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Time to get things straight.

Every person that states the Technics 1200 is THE best TT in its price class risks himself to getting Flack from the belt drive crowd. I have posted that Thorstens speaks highly of it and here's some of his quotes as posted in the Asylum:

"And yes, the 1200 with a better arm is dynamite. Even stock with minimal tweaks it's an easy Rega P2/3 killer."

"So don't knock it if you don't know it. A Rega Planar is a cheap bearing and Motor stuck into a piece of MDF, the engineering content for all intents is ZERO. The only worthwhile thing on the Rega is the Arm."

*********

And from Steven Rochlin:

"Hmmmm... I DO AGREE that the 1200 does not have the overall "ultimate" PRAT of my VOYD setup (or a finely tweaked Linn LP12), though overall it really does have nice, smooth, consistant PRAT that blows away even the $20k+ Goldmund Reference and the like. Maybe the 1200 does not the worlds best PRAT, but DARN good. Over 10,000 dance clubs around the world prove it virtually every night."

"The Technics SL-1200 in its various offerings are EXCELLENT!!! Do not listen to those "belt drive only" folks. Wonder if they know that the highly praised Goldmund STUDIO turntable was direct drive? Anyway, the 1200 is probably THE BIG BARGAIN in turntable land. Great motor, good platter, built to take a lickin' and keep on tickin' (with apologies to Timex, whose watches ALWAYS broke after a month for me).

"Over the MANY years I have used more than i care to remember 1200 tables at MANY clubs. They ALL worked flawlessly and even after all the, er, um, abuse of back scratching and needle dropping and vinyl dropping they just kept going and going. IMHO there is pretty much nothing on the new market under $800 that comes near the 1200 in speed stability, drive, and overall PRAT (pace, rhythm and timing). Given the right needle i can only see great things UNTIL you get the upgrade itch and go for a used Linn LP12 or VOYD. Besides, what other "audiophile" table would you play Led Zeppelin backwards to hear all those Satanic messages? Oh how about ELO backwards to hear the secret message?"

****

Wake up, people!!!

So much for glass and particle board...
psychicanimal
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Francisco, you can modify your SL1200 even further:
Due to a stable speed and pitch control capability you can use your TT as a stand-alone motor to a different DIY turntable. I've seen a bunch of successful designs here on the web but don't recall of the top of my head.
My wrong Michell is going through the little mods and sounds better and better!
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
What? Does this mean that I CAN'T do my Hendrix impression using my Nottingham Spacedeck and expect it to hold up under the strain? This really hurts, and I shall always be bitter as a result. ;-)
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Having worked in FM progressive radio during the days of turntables, many of the turntables and cartridges that were used traded off sound quality for durability, same consideration for a DJ at a dance club. Premium audiophile turntable & cartridge set-ups wouldn't last a day in these applications! Besides, back-cueing and slip starting are not practices of the home audiophiles. (Remember the standard of radio turntable cartridges in the '70's...the Stanton 681 EEE?) This is not a put down of the Technics SL-1200, it is just used in a different application than home audiophile...and it does its intended job quite well! And please, call it a stylus, and NOT a needle! And yes, the backwards message on ELO's "Fire on High" is really cool (heard it one night on a friend's Thorens belt drive). Unfortunately, this intro is missing on many shorter edited versions!
ivanj
35 posts
 
If one must have a DD then get a Denon. Now there's a TT, and they are still made!
psychicanimal OP
1,738 posts
 
You upgraded to a Michell, Mara? Congratulations!!! Now you need to buid a base with suspension--should be a good project. BTW, I have nothing against JA Michell TTs...I *do* like them. Very solidly built--no glass or particle board...

There's all these SP-10s for sale out there but the chipsets are no longer made by Technics. Once it malfunctions the TT is dead for good.

The tonearm damper works wonders and the Bob Regal foot next to the tonearm gimbal improves clarity by a good measure. I have been experimenting with a rare non-resonant wood I brought from home but it warps severely. Used as a platform it greatly improved clarity but it lifted the entire TT up in the air!!!
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