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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables by foomh@simedarby.com Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ. |
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202.146.93.33
Model: sl-1200 mk2 Category: Turntables Suggested Retail Price: $500 Description: direct drive table with integrated arm Manufacturer URL: Technics by Panasonic
Review by foomh@simedarby.com on December 09, 2007 at 22:48:21
IP Address: 202.146.93.33Add Your Review
for the sl-1200 mk2
To start with, I must say I already owned as my main system a Linn LP12 with Moerch UP4 arm and Ortofon Kontrapunct a cartridge and have been truly happy with it. But when a "bargain" SL1200 mk2 became available at USD 300, I thought why not give a try! Reading the whole lot of info on the various forums and reviews by TNT etc, I was indeed intrigued by the division of opinions throughout the hifi audiophile world and recently when HIFI world came up with quite a good review of this deck, I decided to take the plunge.
I took the table to my Ortofon cartridge supplier to fit an mc15super 2, and then at the shop played the first track of a Linda Rondstadt album. Surprise! The sound was immediate, bass attack was fast and deep, midrange was good although not truly first class and the treble, well quite bright! There was a slight etch to the sound but not to the point of being irritating. On the whole, very good for the money being less than just the price of my Kontrapunct a!
Things became alive by the 3rd track with warmth creeping in and the etch receding. It became apparent that speed stability is much better than the Linn or for that matter most tables I've listened to previously. It was altogether now quite clear why the advocates of this deck sing praises of it. It brings a punchy tuneful bass and a good midrange and clearly defined treble to give an overall lively sound. Quite unlike a Linn with the slightly bloated mid bass that I thought stood for musical tones. The technics sounded from a distance closer to the sound you get in a club with a live jazz band ie more lively.
There are downsides of course. Maybe its the cartridge cos complicated bass notes are not so well resolved and voices are perhaps a bit thinner than I would prefer. On the other hand trailing notes are much easier to discern and certainly that helps to make the whole seem more livelike.
The real winner here is that speed consistency is world class and the tunes are carried very well. The pace and timing of music is portrayed much better. My daughter who is 12 years old said when asked:
Daughter....Sounds better...
Daddy(me)... how is it better?
Daughter.....Just better... Can follow background music better...
Daddy..... What do you mean?
Daughter....Well, I can count to the music...
Well there you are, my girl has no idea how much money is involved or the battles between Linn and non Linn or belt drive vs direct drive or has any idea about the brands. She just can count to the music as she has been trained to do in her music lessons.
I am not trained in music but I am tapping my feet to the music more than when I listened to the Linn set up . Do I think the Linn is not as good? No I don't think we need to make such a distinction. Each has been designed to fulfil a certain expectation and price vs value proposition. On the second criteria of price vs value the technics wins hands down and in fact the sound quality vs price factor is way off the chart compared to almost all other decks. The Linn is very good but the money involved is down right crazy for what you get. The latest iteration of the Linn is really for the moneyed kind although some magazines still say its value for money! Yes compared to the coliburn or something like that.
In the recent issue of Stereophile, a new direct drive deck has arrived and it cost USD15k above. Many blogs have suggested that for a similarly engineered deck to be developed like to the level of the technics, it would cost many thousands and now we have proof. I am delighted to own the technics for the kind of money I paid for it.
As a DJ machine, the technics has proven itself for many years. Audiophiles looking for real value for money, handmade in Japan and superior engineering and an heirloom to hand over to the next generation, look no further.
