded his 1200! Check this out:
"Hello Francisco: I like your rational approach to finding ways to make listening to music more enjoyable. I like all the choices we have, but as one who has come full circle, I believe that the lunatic fringe have done this hobby a gross disservice. Many people who would otherwise invest in good equipment are turned off and humiliated by the confusion and snobbery."
He then goes on:
"I laugh when people criticize my beloved Technics SL-1200 and cartridges (Ortofon X5, X3, Audio Technica AT-ML150, Stanton 881SMkII, and B&O MMC2). Yet the arm has extremely low friction and resonance and is complete with all adjustments (even azimuth with the Sumiko headshell) necessary. The drive has extremely high rotational stability and speed accuracy as well as low transmitted noise. The platform it is built on is as resonance-free as those of most of the best turntables. I have a complete lab with all of the best equipment, even an Ionex PCB washer that removes all flux, oxides and ion contamination to 0.1 ppm. All boards are washed after component removal and prior to installation of new components. The result is silver solder joints with a mirror finish and almost zero contamination of the soldered amalgam. My 1200 has been modified. All of the resistors and capacitors have been changed to the best types and what little DC instability and drift has been eliminated. I enjoy the challenge of taking moderately priced components to the next level with well-engineered modifications, which are designed to reverse compromises the original designers chose to make to meet the desired price point."
I do not have yet the fluid damper nor the outboard dual mono PS for my Monolitic phono stage and the sound I'm getting is simply outstanding...I heard KAB is working on an outboard transformer for the 1200, too!
The problem with the 1200 is that is does not say Rega...
I invite all of you to join the 1200 club...
