Technics 1200 GR buying advice

[slalomguy]

Hi all,

Just mulling over getting the above TT.

Reviews are awesome.

I'm not sure if I am taken by the Technics hype (justified I believe) and that someone whos not a DJ actually needs one ? 

Not many would need that well built sort of robustness that Technics provide.

I own a vintage Thorens belt drive so it would be nice to have a direct drive TT just because.

Are there better sounding  TTs out there for the same or less money that do a better job?

Regards,

John

 

[aussievintage]

  On 05/01/2021 at 7:44 AM, slalomguy said:

Hi all,

Just mulling over getting the above TT.

Reviews are awesome.

I'm not sure if I am taken by the Technics hype (justified I believe) and that someone whos not a DJ actually needs one ? 

Not many would need that well built sort of robustness that Technics provide.

I own a vintage Thorens belt drive so it would be nice to have a direct drive TT just because.

Are there better sounding  TTs out there for the same or less money that do a better job?

Regards,

John

 

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I like robustness.  I have an old Technics DD, and yes it is very solidly built.   My main tables are big old idlers, made for long hours use in radio stations etc, and they are even more robust, especially the Rek-o-kut. I tend to believe that translates into better performance when used for hifi.   

 

For comparison, I have own other vintage DD tables, and other  vintage belt drives.  I have spent some hours listening modern to Regas and Pro-jects elsewhere.

 

I would buy another big idler before I'd buy a new Technics.    

[cafe67]

You seem.to be talking yourself out of it? 

 

Yes they are well built, yes they maintain absolute speed stabity.

 

Yes they sound good just had a decent cartridge. 

 

Fot the money, i think they are a bargain thats hard to beat esprcially at the price and probably out last you. 

[Flurmanager]

Hey there, John -  I’ve been in precisely the same position as you around 10 years ago when I was 20. I’d always been exposed to the Technics 1200s through friends, acquaintances, etc. It seemed everyone had one around me. I thought they were very much the turntable to have. So on I went and sprung for one. Yes, the engineering is truly impeccable - robust, rugged and finely designed. Amazing direct drive performance eliminated any doubt whatsoever for need to nail correct speed. A very confident unit to enjoy using. Though where it counted I found the 1200s to be far from an audiophile quality of sound. Dark, lacking the clearest highs and very boomy lows (I used an array of cartridges such as the 2M Red and Orange, Audio Technicas and even a Denon MC cart which model I forget now..) Perfectly suited of course to DJs as it has been for over 40 years.

 

Because I can’t help myself and I love to modify pretty much anything, I took it on myself to replace entirely the original tonearm wire with some premium Cardas, pulled out the iron core trans and made an external psu as well as stabilised the whole unit on vibrapods. Well did this old Technics blow away the competition!! However it did take significant and careful effort getting there - not to mention the additional cost. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the massive sonic gain through my impetuousness, I did learn I could’ve got a really nice Linn or Rega for the same money.

 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, despite it not being a pillar of “audiophile” performance, with a little finagling and some thought they can literally be a force to be reckoned with. If you’re wanting more of a premium plug-and-play audiophile turntable, the large outlet for a new Technics may leave you a little underwhelmed for your dollar.

Edited January 5, 2021 by Flurmanager
Grammar correction

[slalomguy]

  On 05/01/2021 at 9:31 AM, cafe67 said:

You seem.to be talking yourself out of it? 

 

Yes they are well built, yes they maintain absolute speed stabity.

 

Yes they sound good just had a decent cartridge. 

 

Fot the money, i think they are a bargain thats hard to beat esprcially at the price and probably out last you. 

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youve worked me out cafe67

 

[slalomguy]

  On 05/01/2021 at 10:20 AM, Flurmanager said:

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, despite it not being a pillar of “audiophile” performance, with a little finagling and some thought they can literally be a force to be reckoned with. If you’re wanting more of a premium plug-and-play audiophile turntable, the large outlet for a new Technics may leave you a little underwhelmed for your dollar.

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Well compared to my old Thorens TT with a Ortofon Red I'm hoping for a very distinctive sonic improvement and would feel pretty disappointed if I spent the $ plus say say another $300 on a cartridge and couldn't hear too much difference.

 

[Flurmanager]

I think if they’ve improved the electrical design of the new Technics it could possibly be an improvement. I noticed they always had a terrible noise floor. Though as they’re going for something like nearly $3k, you’ll be able to get far easier sonic improvement with an Avid or Rega for your money - both manufactures are also hailed as mechanical engineering geniuses.

[cafe67]

  On 05/01/2021 at 11:03 AM, Flurmanager said:

I think if they’ve improved the electrical design of the new Technics it could possibly be an improvement. I noticed they always had a terrible noise floor. Though as they’re going for something like nearly $3k, you’ll be able to get far easier sonic improvement with an Avid or Rega for your money - both manufactures are also hailed as mechanical engineering geniuses.

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Having owned a rega planar 3 , rega p6, more recently a mofi ultradeck and a sl1210gr , i would say the build quality of the sl1210gr  is much better than the rega. As it the mofi deck. Also $3k is only going to get you the basic avid deck.  
 

perhaps The OP would be better off upgrading his cartridge ? 

[Flurmanager]

I agree - I think a really nice cartridge would do wonders. Along with a nice mat - those two elements I must admit had the biggest bearing in my experience for transforming any turntable.

[slalomguy]

Probably order an Ortofon 2M Blue to see if thats an upgrade