I have a Technics sl-1600 mk2, which is the fully automatic version of the sl-1200. The specs are pretty good, and it sounds excellent to me, although I've never heard a top-end deck and I make no pretenses toward being an audiophile. I also have an sl-MA1, which I think was Technics "last gasp" at the decent turntable market in the early-mid '80's. It also sounds quite nice (although it's limited by a p-mount). Technics also released a linear turntable at the same time (sl-M3), which others have said is really nice (I've never heard one, but I'd like to someday).