@ mijostyn, I’m only guessing that Technics uses only billet high grade aluminum for the tables? Heck, my use to be daily driver is the ’lowly’ 1980 Technic SL-D2 and I love this thing! Reliable as all get out and every now and again all I have to do is drop some clipper oil down the shaft, that’s it. Not only is it perfectly flat but is a perfect circle also. I'm with lewn too. You maybe able to get an uber inspected/gone through table, at a discount - for all your trouble. Doesn't hurt to ask. |
Why not switch to a turntable from a specialist manufacturer. Project are well known, Rega less so.
I don't think Rega is less well known than ANY turntable manufacturer out there. They are the Vandersteen of the analog world. Oz |
Can you get a refund? $1,700 is a lot of money.
Why not switch to a turntable from a specialist manufacturer. Project are well known, Rega less so.
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I returned an SL-1200G with a platter wobble. My SL1200MkII wobbled considerably less. |
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The wobble is due to the machining on the side of the platter but the speed is consistent it may be within tolerance but it does not look good or right quality control issue i am sure.
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Mijo, Sorry to pick on you. But your (belt-drive, suspended) bias was showing. Do you suppose that stuff like this never happens with your favored brand? Probably it does not, I would guess, because they sell way fewer turntables compared to Technics, and they may be able to assemble and run every unit before it leaves California. So QC is much easier for them. Still, none of us, not even the OP, knows the prior history of the unit he received, and given the absence of any similar reports, at least that I have ever seen, on internet fora, I think you should be fair and give Technics the benefit of the doubt. (Now even I am being a bit unfair to Technics; we really don't know what happened with this particular unit, whether it left the factory with this defect or not.)
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@lewm, You are probably right about the Crutchfield representative and that platter sneaking by QC. But, it did get by and I would bet there are plenty of warped platters out there that the consumer is not noticing because they are not that critical. Did I tell the OP not to get another one? Did I tell him to get a different turntable? I am not trying to scare anyone.
@tyray, A heavy thick casting is not problem but a light thin one can be.
Also, castings can be unpredictable. I would bet that under normal circumstances quite a few platters do not make it by QC. Forged aluminum is more predictable than cast aluminum but too expensive for a low budget one. |
The Crutchfield representative you spoke to is merely making excuses for his company as opposed to Technics. Yes, this is probably a factory defect that escaped quality control, but no, it has to be extremely uncommon. The Technics 1200 G series is one of the most talked about and discussed turntable lines currently available from a commercial source. I am sure that tens of thousands of the various models have been sold to the public by this time. All you have to do is look on this or any other audio forum for evidence to support their popularity. Nowhere, anywhere else have I read that there was a problem with platter wobble. You just got a bad example, and you did right to return it. Don’t let mijostyn frighten you from the idea of buying another one, when one is available.. |
I had never heard of the platter wobble in the SL1210GR before. This is a new one on me. |
@stereo5 Crutchfield's return policies are pretty good. I sent it back for a refund. This table is out of stock almost everywhere and whenever it is in stock it does not stay that way for long. However, I am very hesitant to try it out again to see the same problem show up. Mine cannot be the only wobbly platter out of the factory. |
My SL1200G has absolutely zero wobble. Send it back and buy one elsewhere. |
@ mijostyn, Like I said poor quality control. It is difficult with a thin aluminum casting to keep it flat. When it is machined it heats up expands then cools contracts and deforms. I guess some people are lucky and get a flat one. I believe you are right about poor QC. But even in the old analog only days, this aluminum metallurgy technology has been around for decades. The master lathe craftsmen would have never let that platter leave the shop. They have been crafting high quality high tolerance aluminum parts well before NASA in the 60’s! This is what happens when trying to save money from doing everything in house you outsource all you can to the lowest bidder. Bummer. I’m glad I still have my minty Pioneer PL-630 table, and won’t be selling it. Thanks OP. |
+ 1 @dekay,
Sounds like a lazy customer support person, complete made up BS. Not only should you go as high as you can in the crutchfield command/customer support structure, I think you should document and carbon copy everything to Technics AND Panasonic as well. Every company worth its salt has a good
complaint department. Sounds as if crutchfield just wants you to go away... I just can't believe in 21' that in the metal lathe platter cutting department, Japanese cutting specs/tolerances to be so far off with digital/microscopic technology? |
Like I said poor quality control. It is difficult with a thin aluminum casting to keep it flat. When it is machined it heats up expands then cools contracts and deforms. I guess some people are lucky and get a flat one.
