Technics 1200 Critic Fremer Praises the newer 1200G

vinyl, in my opinion that "hatred" is misguided.

Those who have been in this hobby a long time such as myself will remember the advertisements from a certain belt-drive table manufacturer in Glasgow who criticized direct drive tables for cogging.  I'll admit I drank the kool-aid and abandoned interest in DD systems after that.  At least for many years.

But then I realized a few important points.  First, I'd never experienced cogging in any DD I owned or heard in friend's systems.  Second, recordings which contained long sustains such as with piano sounded more natural on DD tables than all but the most expensive belt-drive examples.  And third, few tables produced the energy and drive of the music like a decent DD example.

All this is not to suggest that decent sound can't be produced by a belt-drive system.  But I find advantages with DD which tip the scales for me. 

I prefer DD. Mechanically an elastic belt is just an inherently bad design to begin with - it needs an insanely heavy platter to be stable in pitch. Pitch changes are extremely discernable to our ears. It is also possible to design a good DD motor with low vibration that is at least as good as a belt (in addition to the solid pitch advantage). I am perfectly happy with a Pioneer PL 550 like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfrQ7Ylowr0&feature=share

Great DD TT with upgraded veneer. Mine is in magnolia burl to match my speakers. It is inexpensive and even though cost is not an issue for me, I just really like the clean simple classic elegant look compared to Rega or more industrial steampunk looking designs like Transistor Tourbillon or Triangle Art. Funny but I don’t like the straight tone arm either - the S shape is just so sexy and elegant. I also think a dust cover is actually quite useful and practical on a TT - ;-)

@shadorne nice link. Living in the desert with it's dry climate DD is the way to go, elastic belts dry out quickly when the humidity is in the low teens most of the time.

atmasphere6,176 posts05-08-2018 
The SL1200G is a complete from-the-ground-up redesign and only shares its appearance with the older SL1200s. Its a very well-thought out design; is more speed stable and has considerably more damping and a very dead plinth. IMO they should have made it look different if just to avoid the obvious confusion people have thinking is nearly the same as its predecessors and look-alikes.

I have a 1210Mk5 and 2 x1210Mk5g.  I love the iconic look.  To my eyes the big attraction of the new models is that they have retained this look.  I have never heard anyone getting confused, and I bet you didn't get confused either.

I’ve had an SL1200G since January and continue to be amazed at the way it plays music. I don’t like the DJ brutal looks & only bought it to use various spare carts that have been building up over the past 40+ years. I’d sold a bunch of hifi gear and got nearly 30% discount on the Technics so it seemed a no brainer at the time.

I’ve only used belt driven tables in the past, all around the same price point, or more expensive (Linn, Clearaudio, Michell, Rega) & have since sold two of these as sounding inferior to the Technics - rather flabby & imprecise by comparison.

The way this thing produces bass in particular is simply outstanding - taut, layered and within a soundstage which is by far the most holographic my system has produced (with the right source material). Nothing else I own produces bass of this quality.... digital or analogue.

A friend & I did a back to back with his 1200 Mk5 (same headshell/cart/phono/cables) & the new table sounds considerably different - more sophisticated is the simplest way I can sum it up. He closed his eyes and reached out at one point, claiming that he could touch & put his hand behind everything, imaging is that sharp (no female singers present in that soundstage, fortunately!).

I have a feeling that pitch control is contributing to my own enthusiasm as this is the only DD I have owned & I now plan to keep only one of my former harem of belt drives.