Product Weakness: Brand consciouness among audiophiles Product Strengths: Superior sound vs price factor, very well engineered and compact. Easy maintenance and ease of use
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Mcintosh mc402 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audible Illusions M3A Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz SA11S1 Speakers: Maggie 3.6 Cables/Interconnects: Acoustic Zen Silver Ref 2, Satori Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, vocals, pop Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Technics by Panasonic sl-1200 mk2 Turntables - foomh@simedarby.com 22:48:21 12/9/07 ( 78)
- This thread makes me realize.... - VynylTap 20:11:32 12/10/07 ( 1)
- RE: This thread makes me realize.... - foomh@simedarby.com 00:08:06 12/11/07 ( 0)
Agree and disagree - Fretless 12:49:56 12/10/07 ( 22)
- RE: Agree and disagree - maabx 15:54:38 12/11/07 ( 3)
- RE: Agree and disagree - Frank E 16:46:21 12/11/07 ( 1)
- RE: Agree and disagree - maabx 17:09:21 12/11/07 ( 0)
- That makes perfect sense. I hope the Technics guys are listening (nt) - Fretless 16:01:00 12/11/07 ( 0)
The timing problems that I am able to detect are completely solved for this table by the KAB power supply. - Ugly 16:40:47 12/10/07 ( 5)
- That's good to know - Fretless 17:42:54 12/10/07 ( 4)
- Personally I rank the power supply upgrade importance up with accoustic decoupling and cartridge choice. - Ugly 21:21:26 12/10/07 ( 3)
- RE: Personally I rank the power supply upgrade importance up with accoustic decoupling and cartridge choice. - Fretless 21:39:47 12/10/07 ( 2)
- RE: Personally I rank the power supply upgrade importance up with accoustic decoupling and cartridge choice. - Ugly 22:13:59 12/10/07 ( 1)
- RE: Personally I rank the power supply upgrade importance up with accoustic decoupling and cartridge choice. - Fretless 22:31:09 12/10/07 ( 0)
yep ... - TBone 13:38:50 12/10/07 ( 11)
- not sure what you are talking about - texanater 17:54:11 12/10/07 ( 5)
- well ... - TBone 19:26:45 12/10/07 ( 4)
- contradiction - OMalley 20:10:39 12/10/07 ( 3)
- OK, lets look at the facts ... - TBone 20:16:42 12/10/07 ( 2)
- The noise from the strobe is electronic, not mechanical - texanater 20:39:01 12/10/07 ( 1)
- who am I to argue ... - TBone 20:52:40 12/10/07 ( 0)
RE: yep ... - Fretless 14:06:18 12/10/07 ( 4)
- RE: yep ... - TBone 14:27:27 12/10/07 ( 3)
- RE: yep ... - Fretless 15:47:54 12/10/07 ( 0)
- My SL-1200MK2 with KAB damper easily betters the - HenryH 15:29:06 12/10/07 ( 1)
- Or the Moth Alamo S that I used to own. - olddude55 16:42:39 12/10/07 ( 0)
The 1200 lacks what a lot of "audiophiles" need... - danj 11:18:53 12/10/07 ( 4)
- for those of us that have used technics 1200 series - hifitommy 18:23:07 12/10/07 ( 3)
- Yer right about that..... - danj 23:46:37 12/11/07 ( 0)
- RE: for those of us that have used technics 1200 series - Ugly 22:26:43 12/10/07 ( 1)
- Your right. - joeljoel1947 13:09:36 12/11/07 ( 0)
Mostly mirrors my own experience. - tubesforever 00:02:07 12/10/07 ( 47)
- Convoluted! - bjh 08:37:49 12/10/07 ( 3)
- Thank you for the editorial comments....you are the editor? - tubesforever 14:27:38 12/10/07 ( 1)
- Your sarcasm has been duly noted... Hey, perhaps that's what I missed - bjh 14:36:21 12/10/07 ( 0)
