Cartridge for Technics SL-1200G or SL-1200GR

The 1600mk2 is a great turntable, and if you are considering moving to a SL-1200xxx you will need to get used to picking up the tonearm at the end of play. That was one of the reasons I wanted a SL-1700mk2, because I’m lazy :-)

You have almost the same turntable as I do. I have the SL-1700mk2 which is the same but only semi-automatic operation. I use an Audio-Technica VM540ML and love the clarity and depth of sound quality across the spectrum with great dynamic range.

The SL-1200G /GR are very nice turntables, but I feel they aren’t -that- much of a step up from the SL-1600mk2, which has basically the same tonearm and while it has plenty of mass, it could use more isolation, which has always been a weak spot with the old SL-1200mk2 / md3.

I have recently purchased a KAB Electro-Acoustics tonearm damper. While I’ve yet to install it, it is reputed to be one of the best enhancements to the SL-1200mk2 tonearm, which is fundamentally identical to your SL-1600mk2 tonearm.

My advice is to keep using your SL-1600mk2. It might just need a little TLC (clean/lube the spindle, rewire the tonearm with litz tonearm wire, treat it to a new mid/high compliance cartridge, new interconnects and maybe the KAB fluid damper).

Atmasphere said:
The plinth and platter of the SL1200G are much better damped (the SL1600 has no damping in the platter at all) and the plinth of the SL1200G is also more rigid. This makes for a more neutral 'table, and its also more speed stable. The better your system, the more you hear these differences, especially with the volume up.

The present turntable of the OP is a SL-1600mk2, which is greatly improved in the sense of isolation and damping over its precursor, the SL-1600. While the plinth has no damping material, it is isolated from the spring-suspended base of TNRC on which the platter spindle and tonearm are mounted. The plinth in this design has no bearing on the turntable’s isolation. The platter on the SL-1600mk2 is heavily damped underneath by rubber material that is bonded to it. Further, the SL-1600mk2 platter mat is 6mm thick, made from a very dense rubber compound. With a virtually identical tonearm to the SL-1200G, there are very few improvements to be found in the SL-1200G over the SL-1600mk2.

On the other hand, you would find the older SL-1200mk2 to be quite inferior to the SL-1600mk2 because it has no isolation of the plinth from the base, which is nestled in a rubber enclosure on rubber feet. 

@chakster , there are huge differences between SL-1600 and SL-1600mk2. SERVO vs Quartz locked PLL, damping, adjustability of tonearm height, etc.  Then you need to know that the SL-1200mk2 is a simplified version of the SL-1800mk2 variant, which was developed alongside the 1600mk2 / 1700mk2 / 1800mk2, but with a rubber base instead of spring suspension to stand up better to rough handling and being shipped. The downside to the rubber base is poor isolation from shock and vibrations.