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Model: KAB SL-1200Mk.II Category: Turntables Suggested Retail Price: $2000 Description: NOS 1200 improved by KABUSA and Applied Fidelity Manufacturer URL: Technics by Panasonic
Review by kristian on March 23, 2015 at 21:34:00
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for the KAB SL-1200Mk.IIFar better late than never, this tidbit about the wonders of a fully KAB'd Technics SL-1200Mk.II, years after many others discovered this gem.
I have extensive experience with turntables going back decades, and set up many dozens of them while working at a Seattle-area high-end audio/video dealer, Magnolia Hi-Fi, ages ago. I'm not a subjectivist audiophile as I don't "believe" in pebbles, clocks, expensive cables, and other such things. My inclination is toward Peter Aczel's science-based, objectivist view of audio, as expounded in the wonderful pages of the free back issues of his magazine "The Audio Critic," available on his website.
In other words, I believe in engineering and objective measurements, and that speakers and room placement are paramount to good sound if one otherwise has properly designed solid-state electronics. I prefer non-fiddly equipment, and believe the equipment should alter the source material as little as possible. I know; an old-fashioned view of audio. High Fidelity!
I have a dedicated 330 sq.ft. music room, where speakers are set up with a calibrated mike and REW RTA software-the stuff that matters.
I have owned the following turntables over the last ten years:
1. VPI Scout w. Sumiko Blackbird. Nice table, the motor burned out after 4 months.
2. Origin Live Aurora Gold Mk.II with, 1st, Origin Live Encounter Mk.II, then Trans-Fi Audio Terminator tonearm, Cartridgeman Musicmaker III. The Origin Live electronics and motor died after a few months; the respective enclosures contained almost nothing but cheap junk. Speed had to be checked/adjusted every night. A joke.
3. Fully restored, mint, Systemdek IVE with fully modified Rega RB300. A fine thing, but, I tired of operating the suspended table (cueing records always makes the platter bounce) and fiddling with it, checking level, that kind of thing.
Having wanted a KAB SL-1200 for years, I finally bought a NOS 1200 for a pittance 3 months ago, and promptly set about getting it to where I needed it to be. Having perused http://www.kabusa.com for years, fantastic just because the website contains so little in the way of audiophile nonsense, I ordered:
1. Litz rewired tonearm;
2. PS1200GX;
3. TD1200 tonearm damper;
4. Isonoe footers (ever seen anything so cool?).
I also equipped it with:
1. SDS Isoplatmat;
2. Herbie's Way Excellent 3.4mm mat on top;
3. Applied Fidelity sapphire bearing;
4. Audio Technica AT-OC9/III.
It was set up with Baerwald alignment with a DB Systems protractor, fully levelled, cartridge near-as-dammit level and with correct azimuth. 4 hours. I sweat turntable setup.
It warrants repeating that the 1200 is technically far ahead of most current audiophile TTs, with build quality and features most of those tables couldn't even dream of. These 1200s are just beautifully engineered and built by a major corporation that threw lots of money and brain power at the task. Little details, like:
How neatly the cueing arm height can be adjusted;
The adjustable platter eddy brake;
The killer VTA adjuster, especially the little lock lever;
How the arm feels like it weighs nothing, due to minimal bearing friction;
The no-contact, no-wear direct-drive motor;
It runs dead-silent, zero bearing noise;
The complexity and solidity of the lid hinges.
General operation is pure joy with precision switches and buttons, .7 sec. spool-up time and dead-on accurate platter rotation.
The sound is everything I hoped it would be:
Substantial peace in knowing the platter rotates exactly as is required of a turntable, at precisely the right speeds, regardless of needle drag. This brings killer solidity to bass, with impeccable leading edges and impacts of all instruments; it is immediately obvious the speed is dead-on and that there is no needle drag;
This precision extends to all frequencies and tonalities; the impression is of CD-like (a good thing) precision to the sound with low distortion and all of LP's sweetness, though that is never exaggerated. Different types of horns are easily distinguished from one another; the fact that a piano is primarily a wooden percussion instrument is vivid. The tonearm is obviously not limiting anything, anywhere. I was worried about this, believing to some extent that surely audiophile tables would have the 1200 here; no worries, at all. There are none of the bass-colorations of suspended tables like my Systemdek/Origin Live or Linns. Impacts part your hair and are instantly gone. The opening bars to Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" are amazing, as is the fantastic bass present on Kraftwerk's stupendous 2005 Ltd. LP box set "Minimum-Maximum." You are in-the-house with Miles Davis and gang with the fantastic "Friday Night at the Blackhawk" LP set;
Wonderful, precise, imaging;
Dead-silent background;
The overwhelming impression is that everything comes off the records as close to the source as it can, at least when compared with the tables I've owned.
