Technics Announces New Turntables

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by luckybaer, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    Technics had some new product announcements that might interest vinyl enthusiasts.

    The SL-1200 Mk7, which looks like it is targeted at DJs (reverse-play function, LED can be set to illuminate in red or blue, etc.). Tentative price: US$1,199 per Michael Fremer (https://www.analogplanet.com/conten...gant-sl-1500c-coreless-direct-drive-turntable):

    https://www.technics.com/us/news/20190107-sl-1200mk7/

    SL-1500c, which appears to be more "entry-level" (comes with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, a well-known entry-level cart, built in "phono equalizer amp" - I assume that's a built in phonostage?). Tentative price: US$1,399 per Fremer (see link above).

    https://www.technics.com/us/news/20190107-sl-1500c/

    No word on where these will be manufactured.

    Looks like Technics is going all out for vinyl!
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2019
  2. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    [​IMG]
    SL-1200MK7

    [​IMG]

    SL-1500C

    [​IMG]
    SL-1210GR (pictured for reference, since this product has been out for a while)

     
  3. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    Updated the original post with "tentative" pricing per Michael Fremer. $1,399 seems pretty stiff for a turntable that comes with the Ortofon 2M Red...
     
  4. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Strange that the feature-stripped SL1500c is going to cost more than the Mk7. Audiophile premium for a minimalist look? :confused:

    Either way I would be interested to hear it. I'm going to guess not much has changed from the 1200 series I don't see anyone else making DD turntables at <$2k so they've already cornered the market.
     
  5. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,
    i was really hoping that the turn-key solution (SL-1500C) would be coming in at < USD $1K.
    an end game TT for those of us in mid-fi, that was easy to set-up and hard to break.
    <sigh>
     
  6. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I had heard rumors that the new Technics decks were going to be closer to 5k when they were first teased 2(?) years ago.

    AFAIK, they never stopped production of the Mk5's throughout the last 2 decades and they've been retailing just over 1k. These decks are just revamps of that AFAICT, so the price point is no issue to me. So long as these decks are built solid they will last for decades. My Mk1 is still spinning.
     
  7. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    Fremer called the pricing tentative, so street pricing could change. Hard for me to see paying $1,399 for SL-1500c when I could spring another $500 and get a SL-1210 GR and pick up a decent A-T cart or a 2M Blue.

    Perhaps the auto lift functionality has more value to others than it does to me?
     
  8. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I was going to mention that. I see the auto lift functionality as an long term negative. You look at alot of the older Technics decks and they all still spin fine, but the auto tonearms mechanisms are screwy and render the deck a giant brick.

    Im not aware if there was an original SL1500 model in their lineup ever?
     
  9. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    The SL-1500 used to be manual, not automatic. Interesting that they chose that line to upgrade versus the SL-1300 which IIRC was originally their entry level automatic table.
     
  10. donunus

    donunus Friend

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    using the mk3 1200 with an mc vivo red and quite happy so if it ever breaks, the mk7 or that sweet looking 1500c may be a nice replacement. I'll get whichever one is cheaper when we see the real street prices. For now, I'm still waiting for my nagaoka mp200 to be delivered.
     
  11. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    In 2016 they did release a couple of decks in that price range, one of them the SL-1200G retailing around $4k and the anniversary edition 1200GAE a step above that. I think these were the first new tables they released after coming back online. The 1200G has a fancy coreless motor, ostensibly to minimize cogging, so it will be interesting to see if any aspects of this design trickle down to the new Mk7. My understanding is that the 1210GR has inherited elements of this design.

    I have never heard this about the Mk5 production. I was under the impression that Technics manufacturing was shuttered from 2011 to 2015, and that new old stock tables were sold at a premium during that time. In [this article], it’s reported that the original tooling and machines used to build Technics tables were in disrepair and they basically had to start from scratch to reboot production. This makes sense to me. Otherwise, why not come out with the Mk7 3 years ago? Whatever the case, I’m happy to see them back in the game.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    MK7 and GR use the coreless motors. The MK7 is for DJs and is stripped down a bit, lighter weights. Considering how close the prices are together, and it's vinyl which means other hidden costs, I'd opt for the GR. Make a few phone calls to retailers and see if you can get a discount.