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Just unacceptable. What happened to quality control. Get rid of tt and buy a vpi. |
I have had this table for a few months now with no issues. That definitely isn't right. |
Wow!!!
"The crutchfield resident tt expert I talked to said this amount of wobble is "normal" with these tables. Which means if I exchange it, there is no guarantee of receiving a table with no visible wobble. Or if I send it to the factory, they will send it back saying this is within normal tolerances. He said most do not complain."
Technics really needs to know about this "response" from "their" dealer.
Based upon that response I would not touch any of their current decks with a 10 foot arm.
DeKay
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It is broken. Shot, Kaput |
I would not find that amount of wobble to be acceptable on even a used plasticy 40 year old $50 turntable.
In my mind there is no way that technics/panasonic would find it to be acceptable, either.
I just don’t see it.
I’ve probably handled and worked on nearly a thousand turntables.* And I’ve never seen a panasonic product with that much wobble/warp.
*(I consider myself to be totally 'out' of analog, as I'm down to around 15 turntables. :P )
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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. |
@chakster and others,
I returned it because it is out of stock with no date when it will be in stock again. This table is always out of stock.
The crutchfield resident tt expert I talked to said this amount of wobble is "normal" with these tables. Which means if I exchange it, there is no guarantee of receiving a table with no visible wobble. Or if I send it to the factory, they will send it back saying this is within normal tolerances. He said most do not complain.
So I know most of us think it should have no visible wobble, but many do. Unless some SL-1200/1210GR owners can tell me they have a table with no visible wobble. |
The deformation is also in two spots, not one, so it's impossible for it to be a side impact, as that would be one wobble for the spindle, not two unequal length ones per single rotation.
So it appears to be a platter wobble.
the way to check that is to lift the patter and turn the spindle a third of a rotation or half a rotation and then drop the platter back down onto it again, with the platter having done no rotations at all.
and check the wobble again to see if it changes it's character.
Wait... there IS a way to have two wobbles per rotation, now that I think about it.
Where the spindle is bent and the spindle hole on the platter is stretched and/or the platter body itself is bent. That would be two separate wobbles if not aligned or one big one, if they are lined up. A single sharp hard impact would create the single big one that could be moved about to be two smaller wobbles. |
mijostyn... Just poor quality control. Yup, it should never have left the factory. They should be grateful for the OP to return it.
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Just happens, many reasons, though platter has strengthening ribs somehow a good amount of force deformed it.
Under warranty, ask for replacement.
G |
So much for a quality product. The box would have to have significant visible damage for shipping to have done that. Just poor quality control. |
Bad casting. Send it back ASAP. That is bad enough that if you play a test tone you will hear it wow. |
Not the first time I see that |
I agree, that does not look right. needs to be replaced. |
Ask your dealer to replace your turbtable under warranty. Get another sample from them. |
Crutch Field prides themselves in satisfied customers. Call 'em.
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@chakster , no this was NIB. Bought from Crutchfield. There is no way to damage the spindle when opening the box. Also I was careful to lower the platter on the spindle. |
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).
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Thanks for confirming. I did not think that was normal for a player of this class. I did try to reseat the platter several times each time rotating a bit. The spindle seems to be fine through naked eye.
With sadness, I am going to have to return. These units are hard to come by and out of stock so I am not going to be able to ask for replacement right away.
Thanks nonetheless. |
That turntable is damaged, probably in shipment. You should have zero visible platter wobble in any new turntable, let alone a quality product like that.
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As he already tried 3 times to seat the platter-----send it back for refund or replacement. Totally unacceptable. Let us know how it turns out. |
Remove the platter and check the spindle, are you sure you have mounted the platter correctly? |
That's not right, send it back. |