- Are you saying . . . - HenryH 09:02:34 12/10/07 ( 0)
I'm always surprised when people say this table is "dark" sounding - VynylTap 05:21:55 12/10/07 ( 42)
- I'm thinking about gettin an AT-150MLx. How do you like yours? nt - olddude55 16:58:48 12/10/07 ( 5)
- I love it... - VynylTap 18:29:10 12/10/07 ( 4)
- "Will outright track any damned thing you throw at it." - olddude55 01:57:56 12/11/07 ( 3)
- The 540 is a stunner! - joeljoel1947 12:53:12 12/11/07 ( 2)
- If I can still get one in a month or two.... - olddude55 17:41:47 12/11/07 ( 1)
- Thakker can get one - joeljoel1947 17:55:56 12/11/07 ( 0)
RE: I'm always surprised when people say this table is "dark" sounding - Ken Perkins 06:11:58 12/10/07 ( 0)
this is not possible! - joeljoel1947 06:04:10 12/10/07 ( 34)
- It's much more accepted around here than it ever has been... - VynylTap 06:08:45 12/10/07 ( 33)
- What are you talking about???? - joeljoel1947 04:20:33 12/11/07 ( 0)
- RE: It's funny how things can change... - bboroski 06:21:37 12/10/07 ( 31)
- RE: It's funny how things can change... - l1945@sbcglobal.net 11:51:57 12/10/07 ( 5)
- Interesting... - bboroski 13:09:00 12/10/07 ( 4)
- RE: Interesting... - l1945@sbcglobal.net 17:13:30 12/10/07 ( 2)
- RE: Sota.. - bboroski 06:27:23 12/11/07 ( 1)
- RE: Sota.. - l1945@sbcglobal.net 11:37:23 12/11/07 ( 0)
- $600 for my Dyna 20XL. A great combo. /nt\ - HenryH 13:31:55 12/10/07 ( 0)
Agree 100%. The best under $1k table on the planet. - HenryH 06:35:23 12/10/07 ( 24)
- Re:I will say it again... - bboroski 07:36:28 12/10/07 ( 1)
- Kevin at KAB deserves the credit. Just a few e-mails - HenryH 08:21:00 12/10/07 ( 0)
Errrrrr, isn't his Linn LP12 3.5k???? - joeljoel1947 06:59:58 12/10/07 ( 21)
- RE: Errrrrr, isn't his Linn LP12 3.5k???? - foomarnhing@simedarby.com 19:27:24 12/10/07 ( 20)
- OH YOU HAVE RAISED HECKLES!!!!!!!!!! - joeljoel1947 06:17:51 12/11/07 ( 18)
- "RE: OH YOU HAVE RAISED HECKLES!!!!!!!!!!" Resorting to shouting now? - Fretless 13:50:27 12/11/07 ( 17)
- Oh Fretless..... - joeljoel1947 14:30:59 12/11/07 ( 16)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - foomh@simedarby.com 19:39:56 12/12/07 ( 0)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - Fretless 15:36:16 12/11/07 ( 14)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - joeljoel1947 16:28:23 12/11/07 ( 13)
- May I call you Auntie Audiophile? - Fretless 17:14:21 12/11/07 ( 9)
- Only if you say UNCLE! - joeljoel1947 17:51:33 12/11/07 ( 8)
- Uncle. - Fretless 18:05:40 12/11/07 ( 7)
- Thanks Fretless. - joeljoel1947 18:28:47 12/11/07 ( 6)
- RE: Thanks Fretless. - foomh@simedarby.com 19:06:06 12/11/07 ( 5)
- RE: Thanks Fretless. - joeljoel1947 21:09:59 12/11/07 ( 4)
- RE: Thanks Fretless. - foomh@simedarby.com 19:45:13 12/12/07 ( 0)
- Chew on this a bit.... I love the SL1200/1210 for what it does for the money..... - tubesforever 23:53:34 12/11/07 ( 2)
- Chew on this... - texanater 09:00:48 12/12/07 ( 0)
- I chewed. - joeljoel1947 04:17:12 12/12/07 ( 0)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - foomh@simedarby.com 17:14:13 12/11/07 ( 2)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - joeljoel1947 18:19:27 12/11/07 ( 0)
- RE: Oh Fretless..... - Fretless 17:36:02 12/11/07 ( 0)
RE: Errrrrr, isn't his Linn LP12 3.5k???? - Fretless 21:15:46 12/10/07 ( 0)