Once these tasks are accomplished by any component, there is little else to say. It's a joy to operate and listen to, and one knows the thing is going to be rock-steady and stone-reliable.
The KAB SL-1200 is, by a comfortable margin, the best, and best-sounding, turntable I've had the pleasure of owning.
Finally, thanks to Kevin Barrett at KABUSA-what a super fella with a super business. He's been right all along for ages regarding the 1200-not that I ever doubted him.
Best,
Kristian
Product Weakness: NLA new. Product Strengths: Imperturbable rotation; dynamic power; tremendous detail; fidelity to source material; silent operation; fantastic engineering, build quality. Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Harman Kardon HK990 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Ray Samuels F-117 Nighthawk Sources (CDP/Turntable): TT Speakers: Klipsch Cornwall III Cables/Interconnects: Blue Jeans Cable; Belden Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical; industrial; jazz; electronica. Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - Kristian 21:34:00 03/23/15 (104)
- Reflections on aosting - ecl876 11:40:01 03/26/15 (3)
- RE: Reflections on aosting - John Elison 13:19:05 03/26/15 (2)
- "5) ...snip... have a built-in pop-up light for illuminating the cartridge and stylus?" My SL1600MK2... - J. S. Bach 19:28:24 03/26/15 (0)
- RE: Reflections on posting - ecl876 13:50:31 03/26/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - Jim Treanor 11:12:58 03/26/15 (9)
- Hey, Anthony! - Jim Treanor 13:10:20 03/26/15 (8)
- Hi Jim ... - TBone 13:29:51 03/26/15 (7)
- RE: Hi Jim#2 ... - TBone 15:53:28 03/26/15 (6)
- A beauty. -nt - Jim Treanor 16:53:32 03/26/15 (5)
- hope he come's back for the next DSOTM shootout ... - TBone 17:21:09 03/26/15 (1)
- Great pic. -nt - Jim Treanor 13:24:52 03/27/15 (0)
- RE: A beauty. -nt - rosendds@frontiernet.net 17:10:26 03/26/15 (2)
- It is fine - Penguin 19:07:53 03/26/15 (0)
- RE: A beauty. -nt - TBone 17:38:09 03/26/15 (0)
- I guess ... - Penguin 20:21:02 03/25/15 (17)
- RE: I guess ... - Ugly 23:13:47 03/25/15 (16)
- I guess again - Penguin 08:10:50 03/26/15 (10)
- " So if i gather what you say, " - Ugly 19:46:27 03/26/15 (3)
- thy will be a lot more expensive - Penguin 15:03:56 03/27/15 (2)
- RE: thy will be a lot more expensive - Ugly 15:56:09 03/27/15 (1)
- Holly cow!!! - Penguin 16:41:55 03/27/15 (0)
- RE: I guess again - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 08:44:49 03/26/15 (2)
- I own an SL 1000 - Penguin 09:49:20 03/26/15 (1)
- RE: I own an SL 1000 - caligari 13:38:53 03/28/15 (0)
- RE: I guess again - John Elison 08:41:10 03/26/15 (2)
- Exactly which of the "vast majority" of dd tables have you heard in your system? nt - Rick W 10:53:08 03/26/15 (0)
- another blanket statement ... - TBone 09:23:38 03/26/15 (0)
- if a good deal parts your hair ... - TBone 06:35:55 03/26/15 (4)
- RE: if a good deal parts your hair ... - Ugly 21:42:27 03/26/15 (3)
- don't confuse the intent ... - TBone 02:13:18 03/27/15 (2)
- RE: don't confuse the intent ... - Ugly 07:04:41 03/27/15 (1)
- pretty funny, but ... - TBone 07:30:52 03/27/15 (0)
- ... and BTW audiophile snob, here's the *real* bang for buck 1200 .... - bjh 20:18:48 03/25/15 (0)
- You went right out on a limb! - bjh 20:03:30 03/25/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 13:32:12 03/25/15 (9)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - Kristian 21:36:19 03/25/15 (8)
- Charm school - Lew 14:06:58 03/26/15 (5)
- It might help if he posted something not already discussed beyond ad nauseam. - Rick W 11:55:03 03/27/15 (3)
- RE: It might help if he posted something not already discussed beyond ad nauseam. - John Elison 12:30:13 03/27/15 (2)
- Well, John, its hardly the first time you've had a fanciful impression. nt - Rick W 14:53:51 03/27/15 (1)
- Only you can prove me wrong! ;-) /nt\ - John Elison 15:08:53 03/27/15 (0)
