How can technics justify $4000 for a new SL-1200 turntable?

Ever heard about Coreless DD motor? This is why it’s more expensive than any previous models in SL1200 series. But the table is completely redesigned (inside) and tonearm is also not the same. The whole Matsushita production line is new. From the old model there is only dust cover!

However, many different vintage DD turntables are cheaper than brand new Technics, and still available, those who prefer vintage (like myself) can buy vintage DDs.

I think SL1200 GAE or GR (for half price) is for those people who don’t want to mess around with tonearms, plinth, drives... installation, adjustments etc. For those people I don’t know better DD alternative that can compete with "made in Japan" quality is the legendary Technics SL1200 series of the brand new models like $4k G, $1700 GR, or even mk7 which is only $900 !

Because they think people like Chakster will pay that much for it.

So they are wrong, because this is my turntable and I paid less for it.

I bought my first Technics is 1995 and this is not my type of design today even if internally it’s completely new turntable, I have no interest in G, GAE, GR or MK7, because I have superior turntables with much better tonearms and they are all vintage top models (not from Technics), all are Direct Drive.  

I can accept as a gift SP10R.

Some audiophile discovered Technics only a few years ago because of the reviews from Mr. Fremer and related reviewers. There are so many people in this hobby brainwashed by superiority of belt drive turntables for decades, they have no clue what is a proper Direct Drive and what is Technics, except for the information that some models adopted by deejays since the early 80’s, those people have no idea why there is a pitch control on High-End turntables, they think picth is for DJing only, but it’s not true.

What is the propose of having a pitch control on a Audiophile turntable ? Please someone explain .

If you’re not a musician you may not understand and not even detect it, JVC / Victor engineers explained very well why there is 1Hz pitch control on Victor TT-101 (It was the best turntable from Victor and probably still one of the best direct drives even made):

“The pitch, ‘A’ is standardized at 440Hz according to international standards, and is the standard for all western musical instruments. In other words, the tuning of all instruments of the orchestra is based on this pitch. But in reality, the basic tuning pitch of each orchestra differs due to the instrumentation and individual characteristics of each orchestra, as well as the personality of the conductor. The diagram shows such differences by orchestra. Most of the pitches range within +/- 6Hz of 400Hz. To reproduce these subtly different pitches, a quality turntable with highly accurate rotation is required. Another important requirement is the possibility of minute speed adjustment. If the speed of a turntable could be adjusted to the individual pitch used by an orchestra while at the same time remaining controlled by a quartz-locked servo system, the benefits of flexibility and precision would be significant from a musicological viewpoint. For this reason the TT-101 is equipped with built-in speed-control facilities which can adjust the pitch in 1Hz steps within a range of +/- 6Hz or 440Hz. The difference of pitches between master tape recorders and disc record cutting machines has been intentionally ignored before but now the speed of a record can be adjusted to match the original pitch of the orchestra, even if the master was recorded differently from the original performance. For example, a performance of the NHK Symphony Orchestra on the record can be adjusted to match the pitch of the same performance on a record by the London Symphony Orchestra, for the enjoyment of critical comparison. The "A" key of a piano in your home is usually tuned to 440Hz. When you practice the piano while playing back a record, you can adjust the pitch of the record, to be in perfect tune with your piano.”