    The 1500C is about the same weight of the MK7, but includes a decent cart (Ortofon Red, which I expect would be a good match for the table), and matches the look of B&W or B&O audio gear or new leased BMWs.
     
  13. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    The 1200G has a dual rotor motor, while the GR's motor is a single rotor. Per the announcement, the SL-1500C "uses a single-rotor, coreless direct drive motor in which the stator has no core and eliminates the rotation irregularity called cogging." Not sure if it is identical to the motor found in the GR, but the design principle(s) sound similar.

    The marketing fluff language for the SL-1200Mk7 doesn't dwell on "single-rotor." Instead, it focuses on starting torque and stable rotation. Interestingly, though, torque specs for the 1200Mk7 and 1500C are identical (1.8 kg - cm - per press releases) and the build up time to 33 1/3 rpm is an identical 0.7 sec. The GR's torque is 2.2 kg - cm, and build up to 33 1/3 is also 0.7 seconds.

    I'm still awaiting actual pricing. Exciting times for vinyl lovers looking for quality direct drive tables that are easy to set up, sound good (at least I know my 1210GR does), and allow for easy cartridge swapping.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I like the easy cart swapping and smaller form factor compared to either of my VPIs. My wife can't handle unipivots and VPI mechanisms. I don't blame her. I might sell one of my VPIs and spring for these DD Technics, which I'd take over any of the $1200-$2000 entry level audiophile tables that came out in the past year or two.

    The GR is the way to go. Otherwise one step up to the 1200G for $1k more, with its significantly heavier platter and plinth, nicer machined deck, magnesium alloy tonearm instead of aluminium, higher quality bearings, etc.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
  15. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    BTW...coreless is nothing new. Pioneer was doing coreless in their decks long before and a superior design. Of course, all the patents have run out by now and free reign.

    The 1500 seems fair, but why with an onboard preamp? I mean on a table above $1000 mark? Grrrrr....

    And no doubt the better platter and tonearm bearings will eek out more detail from the 1200G model.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 10, 2019
  16. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I think you are correct. It's been a while for me
    This must have been what I was thinking of before. Very confused with model numbers.
    Paper pushers demanded a gimped internal functionality for plug and play users.

    Someone should make a flowchart image of all these model numbers and the important associated specs
     
  17. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Ouch, I did not catch this bit about the internal preamp. Auto return mechanisms and internal preamps are big red flags that indicate the audience that Technics is trying to reach here. Apparently they're also going to be [built in Malaysia]?! Hard pass. The more we learn about these new decks, the more I agree with @purr1n. The 1210GR really seems like the best option out of their current line-up. Shame it's $1700, but worth saving for if you want to take the DD route.
     
  18. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    What are chances we get another version with the minimalistic look of the 1500c with the quality of the 1200GR? Even if it sat in the low $2k range it would be my choice
     
  19. donunus

    donunus Friend

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    Not sure what VPIs you had but with the power here in the Philippines not having a 3rd prong ground, My friend had a pain in the ass experience with a scout jr. Buzzing when touching the tonearm, electrical hum, hassle galore while these technics tts just freaking work and are quiet right away. I also like the direct drive sound, they just seems faster/more agile.

    EDIT: we did eventually fix the humming of the vpi but it involved some digging in the yard for the ground :D
     
  20. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    I believe there are separate terminals - line and phono - so you can truly bypass the internal pre-amp:

    Terminals
    • Audio Output: PHONO (Pin Jack) x 1, EARTH TERMINAL x 1, LINE (Pin Jack) x 1
    Less-expensive turntables offering built in phono, like some of Audio-Technica's products (AT-LP7, AT-LP5, etc.) don't have separate terminals - bypassing the phono by toggling a switch, instead.
     

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