Upcoming Technics SP-10R (100th Anniversary Model)

This is a problem area. Plinth is essentially a vibration management system and that is "the" most important aspect of a TT (even more than absolute speed stability). The most widely used method to build a plinth is to stack layers of birch ply or variations around it. To me it is a very utilitarian way to handling an esoteric problem. A company like panasonic/technics are much more well equipped to measure vibrations and build a suitable body around the SP-10R to make it perform well. But they leave it to us !!

In that regards the SL-1200 GAE is much more complete.

Albert says that his Technics' sound is closest to master tape dubs played on his Studer A810 of any turntable he has ever heard. If he is right, and I assume he almost certainly is, who needs Walker, TechDas, TW, Brinkmann etc ? It is also much less expensive.

Which Technics model ?

Thats a very expensive TT. Lets hope the upcoming SP10-R does it for a lower cost.

In my guess SP10-R would be within $10k

Considering that they have already figured out the design for the GAE and sp10-R and both of them would share a lot, a big company like Technics would like to play the game of volumes rather than selling few TTs in a year. At $15k and above they will only be targeting less than 5% of the audiophiles. That I dont think they would want to do.

They will price it $15k only if they want to make it a limited edition like the GAE. 

So, I still stand with under $10k figure for the SP10-r

@audiofun, I too share your concern about SMPS in audio. I have sent my 1200G to time-step audio to get their linear PSU fitted.

Regarding the Berning PSU, I have had few conversations with Berning about it since I have been considering his amp too. My only reservation was the HF noise related to the SMPS he uses. As a gentleman, he clearly said that all PSUs have their compromises. Where SMPS has HF noise, a linear PSU is a lot heavier to build and also needs to be isolated from the rest of the amplification circuitry to prevent interference and thats why needs to be in a separate box for the best implementation. He has done that all and doesn't feel it is worth the effort. But he does say that SMPS has that HF hash which may be minimised but still there. His earlier ZOTL designs had a transformer at the output which filters out all the noise upto 250khz. Now he uses a transformer which filters out noise upto 500khz. So this noise issue it real and there. It may not bother everyone as not everyone is equally sensitive to HF noise. With an SMPS based equipment the location also matters a lot because SMPS is supposedly very sensitive to RFI/EMI. RFI and EMI also contributes to the electronic hash in the sound. All said and done I am not yet convinced that SMPS is a musical compromise :-).

BTW, I did guess that SP-10r would be priced within $10k (for the motor only as there was no mention of the plinth at that time) :-D

There are now videos on youtube playing music on SP-10r

And last year, Pani thought that the Audio Teknika ART9 was the greatest cartridge ever. (My deliberate exaggeration of his opinion.) This year he is on to something else and has sold the ART9 He is only human like you and I. Why hinge your thinking on his opinion?  I don’t care how tweaked would be an SL 1210, the SL1200 G and the other new versions of the SL 1200 really have almost nothing in common structurally with the old line. Everything about the new series of SL 1200s is superior to the old. The only thing similar is the physical appearance from external view. From the get-go the SL 1210 motor, platter, and bearing just cannot compete with the motor, platter,  and bearing of the new series.

I agree on the human part. I did hear some better carts and hence moved on from ART9. Between the 1200G and Sp10 Mk2, I have again "heard" them performing in my room for weeks before I said one was better than the other. In fact the Sp10 Mk2 sounded better quite instantly but I took some time to really solidify my observation and write it down here. Theoretically one can say 1200G is superior but in practice I did not find it better. It sounded smaller more compressed and less fluid overall compared to a Sp10 Mk2. 

BTW, this is not just my observation. I know few other analog enthusiasts and also some Technics dealers who have reported the same after comparing the Mk2 and 1200G. The main point in favour of Sp10 mk2 is a higher drive and momentum in music. But then 1200G is a complete TT whereas Mk2 needs to be put together with a good plinth, isolation and all which goes in favour of 1200G. But not sonically.

Let me go one step further and say this. Some of these guys have compared the Sp10 Mk3 and Sp10-R. Every one of them preferred the Sp10 Mk3. Again same observation, Mk3 has much more drive and pace while 10-R is more audiophile kinds, sophisticated and nice types.

I wont mention the sources or names but I can tell you that those guys who have reported these comparisons are also on this forum and possibly reading these posts too. But they do not want to be named for obvious reasons. 

BTW, modded 1200 and 1200G should be a no brainer, 1200G any day.

@downunder selling your Mk3 could be an option if you find a better sounding TT. No other reason I guess. Listen to a Sp10-R and take your pick.

Because they have commercial interest in Technics or they have friends who have commercial interest in Technics current TTs. Nothing else. You dont expect industry insiders to speak such truths in general.

Interesting one JP. 
Yet another nod in favour of Mk3 :-)