Having recently received my SL-1200MKII with the KAB modified Cardas rewire I can say a fee quick things given the few hours I have played it yet.
1: The level of construction of the SL-12xx series based on my model is superb. I personally like its more industrial look. I like the blackness of the dense hard rubber base, reminds me sorta like hockey pucks :-) given I live in Canada. I chose a silver aluminium coloured model and it looks great, understated I'd say.
2: I don't get the whining some say about the tonearm. Thing looks solid and well engineered. It's machined to excellent tolerances and IMO easily rivals the RB250 which I had on a previous table. There is not discernible slack in bearings and the arm swings fluidly in all axises. The detachable head shell of all S shaped arms is said to be a weak link compared with one piece straight arms. Honestly in term of absolute measurements on a test bed maybe it is but properly mounted and locked to the arm pipe that joint is more than strong enough for any circumstance and there is absolutely no slack or issue over it and abnormal resonances. I'd say. The arm is a 12grams effective mass and in line with may other after market arms. So I see no issues over this either.
3: It rotates DEAD ON!!!!! and is also silent. I see and fear no sonic issues over the drive employed or how it was made. It is quieter than numerous other motors I've heard driving other brands of tables. I hear no problems with the sound from the spindle bearing either.
4: I have my Denon DL-110 cartridge on it and WOW it has nice synergy wit the arm and turntable. It is almost like a marriage made in heaven.
5: As for sound, it's only been a few hours but lets say it is an impressive sound from the SL-1200MKII with CARDAS rewire and my DL-110. Very deep and wide sound stage, no wow and flutter or other speed error issues that I can hear and good texture overall. My first impressions reaffirm much I have read on the SL-12xx series and it is a killer sub $1000 turntable. It's arm is compatible with many medium compliance cartridges and I'd have no issue recommending the DL-110 or DL-160 for those who want a great but still affordable M.C. cartridge for this set up.
1: The level of construction of the SL-12xx series based on my model is superb. I personally like its more industrial look. I like the blackness of the dense hard rubber base, reminds me sorta like hockey pucks :-) given I live in Canada. I chose a silver aluminium coloured model and it looks great, understated I'd say.
2: I don't get the whining some say about the tonearm. Thing looks solid and well engineered. It's machined to excellent tolerances and IMO easily rivals the RB250 which I had on a previous table. There is not discernible slack in bearings and the arm swings fluidly in all axises. The detachable head shell of all S shaped arms is said to be a weak link compared with one piece straight arms. Honestly in term of absolute measurements on a test bed maybe it is but properly mounted and locked to the arm pipe that joint is more than strong enough for any circumstance and there is absolutely no slack or issue over it and abnormal resonances. I'd say. The arm is a 12grams effective mass and in line with may other after market arms. So I see no issues over this either.
3: It rotates DEAD ON!!!!! and is also silent. I see and fear no sonic issues over the drive employed or how it was made. It is quieter than numerous other motors I've heard driving other brands of tables. I hear no problems with the sound from the spindle bearing either.
4: I have my Denon DL-110 cartridge on it and WOW it has nice synergy wit the arm and turntable. It is almost like a marriage made in heaven.
5: As for sound, it's only been a few hours but lets say it is an impressive sound from the SL-1200MKII with CARDAS rewire and my DL-110. Very deep and wide sound stage, no wow and flutter or other speed error issues that I can hear and good texture overall. My first impressions reaffirm much I have read on the SL-12xx series and it is a killer sub $1000 turntable. It's arm is compatible with many medium compliance cartridges and I'd have no issue recommending the DL-110 or DL-160 for those who want a great but still affordable M.C. cartridge for this set up.