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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables by Stale Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ. |
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68.23.161.216
Model: sl-1200 mk2 Category: Turntables Suggested Retail Price: $500 Description: direct drive table with integrated arm Manufacturer URL: Technics by Panasonic
Review by stale on January 12, 2008 at 15:16:34
IP Address: 68.23.161.216Add Your Review
for the sl-1200 mk2
Over the years I had chance to hear this table several times and although I considered it nice table did not find it special at that time, but I did not hear it recently. Being cheapskate, number Technics SL1200 post with more than favorable opinions raised my curiosity again and I decide to give it a try.
So, before Christmas I bought the table, in this case stock SL1210MK2.
Will not talk about packaging, it is usual for this type of electronics. Setting it up was easy, only pieces to be installed are plater, couterweight(s), and headshell. Removable headshell is as expected help in setting up cartridge. Positive points are overhang gauge, supplied extra weight for heavy cartridges, 45 adapter (if anyone needs it) and VTA mechanism.
I installed my reserve cartridge, Shure 97xe, and used it for about week without critical listening too allow any possible break in to occur. I did not want to use my Ortofon MC25FL for such task and wanted also to have it readily installed on my VPI HW19MKIII for comparison (it is easier to swap from Rega arm to Technics than other way around).
Last weekend I sat down to recheck complete setup and for lengthy audition session.
First I listened it with Shure. As expected speed stability as there were no wows like on some lower end belt drives, i.e. Rega Planar 2/3, that I owned, but no discernible difference to my VPI.
Sound was fairly full bodied but noticeably lacking bottom extensions and especially rolled of top end. Soundstage was very good in left to right sense, but slightly lacking in depth.
Midbass and particularly upper bass was IMHO exaggerated, giving punch to the sound. As a result it seems it was fairly pleasurable with fast, dance type music, or kick drums. However, when slower and acoustical music was played, bass was obviously overdamped, notes would finish too soon. Also, bass was somehow disconnected from the rest of the music, there was distinctive lack of coherence. Bass part just draw to much attention to itself.
In spite of presence of the apparent attack in the bass i.e. kick drums, bass guitar, leading edges of the notes were rounded off, overall lacking the excitement. Overall detail was good but low level detail was definitively lacking. (Many would recognize some of the above traits as Shure sound). Also I should mention that I could not rid off slight static when touching headshell
Before taking Ortofon to Technics, I switched VPI/Ortofon combo. It confirmed previous observations, it was qualitatively on the higher level, went deeper, higher, had more detail including low level, bass was tight but had body, music was more wholesome, sense of flow and space returned, excitement was back...
So I installed Ortofon to Technics hoping to get, if not the same at least, similar results. I was wrong. Although top and bottom extension slightly increased in comparison to Shure, to my dismay, there was metallic overlay to high midrange lower treble, bass lost the punch, and not only that it was disconnected from the rest of the spectrum, it was the first time in any combination of the arms/tables that Ortofon cartridge appeared slower than Shure.
I tried whole range of load and VTA settings, but with minor changes (if we exclude way low loadings where cartridge completely lost its senses). Tried to listen to it for a few days to give it a chance, but never get used to that sound.
So what would be my summary about Technics?
It is very good table for the street price of about $450, and as always I recommend it in its price class. If its balance of strengths and weaknesses suits your taste or system, it is hard to beat, but definitively not, as touted, giant killer.
Equipment used for review:
VPI HW19MKIII -> Ortofon MC25FL/Shure 97xe -> Musical Surroundings Phonomena -> Rega RB250 (Technoweight, Incognito) -> Diamondback -> Musical Fidelity CD24Pre -> Straightwire Maestro -> Musical Fidelity A3.2CR -> Analysis Plus Oval 9-> Eminent Technology LFT-VIIIA (plus few other cables)
Other tables/arms owned: VPI HW19Jr, Rega Planar 2, Rega Planar 3, Thorens 160B, Technics SL-D202, Arms: Rega R200, RB250, RB300, Grace 707, SME 3009 (Fixed Headshell).
