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Technics 1200MKII or1210M5G? M5G worth it?

I have a modest system but loads of records I'd like to be able to listen to again.

My current system consists of Magnepan MG1.6's with mods. A QSC 4040 amp, a Kenwood preamp with high gain phono, loading, etc built in, and a Marantz SACD player.

My question is this, would the extra $100.00 the M5G be worth it in my situation? I will likely start out using a Goldring Excel VX cartridge I have left over from my glory days in audio that is low hours and sounded sweet in my SOTA Sapphire several years ago.

BTW, I'm leaning toward spending the extra $100.00 at this moment thinking it might be better then regretting it later.

Thanks for your advice
ktownjohn
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I always thought the only real upgrade the MG5 had over the MK II was the better tonearm wiring, which is a moot point if one is going to buy the KAB Cardas tonearm rewire.

Does the MG5 have other upgrades? If so, what are they?
ktownjohn OP
5 posts
 
The better wire is worth the price to me since I have no desire to start down the cable of the month road. In the end it might save me countless hundreds of dollars. I've been told the upgraded cable is pretty darn good.
zenblaster
504 posts
 
All of the Technics tables from KAB have the hinged dustcover.

TVAD you are correct, the only real upgrade is factory upgraded tonearm wire that is comparable to the Cardas wire. The MG5 also has a blue cuing light, instead of the white, variable pitch control (for dj's) and a spare headshell holder. Most of us will have no interest in any of it.

Boy, I love the table though.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
My MK II has variable pitch control, FWIW.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
09-22-08: Zenblaster
TVAD you are correct, the only real upgrade is factory upgraded tonearm wire that is comparable to the Cardas wire. The MG5 also has a blue cuing light, instead of the white, variable pitch control (for dj's) and a spare headshell holder. Most of us will have no interest in any of it.
The cueing light isn't just blue, it's an LED. The cueing light in the MK II is incandescent. The LED on the M5G lasts a lot longer.

All SL12x0's have variable range pitch control, but the M5G has a dual range pitch control. Instead of the standard +/- 8%, the M5G can do +/-16%, which is A LOT (if you're interested in that sort of thing).

I also use the spare headshell socket and wouldn't mind if it had one or two more. I have a Technics shell, a Sumiko, and an LP Gear Zupreme. I have an AT150MLX mounted in the Zupreme on the tonearm and a DL-160 on the Sumiko in the storage socket.

And let's not forget the badass looking metallic black/anthracite plinth!

Boy, I love the table though.
No argument there! I've had mine over 1-1/2 years and in that time I've upgraded everything in the signal chain BUT the table. I love its pace and honest presentation.
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