The modded 1200 is not a starter TT--it's a high end deck.
Time to get things straight.
Every person that states the Technics 1200 is THE best TT in its price class risks himself to getting Flack from the belt drive crowd. I have posted that Thorstens speaks highly of it and here's some of his quotes as posted in the Asylum:
"And yes, the 1200 with a better arm is dynamite. Even stock with minimal tweaks it's an easy Rega P2/3 killer."
"So don't knock it if you don't know it. A Rega Planar is a cheap bearing and Motor stuck into a piece of MDF, the engineering content for all intents is ZERO. The only worthwhile thing on the Rega is the Arm."
*********
And from Steven Rochlin:
"Hmmmm... I DO AGREE that the 1200 does not have the overall "ultimate" PRAT of my VOYD setup (or a finely tweaked Linn LP12), though overall it really does have nice, smooth, consistant PRAT that blows away even the $20k+ Goldmund Reference and the like. Maybe the 1200 does not the worlds best PRAT, but DARN good. Over 10,000 dance clubs around the world prove it virtually every night."
"The Technics SL-1200 in its various offerings are EXCELLENT!!! Do not listen to those "belt drive only" folks. Wonder if they know that the highly praised Goldmund STUDIO turntable was direct drive? Anyway, the 1200 is probably THE BIG BARGAIN in turntable land. Great motor, good platter, built to take a lickin' and keep on tickin' (with apologies to Timex, whose watches ALWAYS broke after a month for me).
"Over the MANY years I have used more than i care to remember 1200 tables at MANY clubs. They ALL worked flawlessly and even after all the, er, um, abuse of back scratching and needle dropping and vinyl dropping they just kept going and going. IMHO there is pretty much nothing on the new market under $800 that comes near the 1200 in speed stability, drive, and overall PRAT (pace, rhythm and timing). Given the right needle i can only see great things UNTIL you get the upgrade itch and go for a used Linn LP12 or VOYD. Besides, what other "audiophile" table would you play Led Zeppelin backwards to hear all those Satanic messages? Oh how about ELO backwards to hear the secret message?"
****
Wake up, people!!!
So much for glass and particle board...
"And yes, the 1200 with a better arm is dynamite. Even stock with minimal tweaks it's an easy Rega P2/3 killer."
"So don't knock it if you don't know it. A Rega Planar is a cheap bearing and Motor stuck into a piece of MDF, the engineering content for all intents is ZERO. The only worthwhile thing on the Rega is the Arm."
*********
And from Steven Rochlin:
"Hmmmm... I DO AGREE that the 1200 does not have the overall "ultimate" PRAT of my VOYD setup (or a finely tweaked Linn LP12), though overall it really does have nice, smooth, consistant PRAT that blows away even the $20k+ Goldmund Reference and the like. Maybe the 1200 does not the worlds best PRAT, but DARN good. Over 10,000 dance clubs around the world prove it virtually every night."
"The Technics SL-1200 in its various offerings are EXCELLENT!!! Do not listen to those "belt drive only" folks. Wonder if they know that the highly praised Goldmund STUDIO turntable was direct drive? Anyway, the 1200 is probably THE BIG BARGAIN in turntable land. Great motor, good platter, built to take a lickin' and keep on tickin' (with apologies to Timex, whose watches ALWAYS broke after a month for me).
"Over the MANY years I have used more than i care to remember 1200 tables at MANY clubs. They ALL worked flawlessly and even after all the, er, um, abuse of back scratching and needle dropping and vinyl dropping they just kept going and going. IMHO there is pretty much nothing on the new market under $800 that comes near the 1200 in speed stability, drive, and overall PRAT (pace, rhythm and timing). Given the right needle i can only see great things UNTIL you get the upgrade itch and go for a used Linn LP12 or VOYD. Besides, what other "audiophile" table would you play Led Zeppelin backwards to hear all those Satanic messages? Oh how about ELO backwards to hear the secret message?"
****
Wake up, people!!!
So much for glass and particle board...
