Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

Return to Vinyl Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$

208.123.32.107
Posted on July 13, 2016 at 07:16:47
geezerrocket
 The asking price seems a bit high especially when compared to their sister company's (Panasonic) PL-1000 - $700ish.

I found this article as a way of explanation.

As always, the consumer will be the final judge.



 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$, posted on July 13, 2016 at 07:23:32
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10911
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 The price and the naming of this new direct-drive have been endlessly debated both here and on Audiogon. The fact is that SL1200G has zero relationship to the Pioneer PL1000, in that the Technics is in another, higher, league. I actually saw one in the flesh at the CAF last weekend, and it appears to be of higher quality in just the general sense of construction than its namesake, the old SL1200. But besides that, its innards are quite a bit upgraded (coreless motor, improved servo, sturdier plinth, better tonearm, etc). So, in the end, you are free to ignore it, but it's not overpriced, IMO.

They were playing records on it using an Ortofon 2M Black, but the downstream elements of that system were not of a quality that made it possible to judge the tt/tonearm.

 

" but it's not overpriced, IMO.", posted on July 13, 2016 at 08:45:53
volunteer
Audiophile

Posts: 5666
Location: Louisville, KY
Joined: January 7, 2012
 It's being sold at a fast pace which supports your opinion. If people are willing to buy it is not overpriced.


-Wendell

 

RE: Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:06:12
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 It is an SL-1200 in name only. Were it given a different model number, I doubt there would be as many concerns regarding the asking price.

 

RE: Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:16:31
Andy43
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Joined: October 14, 2006
 It is rare to see so many opinions online about a component posted by people who have never heard or even seen it!

 

Review in Stereophile this month. nt, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:30:30
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 .

"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

Yep, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:38:34
vinyl survivor
Audiophile

Posts: 1471
Location: Southeastern US
Joined: November 28, 2007
 Herb said it made the old 1200 sound like a toy in comparison.

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:43:58
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 I'm up and down about Herb. The prose is so purple.

I heard one of his first reviews at a shop in Austin, the Maggie .7 driven by Rogue Sphinx. It was not a good sound, IMHO.


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 13, 2016 at 09:59:59
mcgjohn@yahoo.com
Industry Professional

Posts: 501
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 5, 2008
 at the axpona show, I was talking to the technics rep.

He mentioned the new table was released in Japan only for the first run. Technics was not sure how well it would sell, so only made 500 for the Japan only run. he said everyone was shocked when all 500 sold out in less than 30 minutes.

so would guess techics will ramp up a bit for the US and EU releases.

 

Such is life... old NOS 1200s will continue to go..., posted on July 13, 2016 at 10:55:23
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31874
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 up in price and look like a deal to the uninitiated based on the new price even thugh
they are different beasts.

In that regard it is a lose/lose situation for newcomers wanting an affordable 1200.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Yep, that's the ultimate judge... N/T , posted on July 13, 2016 at 10:56:40
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31874
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Yep, posted on July 13, 2016 at 11:07:06
jkaschyk
Audiophile

Posts: 339
Joined: April 16, 2005
 Herb always goes ape $hit over his latest review piece.

 

RE: Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$, posted on July 13, 2016 at 13:33:37
fstein
Audiophile

Posts: 2994
Location: fstein
Joined: May 18, 2006
 Lets call it an SL10!

 

RE: Technics SL-1200g $$$$$$$$, posted on July 13, 2016 at 18:00:25
Jive Turkey
Audiophile

Posts: 2409
Location: far left, geographically speaking
Joined: May 5, 2010
 "They were playing records on it using an Ortofon 2M Black, but the downstream elements of that system were not of a quality that made it possible to judge the tt/tonearm."

I have that same cart on my PLX-1000 and would love to hear the comparison.

Granted I've set my Pioneer on a 3" maple block over raquetballs in furniture cups, replaced the stock mat with a Herbie's, and use an aftermarket headshell that gives me plenty of room with the screws for best alignment. So I wonder if the new 1200 will sound tons better than the thousand bucks I have in the PLX-1000 and accessories mentioned?