- I guess he is not happy - Penguin 19:29:53 03/26/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net 07:24:15 03/26/15 (0)
- playing the victim .. - TBone 21:53:37 03/25/15 (0)
- Thats an interesting take on Audiophiles - Curious 18:57:17 03/24/15 (5)
- Talk about dogma! - Daverz 19:49:28 03/24/15 (4)
- RE: Talk about dogma! - Curious 06:08:07 03/25/15 (3)
- Objectivist vs Subjectivist - Lew 06:37:24 03/25/15 (2)
- RE: Objectivist vs Subjectivist - Curious 08:15:08 03/25/15 (1)
- +1... - Dman 11:02:12 03/25/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - cactuscowboy@bresnan.net 12:13:40 03/24/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - Lew 11:33:58 03/24/15 (0)
- Hmmm. I think you might be confusing some terms - TGR 10:49:07 03/24/15 (0)
- The good, bad, and ugly! - M3 lover 09:52:16 03/24/15 (1)
- RE: The good, bad, and ugly! - Kristian 10:15:07 03/24/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - MannyE 05:43:40 03/24/15 (44)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - Kristian 07:54:10 03/24/15 (43)
- Thanks! I will keep an eye out. - MannyE 14:46:28 03/25/15 (3)
- dot dot dot ... - TBone 18:12:57 03/25/15 (2)
- RE: dot dot dot ... - MannyE 07:18:47 03/26/15 (1)
- RE: dot dot dot ... - TBone 07:21:14 03/26/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - painter27 18:50:17 03/24/15 (0)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic KAB SL-1200Mk.II Turntables - John Elison 08:24:49 03/24/15 (36)
- John Elison Appreciation Day - Kristian 09:02:42 03/24/15 (34)
- impenetrable logic and reason? - ringwear 18:34:03 03/24/15 (2)
- RE: impenetrable logic and reason? - ecl876 19:15:38 03/24/15 (1)
- i don't know what he means - ringwear 19:20:20 03/24/15 (0)
- ok ... - TBone 09:31:42 03/24/15 (30)
- RE: ok ... - John Elison 09:45:54 03/24/15 (29)
- you repeatedly claimed ... - TBone 09:58:10 03/24/15 (28)
- Not interested in getting in the middle of this cat fight but.... - volunteer 10:09:58 03/24/15 (1)
- fine ... - TBone 10:12:06 03/24/15 (0)
- RE: you repeatedly claimed ... - John Elison 10:02:59 03/24/15 (25)
- quote ... - TBone 10:11:12 03/24/15 (24)
- LOL. John always likes to omit the views of others who disagreed with him about that event :-) nt - Rick W 11:29:47 03/24/15 (23)
- RE: LOL. John always likes to omit the views of others who disagreed with him about that event :-) nt - John Elison 16:38:21 03/24/15 (22)
- Uh oh, your hair's on fire! - Rick W 22:55:09 03/24/15 (21)
- RE: Uh oh, your hair's on fire! - John Elison 08:43:29 03/25/15 (15)
- RE: Uh oh, your hair's on fire! - Curious 11:07:38 03/25/15 (12)
- RE: Uh oh, your hair's on fire! - John Elison 11:42:41 03/25/15 (0)
- why ask ... - TBone 11:20:30 03/25/15 (10)
- RE: why ask ... - Curious 17:28:48 03/25/15 (6)
- RE: why ask ... - TBone 08:18:28 03/26/15 (5)
- It was a good way to make him leave - Curious 19:51:27 03/26/15 (4)
- RE: It was a good way to make him leave - John Elison 09:14:08 03/27/15 (0)
- RE: It was a good way to make him leave - TBone 07:05:23 03/27/15 (2)
- RE: It was a good way to make him leave - John Elison 08:48:25 03/27/15 (1)
- "If you are serious about copying vinyl to digital" ... - TBone 09:15:08 03/27/15 (0)
- RE: why ask ... - John Elison 11:55:28 03/25/15 (2)
- RE: why ask ... - Curious 17:31:03 03/25/15 (0)
- yep ... - TBone 12:22:24 03/25/15 (0)
- Could it be...............................dementia? - Rick W 10:03:59 03/25/15 (1)
- unlikely ... - TBone 10:33:54 03/25/15 (0)
- If you don't know Mike L,... - Lew 06:50:07 03/25/15 (2)
- no need ... - TBone 07:18:32 03/25/15 (1)
- Point taken - Lew 07:50:35 03/25/15 (0)
- 5 out of 6? - Curious 06:29:30 03/25/15 (0)
- &pants ... - TBone 06:08:02 03/25/15 (0)
- go figure ... - TBone 08:38:55 03/24/15 (0)
- some "folks" ... - TBone 08:20:05 03/24/15 (0)
- your bio claims ... - TBone 22:10:12 03/23/15 (3)
- Maybe he meant... - MannyE 05:35:28 03/24/15 (2)
- no maybe required ... - TBone 07:50:55 03/24/15 (1)
- ;8^) . . . /nt\ - Opus 33 1/3 08:13:23 03/24/15 (0)