Showing 9 responses by psychicanimal
You upgraded to a Michell, Mara? Congratulations!!! Now you need to buid a base with suspension--should be a good project. BTW, I have nothing against JA Michell TTs...I *do* like them. Very solidly built--no glass or particle board... There's all these SP-10s for sale out there but the chipsets are no longer made by Technics. Once it malfunctions the TT is dead for good. The tonearm damper works wonders and the Bob Regal foot next to the tonearm gimbal improves clarity by a good measure. I have been experimenting with a rare non-resonant wood I brought from home but it warps severely. Used as a platform it greatly improved clarity but it lifted the entire TT up in the air!!! |
A fellow audiophile who is very knowledgeable--and a 1200 owner--e-mailed me once that trying to make people see this fact was like having a conversation with elderly people at an asylum. The lights are on but there's nobody home... Why someone like Thorsten would post that "A Rega Planar is a cheap bearing and Motor stuck into a piece of MDF, the engineering content for all intents is ZERO." ? Because it's *obvious*. Yet nobody has addressed here that the Rega's are indeed overpriced. That's the point--it's very simple and straightforward. Voodoo rules, and that's why this hobby is dying at a very fast pace. I was just having lunch this weekend with one of us and were talking about how this hobby is dying. Overpriced components get rave reviews and the mass just follows...there is a cult for "high end" which obliterates good, reasonably priced products--just look at the madness over cables. Twisted like this, stranded like that--when lots of pure, straight copper does the trick...just try some Tice interconnects and find out: simple design, straightforward construction--and he's calling it quits on cables. I am grateful my system is close to completion---that's why I don't post that much. I am learning from a select group of people who are *for* the music. I have an interesting observation: I brought two shelves made out of a rare non-resonant tropical wood. The wood was purchased and planed at an artisanal sawmill. I asked in several forums about using Bose 901's for home theater. "Coincidentally", the only two people that said it was a good move are the ones that I was having shelves made for... |
DJ Donovan's review of the fluid damper was really something. Now you can believe I can play the innermost grooves of a Streisand album w/ no breakup. It's all a matter of addressing a component's weaknesses. Hey, there's Origin Live mods for the Rega arms and as far as understand, it's the RB-250 the one that sounds better, isn't it? I will take the creature to Sean's place--how about that? |
David, you are absolutely right. Why do you think the Roni pulled out this inactive thread (13 months!) from the archives? He wants the argument to keep going on and on and on--and he's never heard a modded 1200! Get real, Roni. You're not rocking any more... Here's some interesting remarks posted by DJ Donovan on Zaikeman's review of the 1200's fluid tonearm damper. After reading them you'll reallize why I love that gadget so much! http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?raccs&1033259530&read&3&4& The fluid damper transforms the 1200 into a whole different beast--that's why I can hear the innermost grooves of a Barbara Streisand album w/out any breakup nor mistracking. Streisand's voice *is* an obstacle course! |
You can't use unshielded Grado cartridges on a Technics 1200. The issue here is that most people can't recognize quality and/or restrictions amongst components, like in the previous example. If asked to explain the reasons why they are pro or against this or that TT the majority won't be able to explain. Like Viridian said--they just parrot out TT choices. This subject is very important, because we cannot always A/B everything we want--and this is especially so with TT & cartridges. Right now the only two TTs that have upgrade paths are the 1200 and the VPI (is SOTA still around?). Dennis, interconnects and tonearm wire differences between the Teres and 1200 account for no small amount in their sonic differences. Also, as explained several times before, the tonearm fluid damper transforms the 1200 into a whole different beast. I bet you're not using any $25 interconnect between your Teres and phono stage. I haven't forgotten about your speaker wires--haven't ordered any yet... |
I originally started using a Gardo Blue since I had two housemates, one with little children visiting on weekends. I don't think it's a good idea to change the arm. If you already have the damper, then the power supply is the next major step. If you're in Norway it might be cheaper to get an industrial DC power supply new or from eBay. Marigo dots work wonderfully in my tonearm/cartridge. The important is to isolate the TT as best as you can. I use a Dennensen air suspension platform on mine. |