technics sl-1200 mk ii...audiophile quality?
usp1
Posts: 207
Is the technics sl-1200 mkii an audiophile turntable or just an overhyped dj turntable? I read glowing reviews on some forums and there seems to be a following for this TT but is it comparable to say a good Thorens or Rega or Pro-ject?
Post edited by usp1 on
Comments
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I have one.
Good, sturdy, fully adjustable, built like a tank, mates well with a variety of cartridges. (MM or MC), and there are tons of upgrades.
"Audiophile quality"??
Problematic.... it all depends on price points in question, system integration/synergy, personal preferences.
I will say that if you can find one at a decent price you can't say you went 'wrong'.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
This would be a hot topic for fans of the SL-1200. It is what is. They weren't designed as dj turntables, but they remained popular because they suited that purpose and the factory in Japan stayed open for many years because of it. They are very robust, rock solid in maintaining uniform speed, and can be made to sound better than stock with some modifications. I think the weak points for sound quality are the tonearm, metal platter, and cheap cabling. Modifications to address the weak points are readily available.
I bought a new one a few years ago to use as a spare turntable if I needed one. Turns out they seem to be going up in value since they are no longer made (except for the Chinese made Audio Technica knockoff), so it's staying in the box. In stock form with a cartridge that cost almost as much as the turntable, as mine is, it's not even close in sound quality to the Music Hall MMF-7 I use normally, but then again I didn't expect it to be. The main problem for me is the noise floor is way higher with the SL-1200. Turntables have advanced a long way in producing good sound even in the last decade. -
Well...that's not really a fair comparison....a Music Hall mmf7 is like $1500...The techniques 1200 was made back in..gee not sure. But again a very solid, heavy , robust TT. There is nothing wrong with it at all. But it was like $400 back then.
So it depends on how much you want to spend. As far as it being "audiophile" ..well. To beat it, you'd probably have to spend close to 1K on a new TT...But that's a guess, -
One can get it between $300-$400 used. But I am not sure I am up to tweaking it for higher performance. I just never seem to have enough time to do that anymore. One can get some of the audiophile brands for $600 and up used. The Thorens actually can be had for $200 onwards. So this seems to be a dicey proposition.
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I love mine and they do respond well to wiring/cable/isolation/platter/mat mods etc. I loved it more before I went to TTWeights open house yesterday though.... Having said that it's a very good bang-for-the -buck table and I think if you have a good one that hasn't been abused you won't lose any money, they have a HUGE following and I expect will for some time yet! If i was going to upgrade from mine I think I would go straight to a TTWeights unit, very impressed.Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2) -
I love my 1210 M5G works great and keeps me happy. I purchased mine new almost 4 years ago I think?
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I love mine and they do respond well to wiring/cable/isolation/platter/mat mods etc. I loved it more before I went to TTWeights open house yesterday though.... Having said that it's a very good bang-for-the -buck table and I think if you have a good one that hasn't been abused you won't lose any money, they have a HUGE following and I expect will for some time yet! If i was going to upgrade from mine I think I would go straight to a TTWeights unit, very impressed.
Those TTW turntables are expensive!! -
Those TTW turntables are expensive!!
Yep!! They are so nice and impressive to see in person..
So does this make our Technics SL12XX the Emotiva of turntables??
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I love my 1210 M5G works great and keeps me happy. I purchased mine new almost 4 years ago I think?
My response would be identical. Same model and roughly the same purchase timeframe. I'm using a DL-160 Denon. -
ah emotiva! I have owned a bunch of their gear. Except for an lpa-1 I have grown out of the rest.
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Technics are hardly the "Emotiva" of TTs. lol
Unless you're a crazed vinyl-phile, the 1200 mkII should do you fine. There are "always" better, even better than any table mentioned above. So what?
Nice table, worth it, lots of tweaks, you'll be happy unless you decide that what you really have to have is a 10,000+ dollar table that has a 50 lbs platter! lol But then it's time for the "men in white" coats to come over and help you set that up?
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
cnh - I am still not in the audiophool territory and probably will never be ... although I might need the men with white coats nonetheless..
I currently have a Dual cs530 which I got for $60 shipped to tide me over so,for the next step up, I want something a bit nicer. -
cnh - I am still not in the audiophool territory and probably will never be ... although I might need the men with white coats nonetheless..
I currently have a Dual cs530 which I got for $60 shipped to tide me over so,for the next step up, I want something a bit nicer.
So, what is your budget then?
If you can drop $2K, there are some really nice TT's that may meet the 'audiophile' category.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Looking around the 500-600 range. This means buying used. I might step up a bit if a really good deal shows up.
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I love mine. Like the others have said, its very rugged, well built, and sounds great. Even though they keep going up, they are still a good value. Mine is no longer my main table, but I plan on keeping it forever. It was my first decent table and it will always have sentimental value to me.