See ya. Dave

 

You mean the Pioneer PL-1000? /nt\, posted on July 13, 2016 at 18:10:09
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014




Opus 33 1/3

 

looks nothing like an SL-10, posted on July 13, 2016 at 20:05:28
Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001

dee
:-D
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

 

time will tell, posted on July 13, 2016 at 20:13:07
Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001
 the SP-10 MK II is far better than the pre G version of any of the SL1200 MK whatevers or the the SP-25. The question is if the the new SL-1200G is a better table than the SP-10 MK II, and if that is the case how far is it in performance from the SP-10 MK III. If it is as good as the SP-10 MK III then it is a bargain, worth ripping one apart putting better arms on it re-plinth it etc. if it is not as good as an SP-10 MK II then the the MK II is a true bargain at half the price, and you can make a better table out of by adding plinth and arm and etc. It is all in the balance....

dee
;-D
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

 

RE: looks nothing like an SL-10, posted on July 13, 2016 at 22:10:54
fstein
Audiophile

Posts: 2994
Location: fstein
Joined: May 18, 2006
 joke

 

SL-12 would have worked better :)...., posted on July 14, 2016 at 06:08:18
Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001
 the SL-10 was actually a seriously well built machine.


dee
;-D
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

 

Cosmetically, the new Technics SL-1200g resembles the older SL-1200... , posted on July 14, 2016 at 06:32:08
genungo
 ... but that is where the resemblance ends.

A completely new motor assembly designed to eliminate cogging, a new platter, a re-designed tonearm, and more.

This new and improved "SL-1200" required fresh tooling among other things so it is no longer the working man's budget piece that it once was. I doubt that very many DJs are going to be packing these away in vans and car trunks.

They wanted it to look like the old machine in most ways, but the new machine is the better machine in almost every way.

"Does it really sound THAT much better than the old machine?" is the question that will eventually be answered, but not yet.

 

SP10 Mk3, posted on July 14, 2016 at 07:43:59
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10911
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 In terms of physical mass and quality of construction and torque of the motor, there is no way the SL1200G comes anywhere close to the SP10 Mk3. However, the SL1200G does have a coreless motor and none of the original line of Technics direct-drive turntables can make that claim. Then too, the G comes with a very decent plinth and tonearm, whereas the Mk3 is essentially a tt chassis for which you have to supply plinth and tonearm. Finally, even in 1982 or whenever, the Mk3 cost not much less than the asking price for the G. So, on one hand, the Mk3 is still supreme, but on the other hand, coreless motors are an X factor in direct-drive, IMO. So, maybe the G can compete sonically with the Mk3 despite its physical shortcomings compared to a Mk3. My Mk3 got really better when I had it modified based on Richard Krebs ideas, which go a long way toward the smoothness, for want of a better word, of coreless motors in direct-drive.

 

yup, exactly (nt), posted on July 14, 2016 at 07:55:34
Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

 

Indeed, that was a major error on their part IMO... N/T, posted on July 14, 2016 at 10:27:02
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31874
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: SP10 Mk3, posted on July 14, 2016 at 11:35:15
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 There is a "cool factor" to the SP10 Mk3 that the SL1200G does not have for me. The SP10 not only brings quality but it has a history that wound make it a much more interesting table to own. Unfortunately, I don't own one. I have long lusted after one with an Obsidian base and an EPA-100 tonearm with those silky, seductive ruby bearings.

Actually, I have more "historically significant" tables than I can deal with at this time, and I need to get to work on them before I buy anything, but I have always had a thing for the TOL Technics DD tables, ever since I saw one in a waist high concrete base at Dixie Hifi.

Dave

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 15, 2016 at 12:26:36
bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Joined: January 6, 2015
 Unfortunately Herb says a lot of things and the jury is still out on his credibility. I can't make heads or tails out of this guy. Flowery language and all over the map from month to month. Seems to be flighty to me (over eager?). It would be nice to read a review from someone like Mikey Fremer, who, like him or not, is consistent and writes in plain English. Or Art Dudley would work for me too. I do think that if Herb can trim his sails a bit and settle down he will be fine. In the meantime, I have a deposit on a 1200GAE and look forward to comparing it to my VPI Prime and KAB 1200 Mk2. But I have limitations: I am not a skilled reviewer, and I often can't hear things (or hear only subtle differences) that others claim are obvious.

