How good is the Technics 1200 Mk2 with all the KAb upgrades?

From someone who has owned an entry level project, Original VPI Scout

Currently I have a VPI Prime and a 1200mk5

I would lean towards keeping the KAB 1200. Reasons is simply money. You will be looking at a Prime used to have something maybe a little bit better or just a slightly different flavor.

My Prime and stock MK5 are pretty close. The Prime has better left to right Imaging and soundstage (not a huge difference). A smoother sound which you appreciate in longer listening sessions. It has a bit more round/fat bass as compared to the 1200. It has maybe a touch better resolution. Depth seems similar in my setup. 

Saying all this it could just be the cart differences as I have not done apples to apples comparison.  With all the KAB mods I could see Bill Stevenson opinions being pretty accurate. 

As I learn more about this hobby I realize at a certain point you have to devote longs listening sessions to discover if something is really an improvement. Stuff at these 4k price points sound more alike than different. The small differences are what we are paying for and choosing. To many these subtleties are worth it, to some they are not your choice. 

Time and money wise, changing out the 12xx arm to the Jelco is pretty darn easy.  It's a DIY project taking about 2 hours. then the 12xx can handle just about any cartridge you may wish to use.  

Vegasears,

Is the Jelco 750 a better arm for the 1200 compared to the Rega 251? I have the latter and while it sounds great, changing of cartridge is a pain as well as lack of VTA adjustment makes me wonder if I'm fully utilizing my cartridge.

There is nothing wrong with the stock tonearm and it’s much more versatile than Rega. Actually rewired stock tonearm is good, adding fluid damper is also good idea. Cartridge adjustment on the stock toneam is super easy because technics provided plastic overhand gauge and tonearm has VTA on the fly, counterweight is also easy to use (one the arm is balanced the VTF digits on the counterweight are spot on). This arm can be used with many headshells.

If you replaced the arm with Rega arm then you need a protractor to set up a cartridge, Dr. Feickert is the best protractor for reasonable price (a must have).

Jelco is better arm for Technics, but not the only one that can be used instead of the original.
Jelco effective mass is higher than stock Technics tonearm. 
Jelso is not designed for high compliance MM cartridges. 

Anyway, i think the Jelco alone cost nearly 50% of the brand new SL1200GR turntable which comes with a better arm and much better everything including thenew DD motor (all for $1500-1600 used).

Chakster,

Thanks for the input. A knowledgeable friend set up my rega 251 on my 1200 with the feickert protractor so I’m pretty sure that it’s set up properly as my clumsy attempt was way off upon his inspection.

Good point re the jelco arm cost. Might as well save up for the GR which I’ve been looking at for quite some time. Or I could buy more records! I constantly find myself vacillating between those two thoughts: new TT or more records?

Lastly, since the thread is about KAB mods. What is the general concencus on the outboard PSU? Is there a marked difference? I already have quiet and black background (as far as my ears can tell). Thanks in advance!