Product Weakness: Overdamped bass, lacking top and bottom extension, lack of low level detail, not too coherent sound.<br><br>Also, not a big deal negatives but part of the big picture worth mentioning: <br>lift must be pushed all the way down or it will not drop, you must lower lift to put arm to rest, drops too fast for my taste, cover can be lifted to 45 degrees only, due to shallow angle of the platter edge I would easily scratch my right hand nails to strobe dots (yes, my nails are longer than in most people but not too long)<br> Product Strengths: Speed stability, good isolation, ease of setup, flexibility, ruggedness, presence of VTA, overall good spaciousness and rhythm.<br>
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: See text Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): See text Sources (CDP/Turntable): See text Speakers: See text Cables/Interconnects: See text Music Used (Genre/Selections): See text Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 16 x 9 Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks Other (Power Conditioner etc.): See text Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition
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Topic - REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - Stale 15:16:34 01/12/08 ( 41)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - Andyman 05:06:15 01/16/08 ( 0)
Forget ALL the mods available for the 1200; just replace the feet. - jazzthusiast 23:46:00 01/15/08 ( 0)
Good review. Thanks! - petertg 15:06:27 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - maabx 14:15:20 01/13/08 ( 4)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - xyyyy 15:22:45 01/13/08 ( 3)
- RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - maabx 15:32:52 01/13/08 ( 2)
- My search of the terms - jazzthusiast 23:20:50 01/15/08 ( 1)
- RE: My search of the terms - maabx 04:30:06 01/16/08 ( 0)
ha ha! - you are all wrong! i have all the answers ;-) - centaurus3200 11:26:27 01/13/08 ( 2)
- RE: ha ha! - you are all wrong! i have all the answers ;-) - Stale 14:20:08 01/13/08 ( 0)
You say. "it's a fricken turntable - not your kid. so, stop defending it like it's family." But then........ - artemus 12:27:49 01/13/08 ( 0)
Re: All the comments below - Stale 10:00:40 01/13/08 ( 15)
- Post something like this on a saturday and well ... - texanater 13:39:24 01/13/08 ( 3)
- Weel I think you answered question - Stale 14:29:26 01/13/08 ( 2)
- ".....the folks who took your review to mean the table is junk...." - powermatic 20:49:08 01/15/08 ( 0)
- this is a long thread - texanater 15:20:00 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: Re: All the comments below - Ugly 11:08:24 01/13/08 ( 4)
- Apples and oranges and other - Stale 12:07:55 01/13/08 ( 3)
- RE: Apples and oranges and other - Ugly 12:45:10 01/13/08 ( 2)
- RE: Apples and oranges and other - Stale 14:45:51 01/13/08 ( 1)
- I'm glad that is settled. - Ugly 15:32:38 01/13/08 ( 0)
"...I just go for a night out, and war rages below..." - olddude55 10:46:53 01/13/08 ( 5)
- Thanks olddude55 - Stale 12:17:36 01/13/08 ( 1)
- You'd catch less flak talking about their mothers, kids, dogs or religion - plantsman 14:46:46 01/13/08 ( 0)
""Technics suck/rule" threads over at the Isolation Ward with the MD cultists." yikes! I feel so dirty now.N/T - Ugly 11:12:10 01/13/08 ( 2)
- I....I....actually look at Iso sometimes.... - olddude55 11:20:50 01/13/08 ( 1)
- I hear you man, maybe I should've added a ;-) at the end but there wasn't room. - Ugly 11:34:20 01/13/08 ( 0)
