Brand new Technics SL-1210GR platter wobble ... disappointed!

Not sure how a shipper can damage it, platter is separated from the turntable in the box, well protected in special foam blocks. There is a sticker on each platter that it was tested at the factory. 

Anyone opened the package before you get it? You did not damage spindle when you opened the box yourself?

Anyway, you have to return for full refund (or just get another sample with different serial number from the dealer).

Remove the platter and check the spindle, are you sure you have mounted the platter correctly? 

Ask your dealer to replace your turbtable under warranty. Get another sample from them. 

I don’t have GR, but owned 3 samples of the SP-20, one SP-10 mkII and still got a pair of upgraded SL1210mkII since 1995. The platter is spot on, never seen a problem like in your videos on any sample of my Technics turntables.

Dealers nowadays are know nothing amateurs.

Why not switch to a turntable from a specialist manufacturer. Project are well known, Rega less so.

The situation described in this post in unique while we have tons of post about many problems with cheap junk belt-dive like Rega and Pro-Ject every week.

Unless there will be clear evidence that it’s a factory defect we can even talk about it, because no one else have such problem with Technics platter.

watch this video:
Mastering the Craftsmanship — Making of New SL-1200

Chakster, Rega and pro-ject are not junk! I really wish you would stop!

You wish they are not, but they are junk (all entry models really are).

Just because you seemingly favor a direct drive, in particular "technics" (which by the way was developed for dj- ing) does not mean a belt drive is junk.

You know nothing about history of the brand and keep posting this BS, read wikipedia at least before you post something like that. I want to remind you that best Technics cartridges and Technics turntables are made for critical listening (and still desired by audiophiles). Only ONE particular model was adopted by DJs in the 70’s (mk2 version of the 1200 series), but originally NEVER made for DJs. All the DJing in the early disco era was on THORENS TD125 BELT DRIVE, google images from the Studio 54 (NYC world famous disco club), and try to find any Technics in the DJ booth. What you will see is Belt Drive Thorens, but no one today calling those Thorens a “DJ turntables” !? Technics DD motor was better and it was super powerful, there was a pitch control fader and this is the reason why it was quickly adopted by DJs and became a club standard since the 80’s! Another reason is durability, those decks can work forever 24/7.



BTW I want to tell you that DJs prior to 70’s are just people who put the record on the platter and push start button just like you at home with the only difference - they used a mic to say something between the tracks.



Broadcast standard for radio DJs in UK (for example) was GARRARD 301 !!! Would you call this idler drive a “DJ turntable” today? Probably not.... but look at this vintage broadcast dj setup with two Garrard 301!



The best Technics broadcast turntable was SP-10 mk2 (special version with preamp and rack) with professional version of EPA-100 tonearm. This DD drive and this tonearm are reference class audiophile gear today. In the 80’s Technics made SP-10 mk3 and EPA-100 mk 2 ... and you will hardly find anything better even if you will pay 10 times more.

You seem hell bent at every turn to call them junk. Some of the highest priced turntable in the world are of a belt driven design, not direct drive.

This world if full of people who know nothing about turntables and same king of dealers! I don’t care what is the most expensive, price is NOT a guide to the highest quality today.

Pro-ject in particular produces turntables any where from 299 to well over 6, 7, or 8 grand!

this is why it’s junk, because SP-10R cost only $8000 for the drive alone (and it’s coreless high-end DD), in Japan the price is a few grands lower!

All belt driven....my pro-ject the classic sb with hana el will give your technics a good run for the money.

I don’t use Technics turntables in my main system, my point is NOT to advocate what am I using myself. My point is to share truth and knowledge when I read some nonsense about Technics.



My turntables are Luxman PD-444 (two of them), Victor TT-101 and Denon DP-80. Those are some of the best vintage DDs you can get. Been using SP-10 mk2 for a long time, have nothing against it, just tired of it, if I will ever buy Technics again in must be SP-10 mk3 or new SP-10R.

So would my mmf-7.3 music hall. I’ve owned direct drives in the 80’s. One was a denon dp37f, little brother to the dp47f, as well as an older direct drive technics. Neither were as good as what I currently own.

You owned some mediocre stuff, and it’s very common mistake on audiogon when older people talking about something they never owned, comparing some mediocre direct drive cheapies from their past to reference direct drive turntables (old or new).

Heck, even my fully automatic Thorens td-240-2 belt drive with floating sub chassis and beautiful walnut wood bass is better than any dj looking technics.

If you like wood check this teak plinth for my ex SP-10 mkII with Reed 3p "12

You don’t like DJs - right?



But did you know that Thorens TD-125 was exactly what ALL NEW YORK DJs have been using at the disco booth?



Thorens is a “classic DJ looking turntable”, funny but it was you who lived in the 70’s and you don’t even know!?


Now for evidences Check this link, look at the images and make sure there are ONLY Thorest TD-125 at the DJ BOOTH, how do you like it @audioguy85 :))

You can buy SP-10 mkII, tonearm of your choice and a custom plinth, if will be much better than anything suggested here in this thread. This is my ex with Thomas Schick "12 inch tonearm. This is perfect and inexpensive tonearm for your cartridge.

Also, for $3000 you can find Luxman PD-444 (I use two of them in my system) and this is by far the best DD turntable for two tonearms, you can use just one if you want. Read more. 

If you want ONLY new then look for Denon 100th Anniversary model.

Everything is slowed down in covid, this is one of the reason why international distributors are out of stock.

In Japan you can buy all those new Technics.

Read about covid situation in Japan and think about international shipping, 90% of the flight do not exist anymore, seamail is the option, special cargo is the option, even JAPAN POST do not ship to USA anymore (temporary). This whole situation is something new and very strange. 

Defective unit from Technics is also very strange and unusual situation. 

  

Will the Technics retain the warmth of belt driven turntables?

You can’t hear a turntable, you hear a cartridge and phono stage.
Warmth of belt drive (or any other TT) is a myth!

Turntable rotate your vinyl, nothing else.
If you want warmth buy yourself some nice tube amp.

Michael Fremer in his review indicated that constant adjustment of speed gives it a sharp edge to the sound?

When you will be like Mr. Fremer you may be able to hear nuances nobody can hear.
Maybe you will need a few million dollars sound system for that.

Coreless DD motor ain’t cheap and no one can do that at the price Technics offered. This is a huge benefit, "best buy" option.

I always preferred SP-10 mkII, but most people on audiogon are beginners when it comes to turntables, and some of them don’t know how to set-up a tonearm or cartridge, so combine Drive + Plinth + Tonearm is much more complicated for them. They are all afraid of vintage turntables, so they have no choice.

New Technics are top quality turntables, G is a high-end unit and GR is not far, even MK 7 is much better than nearly all BD at this price ($1000).

SP-10R is the ultimate, if you want to talk about Technics please consider SP-10R and try to find any weakness of this taking in count its price.

If you can explain a "warmth" of a drive that rotate record then please write an article about it. I think it’s subjective and has nothing to do with facts. Everything else in analog chain can change the sound so much (much more), but not a TT drive (it’s the last thing ever).

Problem with relatively cheap BD turntables is their build quality, their tonearms (with no adjustment at all), their cheap motor, their belt, they are like toys for kids and those are the most popular today (rega, pro-ject, music hall - all that cheap crap).

Quality belt-drive is something like THIS

No one can explain this nonsense, buy they heard someone somewhere (probably reviewers pretending for absolute truth in their judgement, those who promote ugly looking $30k belt drive turntables). 

Great