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I have a 1200 Mk II and using the same cartridge my Rega Planar 3 sounds much better. The Technics is good but my Thorens and Rega tables sound better. Tighter bass wider soundstage, much quieter background.SDA-1C (full mods)
Carver TFM-55
NAD 1130 Pre-amp
Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
The Clamp
Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
Ben's IC's
Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM -
I have a 1200 Mk II and using the same cartridge my Rega Planar 3 sounds much better. The Technics is good but my Thorens and Rega tables sound better. Tighter bass wider soundstage, much quieter background.
I read similar opinions in a few other places. The Rega P3 with an RB300 arm is often favorably compared to the technics. -
Yup, that sums it up!Technics are hardly the "Emotiva" of TTs. lol
Unless you're a crazed vinyl-phile, the 1200 mkII should do you fine. There are "always" better, even better than any table mentioned above. So what?
Nice table, worth it, lots of tweaks, you'll be happy unless you decide that what you really have to have is a 10,000+ dollar table that has a 50 lbs platter! lol But then it's time for the "men in white" coats to come over and help you set that up?
cnhTwo Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2) -
Now if I can only get one of the fleabay sellers to accept a reasonable price.....:rolleyes:
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My Technics SL-1200 Mk II is for sale but I live in Canada and shipping would be outrageous.SDA-1C (full mods)
Carver TFM-55
NAD 1130 Pre-amp
Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
The Clamp
Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
Ben's IC's
Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM -
Yeah...shipping is often a killer in these transactions. In any case, pm me your price.
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Check local audio shops for trades. One of my local shops here in dallas had
Three different Rega models in on trade starting from a modest $300."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Thanks...unfortunately we have only one small audio store and the pickings are slim.
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"Audiophile quality" is a fleeting concept, meaning different things to different people. Make yourself happy.
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Ups1,
I owned the Technics SL-1200MK II for many years, I bought back in the mid 70’s and always enjoyed the sound of my lp’s with the Tech. In 2006 I finally decided to upgrade to the Music Hall MMF-5-SE. There was no comparison in sound quality, the is MMF-5 is much warmer/richer with tons more detail. You can pick up a very highly reviewed Pro-Ject Debut Carbon for under $400.00 and I can’t imagine that you would be disappointed.
Good luck,
O -
I don't mean to sound like a tool, but aren't the cartridge and needle the real "players" in any 500-1000 dollar TT including the Music Hall mentioned above? Just how can a TT shell sound "warmer" by itself (does the platter have a "warm filter", or does it "spin" more warmly, or is the tone arm really a magically weightless Hogwarts' wand)? Pray tell!
Please excuse the hyperbole above, but I've seen the "press" on some of these "newer" TTs and couldn't resist, my bad! I know its the motor, the teflon, the steel shaft, the single piece tone arm, the...the...the...copy Writer?
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
I hear very different things from different people. Some swear by the SL-1200 others laugh. The impression I am getting is that it is an decent entry level table with potential to be very good with tweaking (although many insist that the treble is a bit bright after the tweaks). I am going to hold off buying this unless I come across a really good deal.
By the way, as I go higher up the food chain the opinions are even more varied. The lower end Regas and Pro-jects get no respect whatsoever. I am usually advised to go with an older Thorens or save and buy a VPI or such. -
I hear very different things from different people. Some swear by the SL-1200 others laugh. The impression I am getting is that it is an decent entry level table with potential to be very good with tweaking (although many insist that the treble is a bit bright after the tweaks). I am going to hold off buying this unless I come across a really good deal.
By the way, as I go higher up the food chain the opinions are even more varied. The lower end Regas and Pro-jects get no respect whatsoever. I am usually advised to go with an older Thorens or save and buy a VPI or such.
I'm with you there. The High End Vinyl Jocks [HEV-Js] drive me batty. After all, you have to "start" somewhere?
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
Besides some of the other nice turntables already mentioned, dont forget the vintage Yamaha turntables like the Yamaha YP D8 and, even better, the Yamaha YP D10. They would definitely be within your budget and are great turntables.
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I hear very different things from different people. Some swear by the SL-1200 others laugh. The impression I am getting is that it is an decent entry level table with potential to be very good with tweaking (although many insist that the treble is a bit bright after the tweaks). I am going to hold off buying this unless I come across a really good deal.
By the way, as I go higher up the food chain the opinions are even more varied. The lower end Regas and Pro-jects get no respect whatsoever. I am usually advised to go with an older Thorens or save and buy a VPI or such.
I went from a vintage Thorens TD166MKII to a brand new Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. I like my Debut Carbon a lot more...
More detail and an overall better sound stage. Granted, the Thorens has a huge potential for upgrades, but I don't have the time or the money to sink into it at this point...