Kevin at KABUSA really knows his 1200's - victrola927 09:52:45 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - victrola927 09:37:28 01/13/08 ( 1)
- "I would like to try BDR cones with a granite base for the technics on an innertube support." IME you... - Ugly 10:06:45 01/13/08 ( 0)
agree with maabox but wanted respond directly - texanater 09:13:52 01/13/08 ( 1)
- The main advantages of the KAB arm damper are: - HenryH 09:34:12 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - maabx 07:14:40 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - plantsman 06:49:35 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - notop 06:47:42 01/13/08 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - maabx 06:00:14 01/13/08 ( 0)
m5g in custom rack - Don.Walker 22:17:43 01/12/08 ( 0)
When compared with units in it's price range... - anumber1 20:02:58 01/12/08 ( 3)
- The problem is that it has been touted here as THE TT to have without exception - artemus 21:23:05 01/12/08 ( 2)
- I agree ... largely - texanater 21:45:31 01/12/08 ( 1)
- RE: I agree ... largely - artemus 07:37:58 01/13/08 ( 0)
Nice job - Fretless 17:57:55 01/12/08 ( 7)
- I respectfully disagree. - KyleCoppers 22:35:28 01/12/08 ( 2)
- YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT... - jazzthusiast 18:46:10 01/15/08 ( 0)
- RE: I respectfully disagree. - Ugly 09:56:37 01/13/08 ( 0)
It's too bad you didn't get a chance to hear the important KAB mods before deciding to trash the whole KAB mod lineup. - Ugly 19:16:33 01/12/08 ( 0)
Just for clarification: the technoweight & incognito rewire - jazzthusiast 18:21:49 01/12/08 ( 2)
- RE: Just for clarification: the technoweight & incognito rewire - Fretless 19:03:13 01/12/08 ( 1)
- RE: Just for clarification: the technoweight & incognito rewire - jazzthusiast 19:33:31 01/12/08 ( 0)
Just wondering why you bought it? - cactuscowboy@bresnan.net 17:47:33 01/12/08 ( 14)
- Missed to repy to this sub-tread - Stale 14:42:12 01/13/08 ( 0)
Maybe it's fun to compare a $3K rig including upgrades to a $450 stock rig. (nt) - jazzthusiast 18:12:18 01/12/08 ( 12)
- 3000.00? Nah.... - powermatic 20:13:47 01/12/08 ( 3)
- Its USED!!!! - texanater 21:32:39 01/12/08 ( 2)
- RE: Its USED!!!! - powermatic 22:53:56 01/12/08 ( 1)
- I don't mind the comparison - texanater 23:11:32 01/12/08 ( 0)
RE: Maybe it's fun to compare a $3K rig including upgrades to a $450 stock rig. (nt) - cactuscowboy@bresnan.net 19:00:25 01/12/08 ( 7)
- I'll guess why he bought it. - powermatic 19:31:14 01/12/08 ( 5)
- The "people like you" line made me LOL...Were you also holding your nose at the time? - jazzthusiast 20:03:55 01/12/08 ( 4)
- Confused in stereoville.... - powermatic 20:48:33 01/12/08 ( 3)
- RE: Confused in stereoville.... - jazzthusiast 22:19:02 01/12/08 ( 2)
- In my defense, I wouldn't have used the 'reading comprehension' - powermatic 22:42:16 01/12/08 ( 1)
- Thanks... - jazzthusiast 23:09:51 01/12/08 ( 0)
Maybe he will mod it later and will do a comparative review... - rich121 19:10:59 01/12/08 ( 0)
good insight - hifitommy 17:40:57 01/12/08 ( 6)
- looks like i stepped on some toes here. - hifitommy 08:45:22 01/13/08 ( 0)
Judging by the fact that you used the phrase "it was likely better than the 1200" - texanater 19:15:47 01/12/08 ( 0)
J.D. provided the best assessment... - JefferyS 19:04:50 01/12/08 ( 0)
just a bit dismissive - jazzthusiast 18:06:32 01/12/08 ( 0)
"...not the goal for true sound lovers" - VynylTap 17:54:50 01/12/08 ( 1)
- RE: "...not the goal for true sound lovers" - cactuscowboy@bresnan.net 09:42:38 01/13/08 ( 0)