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 15, 2016 at 14:21:40
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 > I have a deposit on a 1200GAE and look forward to comparing it to my VPI Prime and KAB 1200 Mk2.

I will be very interested in your appraisal of the SL-1200GAE. How long do they tell you it will be before you receive it?

Thanks,
John Elison

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 15, 2016 at 16:12:56
bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Joined: January 6, 2015
 I am told that the 1200 GAE has shipped from Japan and should be in Florida before the end of this month. BTW, I have mostly got the Prime sorted now and use it for stereo and the SL1200 Mk2 for mono (mostly although I switch back and forth too. To my ancient ears the two turntables are not greatly different, with the VPI slightly crisper on the best records, the Technics vastly better ergonomically.

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 15, 2016 at 17:30:33
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 Yes, I really like the ergonomics of my Technics SL-1200 Mk2. It is so much more convenient and fun to play than my Sota Millennia. The difference in sound quality between the two is not significant to me when using the same cartridge and phono stage although the Sota Millennia does sound better with a bit more clarity and slightly lower noise. However, if I didn't own both to make a direct comparison, I think I could be perfectly happy with my SL-1200 Mk2. Therefore, if the new SL-1200GAE sounds noticeably better than the SL-1200 Mk2, it might be well worth its $4000 price tag.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 19, 2016 at 11:11:00
bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Joined: January 6, 2015
 John,

Your thoughts parallel my own on this matter. If the new Technics 1200GAE works out and sounds as good as claimed, the other two will find new homes and I'll call it a day.

BTW, after telling you my Prime is under control it started the ole rapid fire electrostatic popping schtick again. Totally out of control, loud pops too. I am worried about a $20K set of speakers getting fried. I felt like ripping the thing out to send it sailing. Instead I broke down and called VPI. They have a EE on staff now, Mike, very nice guy. He had me grab my VOM and start tracing all the points where there should be ground to find out where there isn't ground. It turned out that the tonearm pivot pin had no ground. It is the needle sharp pin. It took some doing to remove the coating to get bare metal, but with effort and crocus cloth I now have ground at that pin point. Time will tell if this is the complete solution, although it still emits a single pop when I touch the Eagle at the end of each side. Since the Eagle is not electrically connected in anyway to the rest of the TT, Mike thinks this single pop is more likely to be coming from me, a totally plausible scenario. Thought you'd like to know.

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 19, 2016 at 12:40:07
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 Thanks for the update. Perhaps you can ground yourself on something else before touching the Eagle. Have you tried that? It's likely static electricity from walking across the carpet to get to the turntable. I used to have problems like that with some of my previous equipment. I haven't had any problems with static for quite some time.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 19, 2016 at 13:55:19
bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Joined: January 6, 2015
 My floor is tile over a concrete slab. South Florida stuff. I approach the TT standing in bare feet on tile floor at this point, which means I am grounded. By contrast my SL1200 has no issues at all with static.

 

RE: Yep, posted on July 19, 2016 at 14:12:36
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I have a friend with a Prime and Eagle power supply. He said he was having a problem with his Prime and he thought it might be the Eagle so he connected his Prime directly to mains and the problem did not go away. I can't remember exactly what the problem was, but he's coming over to visit me Friday and I'll ask him about it and if he found a resolution.

Ive heard his Prime on several occasions and it really sounds good to me. I'm very impressed with his system, which incorporates tube electronics and Thiel speakers.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

RE: SP10 Mk3 -- FWIW . . . , posted on July 23, 2016 at 19:19:54
goldenthal
Audiophile

Posts: 1001
Location: Ontario
Joined: March 28, 2003
 In 1982, a retailer offered to sell me an SP 10 Mk3 with base and cover for Cdn$2750.

At that time, the "insider" take among broadcasters in the area was that the Mk 2 was a better, and better-sounding, table. But I was never able to assess that personally.


Jeremy

 

Page processed in 0.052 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]