Ignore this cheaply made modern belt drive crap. Look for a decent Technics SP-20 direct drive on ebay (build like a tank), they are under $750 (same size and shape as the SP-10mk2 and much better than SP10, SP15, SP25). Make a custom plinth or buy that one for SP10mk2 from Taiwan (Teak Wood). Buy yourself a nice vintage tonearm like Victor UA-7045 (they are under $500) add a cartridge of your choice. It would be a great set-up! Those linked pictures are from my own set-up. if you need help feel free to PM me.
Showing 7 responses by chakster
Why ignore it? Only If you want speed stability, rock-steady positions of instruments, precise timing, high dynamics and razor sharp transients. Also if you want to spend less cash to get top quality gear, not a plastic toys. The build quality of the Japanese vintage direct drive turntables (like Technics) is hard to beat with your budget. With a ctustom plinth you can use whatever tonearm you want anytime you need for upgrade in the future. For the price of the used Technics SP-20 you can't get anything close to its quality from today's products, especially the cheap belt drives. Direct Drive are very expensive to made. That’s why. |
Cheap belt-drive Rega and Pioneer PLX-1000 DD (made for dj use) are total junk sh**t compared to vintage direct drive decks IMO. When i touched that Pioneer PLX-1000 it is not even the SL1200, but a plastic toy. If someone prefer those plastic lightweight decks over the "real" vintage machines then i don’t know what to say. This is exactly what’s going on in the Hi-End business nowadays when the products are overpriced and ugly or cheaper, but looks like a plastic toys and still ugly. The best decks were designed in the 70s and 80s, they are reasonably priced today compared to modern Hi-End. I’m a big fan of Luxman PD-444 and Technics SP10mk2, to beat those decks i will have to invest astronomical amount of money that i would rather spend of cartridges and tonearms. And i don’t know any other DD turntables designed better than Luxman PD-444 by Micro Seiki to use with 2 tonearms! It’s a State Of The Art machines. I think for $1600 the best way to go is: Technics SP20, Victor TT-71 or similar Denon DD with custom made plinth paired with vintage tonearms like Victor UA-7045 or Luxman TA-1 (made by Micro Seiki) and MM cartridges. |
@helomech every clone of SL1200mk2 ever made is sh**t (IMO), sorry. I use a pair of SL1200mk2 for more than 20 years as a pro, and my feelings of using Pioneer is slightly different, nothing can beat the SL1200mk2 in its class, no matter the heavier the deck itself or not, this is the only turntable in the history that you can find in any club - this is a working horse with some weakness (you’re right about it), but it can be easily fixed with a little investment (the full rewire is the easiest thing to do and number 1 in upgrade list for this deck). I have used that new Pioneer and it’s ok for professional use and it was made for professional use to replace discontinued SL1200 series for deejays, but it is a clone of the Technics standard and i prefer the upgraded original SL1200mk2 if we’re talking about cheap DD turntables. I also have SP20, SP10mk2 etc. It would be much better if the Pioneer would release a new version of their own design (Pioneer PL-70 II) instead a clone (in terms of design) of the SL1200mk2. Pioneer is no longer an audiophile brand, it’s pro oriented company. The vintage Pioneer PL-70 II is a properly designed turntable, not their top of the line model, but looks very similal to the best they have ever made. I would support this 70s design instead of the bad clones of the Technics design everyone tried to copy nowadays. I can’t agree that SL1200 is a cheaper feeling deck than new Pioneer, i think the Pioneer is a cheaper feeling deck, but maybe you’re not get used to the Technics as i am during the 20 years of using them on the radiostations, clubs and at home. This Pioneer made for the next generation, but not for those who grew up with SL1200mk2 like myself. There are many other vintage turntables much better than Sl1200mk2 and much better than new Pioneer. I just don’t like the design of the 99% new turntables, i would "kill" those designers because they can’t learn from the classics, they just makes ugly decks. |
@helomech Everytime someone mentions a PLX-1000 on these threads, the Technics owner brigade feels the need to sling false claims about these tables, like you did regarding the mass. They also feel the need to slander the Pioneer on a purely subjective basis, claiming the Technics is better without citing facts or reasons. It’s like you Technics owners can’t stomach the existence of this $699 look-alike table, as though it’s a threat to your manhood. It’s hard to resist when many manufacturers just copy the classic SL1200mk2 design with minor changes. The reson they do that is a pro market demand, when nobody want to use anything different that classic SL1210mk2 (mk3D or similar) in the clubs, radiostations etc. This is just a pro tool, absolutely no needs for higher torque. But the weak points of Sl12100mk2 is the feets, wiring and tonearm. Therefore people who cares about the sound quality uses Isonoe Feets, Cardas or Discovery Wires, Fluid Dampers for stock tonearm, some people use external power supply, some people evern replace the stock tonearm for something better. The upgraded SL1200mk2 is far better than stock Pioneer PLX-1000 which is OK turntable (i did tried it). As i said earlier the Pioneer turntables like the PL-70LII or their fabulous P-3 are amazing, but they don’t want to make those as the Pioneer nowadays makes stuff for DJs only (pro market only). And you can ask yourself why each manufacturer on pro market just copy Technics design? Because this is a standard and everybody happy about the standard, that’s why it is a standard. Used SL1200mk2 (silver) or SL1210mk2 (back) can be purchased for $300 everyday and all replacement parts are available for peanuts like for the Ford car. It’s a honor to be a Technics owner brigade, but my favorite turntable is Luxman PD-444. |
@mr_m Not sure what to think about the latest $4000 Technics TT, but the older 1200’s, 1300’s, 1400’s, are nothing but junk. Pure crap in my estimation. Simply because I had owned this stuff years ago. Probably good enough for DJ’s or pro users with tin ears. not for serious audiophiles.... They must be upgraded because it was mass production unit for affordable price. I think after fully rewiring (discovery wire) and with new feets (isonoe), with fluid damper for tonearm and with vintage MM cartridges (like the Technics 205c mk4) the SL1200/1210mk2 is not so bad. But in my opinion it’s better to invest to the SP10mk2 from the start (to pass on expensive tonearm upgrade and external power supply for SL1200/1210 mk2). The new one from Technics lose its charm for me because of the size and shape of the SL1200mk3D, and being superior in this design, i think, it would be much better if they would follow the SP10mk2 and SP10mk3 design instead of the most popular SL1200mk3D (IMO). It’s funny that audiophiles now should play with GAE for $4000, that looks exactly like the polished classic SL1200mk3D (always described by audiophiles like "nothing but junk"). |
@timlub I have a Technics SP25 for sale and it uses SL1200 as its base.... When you mod these tables, you can take a look at each piece of the table killing resonances, improving wiring & when re assembling, aligning everything correctly and really bolting things down for solidity... In all Technics line of auidiophile turntables i like the SP-20 as it's simply the same size as the SP-10mk2, but the SP-20 has its unique wrinkle black finish. I took a picture of my SP-20. In my opinion this is the way to go if the SP-10mk2 is too expensive. I have both in my collection, but this wrinkle black finish of the SP-20 is so attractive when paired with the Technics EPA-100 mk2 Boron tonearm. |