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Project Debut III or Technics 1200 MK5?

Hey,

About to get my first TT in a long time and am on a tight budget. I have narrowed it down to a brand new Project Debut or a used, though not very muchl, in great condition, Technics 1200 MK5 for a similar price. What would people recommend? I seem to be reading conflicting things. Some people say go for the Project Debut as the it will sound better as the Tecknics is a 'DJ' turntable and not a 'audiophile' turntable. Others say the opposite and say a good Technics 1200 outperforms pretty much any entry level audiophile turntable. The other issue I guess in one is brand new and the other is used.

I'm leaning towards the Technics, I've used them before and like their robustness and the fact you can change speed at a touch of a button
hearing_aid
lindisfarne
511 posts
 
With respect to the 1200 idea-it's cool, easy to use, speeds change at touch of button and arm height adjustments are readily doable...... BUT it just sounds a little clinical to me. Get a Rega 3.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
12-29-09: Lindisfarne
With respect to the 1200 idea-it's cool, easy to use, speeds change at touch of button and arm height adjustments are readily doable...... BUT it just sounds a little clinical to me. Get a Rega 3.
A Rega P3/24 is 2 or 3 times the price of a Debut III. And a bone stock SL1200 handily outperforms a Debut III in several ways.

As for that "clinical" sound of the SL12x0 family? It's easily tamed with better feet, better mat, the fluid damper, and/or a tonearm wrap. I'd start with the tonearm wrap--removes the upper midrange glare so wrongly attributed to direct drive or the speed correction mechanism.
hearing_aid OP
1 posts
 
Yeah, I would like a Rega P3 but even second hand they seem to be out of my price range at the moment. The reason Its between the Debut III and Technics MK5 is because a shop is doing £45 of the Debut 3 and have been offered an Technics 1200 MK5 at a similar price (slightly) cheaper then the Debut III. Most people seem to be saying the Technics outperforms the Debut III and with some upgrade in the future I can make even better so think I will go for that.
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Hearing aid, you are correct.
ekobesky
259 posts
 
The Technics is a better table stock, and it has an upgrade path that the Pro-Ject simply does not. As time and budget allows, you can experience dramatic improvements by doing the following:

1. Add a Herbie's Way mat. Makes a very noticeable difference. Around $70.

2. Substitute a Sumiko HS-12 headshell for the stock shell. About $50. Adds mass to the arm, gives you a more stable and adjustable mount for high-quality cartridges.

3. Add the KAB Fluid Damper. Around $100, I think. Or perhaps change out the arm entirely for a Rega, Jelco or...SME 309!!!

4. Swap the feet or put it on an isolation platform.

5. Rewire the stock arm, if you decide to keep it, and it is good enough.

My SL-1200 makes music. It has the Herbie's Way mat, Sumiko headshell, AT disc stabilizer, KAB fluid damper and a Denon DL-103 cartridge.

I highly recommend the Denon DL-103 cartridge if your phono stage can handle it, but if not, get a Denon DL-110 or DL-160. Over the years, I've found those to be the best bang for the buck in terms of performance and synergy.

Good luck!
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