Apparently the only difference between the new SL1200G arm and the SP-10R is the length and resulting changes in geometry.
Upcoming Technics SP-10R (100th Anniversary Model)
Ok GAE owners, now you can sell your turntables, because upcoming Technics 100th Anniversary model will be a new version of the reference SP-10mk3 and they call it SP-10R. Finally!
http://www.technics.com/uk/about/press/releases/20170830-sp-10r/
"Berlin, Germany (30 August 2017) – Technics has today announced the launch of the Reference Class SP-10R, its most premium analogue, direct drive turntable to date, which is anticipated to hit the market in early summer 2018. The news comes as Technics unveils a prototype of the new, cutting-edge turntable with the world’s top-level* S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio and rotational stability for the first time at this year’s IFA."
"Reference Class Turntable Promising Outstanding Results
http://www.technics.com/uk/about/press/releases/20170830-sp-10r/
"Berlin, Germany (30 August 2017) – Technics has today announced the launch of the Reference Class SP-10R, its most premium analogue, direct drive turntable to date, which is anticipated to hit the market in early summer 2018. The news comes as Technics unveils a prototype of the new, cutting-edge turntable with the world’s top-level* S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio and rotational stability for the first time at this year’s IFA."
"Reference Class Turntable Promising Outstanding Results
The SP-10R features a brand new, coreless direct drive motor which, in addition to the two-sided rotor drive system that was used in the SL-1200G, boasts stator coils on both sides of the rotor, for a more powerful and accurate sound."
"The heavy platter features a three-layer structure consisting of brass, aluminum die-cast and deadening rubber, just like the platter of the SL-1200G. By optimising the natural frequency of each layer, external vibrations are thoroughly suppressed resulting in a beautifully clear and crisp audio experience."
"The SP-10R also features a new ultra-low-noise switching power supply, which, compared to a power supply unit using a transformer, is better at suppressing unwanted humming sounds and vibrations. The power supply unit is separate from the main turntable, preventing unwelcome noise from being transmitted to the turntable unit, for a sharper and clearer sound."
FIRST VIDEO with SP-10R:
P.S. Should we expect $15 000 or more ? And the new plinth comin soon?
Power supply looks funny, but the design of the drive is great, i think we should wait for the new version of the EPA-100 soon. Good news the GAE was not the last turntable !!!
Showing 9 responses by atmasphere
Sheesh Raul calm down. Sounds like you have not in fact compared these arms nor have all the facts. Just for an example, while the Triplanar does use carbon fiber in the arm wand, its actually a composite and is also internally damped. While jeweled bearings can be harder than metal, the problem you have then is that they don't survive over-tightening very well at all. The use of balls in the bearing increases sticktion. So the Technics bearings, while very good, are simply not **as** good. The arm bearings are the plane of the arm wand, rather than the LP. This causes increased variability of tracking pressure depending on warp and bass modulation. I think this is my major beef with the arm; I have LPs that I have recorded and I know how the bass is supposed to sound. I've yet to hear an arm with this bug that plays the bass right. While I think the Technics arms are very nice, I simply want to use one that is better and not have to pay for the arm I won't be using. I hope that's alright. |
@atmasphere have you tried the EPA-100 MK II ?No- but just by looking at it I can see an engineering bug. And I know that their bearings are not as hard as they could be, because the hardest bearings are available from only one source. Ralph, why not buy a SP10R motor unit, or were you hoping to buy the motor unit and new plinth but without a Technics arm?I'll design and build a plinth for the Technics if I have to, but would rather that the Technics engineers have done a job as well as they did on the SL1200G. I am indeed hoping that the SL1000R plinth is properly designed. The SP-10 was always tricky due to the plinth issue. |
So why that disappoint when vintage and today TT comes with its dedidacted tonearm: Rockport, Goldmund, Denon DP100, Kenwood, Yamaha, Sony, SME, VPI, Avid, Rega, Project, Clearaudio, and to many other to name it here. It’s the rule.No. I already know that Triplanar has better bearings in the arm, is more adjustable, has done more to reduce resonance and so on. I'm disappointed by a lot of turntables that come with their own arm. Why have to pay for it if you're not going to use it? I've worked with the SL-1200G arm and the EPA-100; the Triplanar is easily a better arm IMO. The SP10R, like its successors, is going to need a good plinth to really show off its strengths (and that BTW is one reason the new SL1200G works so well- its plinth is properly designed). A plinth for teh SP10R is not an easy thing to come up with- it will have to be engineered. Albert Porter had a good one but he tells me he doesn't think he can get them made anymore. So I was hoping that Technics had solved that issue with the SL1000G. I'll have to see one to know for sure, but if they have one will then have to sort out how to engineer removal of the stock arm and replacement with something that does not mess up the engineering of the 'table (I've already done this for the SL1200G). I don't want to use the auxiliary armboard. |
the tonearm suggests a reincarnation of the EPA100 or EPA250, two very very fine tonearms from the Technics past. Why is that so terrible? Worst case scenario for someone who MUST use a different tonearm is you buy the package and re-sell the tonearm. But also, you can buy the 10R alone, for HALF the cost of the 1000R, and mate it to whatever plinth and tonearm you like. I don't see a cause for disappointment.@lewm as you probably know, I want to put a Triplanar on the machine. But its more than that- I want to know that the plinth is rigidly coupled from the motor to the base of the arm (which is a prerequisite for the best turntables). I think they may have done that with the SL1000R but no way to know until you take it apart. I don't like the idea that I have to remove the arm and engineer something to mount a 12" Triplanar, but if that is what has to happen, I imagine I'll have to do it... |
Sorry its been a while since my first post here; I was in an accident and only now have had time to respond. The problem with the machine is that the plinth is so tiny that an arm cannot be mounted without some sort of external device. The photo that chakster put up is an excellent example, in it we see that the 'table is mounted in a base and the arm is mounted on that base as well, rather than the plinth of the 'table. This means that if there is any vibration, the difference between the plinth and where the arm is mounted will be interpreted as a coloration. Albert Porter and a few others recognized this problem and produced custom plinths to help control vibration between the base of the motor and the base of the tonearm. |
My hat is off to Technics for this! My only beef is that the new SP-10 has the same failings as all the earlier ones: the plinth is not set up right to accommodate a tone arm! So we're back to the same issue of having to build up an aftermarket product to fix this. Hopefully Technics will sort out that their market is not radio stations and they will offer an extended plinth. |