Upgrade from Technics 1200 MK2? $1-$1.5k budget

I can't say for sure because I don't have a test record with a torture track. However, I have an SL1210 M5G with KAB's fluid damper, and it can track hideously warped records that toss an undamped tonearm out of the groove.

About 3/4 of my records are used, from thrift shops, and there is nothing my fluid-damped SL1210 hasn't tracked.

I have been using an SL1210M5G for nearly 8 years now and have no plan of changing. I have applied some tweaks and enhancements that have made this a very reliable, consistent, and easy-to-use turntable. I have some questions about your setup:

1) What headshell are you using? One of the first things I upgraded was from the stock headshell to a Sumiko or LpGear ZuPreme headshell. The ZuPreme is now a lot less money than the Sumiko with a feature that I like. Either of these headshells has two locking pins (above and below) instead of one, and the cartridge mount is absolutely solid. They both have azimuth adjustment on the headshell, held in place by a very strong hex-head set screw.

2) I added the KAB tonearm fluid damper. Now there is nothing jittery or fidgety about the tonearm. It tracks well and even navigates hideously warped records without skipping.

3) The Technics Super Mat is a good way to quell the ringing of the platter; I lucked into an Oracle Groove Isolator sorbothane mat for $10, so that's what I use. However, I also found that the platter rang even less if I first placed the Technics felt slipmat on the platter and the rubber or sorbothane mat on top of that.

4) Get an inexpensive record grip such as the KAB or the Clearaudio Clever Clamp. Both are inexpensive and damp record resonances such that a light record such as an RCA Dynaflex has about the same tonal balance as a 180-200g deluxe pressing. My KAB record grip also seems to lower the noise that may be coming up the spindle shaft.

5) The stock feet on the Technics SL12x0 series look effective, but functionally they are not. Just about anything you can replace them with would be better. The easiest is to get four Vibrapod Cones and set the metal threaded inserts of the turntable onto the steel balls of the Vibrapod Cones. You can further drain the nosie by setting the cones on Vibrapod Model 2 Isolators.

These are all cheap fixes that cumulatively should quell the stock Technics' weaknesses while showcasing its strengths.

+ Headshell = ortofon. Does the Sumiko or LpGear ZuPreme lock into place well? In my setup, I can twist the ortofon even when it's screwed down. There is quite alot of excess tolerance around the pin / tone arm connection.

--The Sumiko and ZuPreme headshells have TWO locking pins, one above and one below. If you don't get a rock-solid connection with these headshells, then your locking collar needs tightening or fixing. Read Needle Doctor's customer reviews of the Sumiko headshell and you'll get an idea of what it brings to the party.

+ Fluid dampener - yes, this was one of the upgrades on the list. I was also going to rewire the tone arm. I hear it's a PITA, but well worth it.

--Yep. I never did the tonearm rewire because the M5G and GLD versions have OFC wiring in the tonearm. I admit that some high purity litz like KAB is selling would be even better, as would upmarket interconnects, but I'm getting very satisfying sound now so I'm leaving it as-is. I added the fluid damper and was very happy with the results once I got the fluid level sorted out. Hint: don't add too much. Fill the trough about 1/3 full. It also tracks like a mo-fo.

+ The 1/4 in. mat does a pretty good job. I can't really tell a difference between the 1/4" and 1/8" mat -- i've only been using the 1/4 mat for about a week.

--Try putting a felt mat under the rubber mat and you might herar more improvement. Also, I'm using sorbothane instead of rubber, which absorbes and dissipates vibration whereas rubber tends to bounce it back.

+ This is the record weight that I've been using: www.amazon
I've only had it for a couple weeks. Not sure it really does anything with my 180g records.

--Nice grip; nicer than mine. But the cool thing is how a clamp or grip makes thin records sound more like 180g records. Also, I notice a slight reduction in noise overall with the grip.

+Hmm. So the feet i haven't though much about. The stock feet allow for level adjustment which I need. johnnyb53 - how do you level your table with the vibrapod cones?

--The stock feet are TERRIBLE! I use 3x5 index cards to shim the feet until I get the TT level. If this bothers you cosmetically, then use a Vibrapod to trace appropriate-sized circles of card stock for shimming. They should barely be visible then. You could even blacken the edges with a Sharpie pen if desired.

Bflodave, I think that's good advice. At some point one has to decide how far to self-tweak vs. putting it in the hands of an expert. Technics SL12x0 owners are blessed with a knowledgeable, skilled source (KAB) that also has reasonable prices. I find his low friction hyper litz tonearm wire particularly intriguing.

Bear in mind that Kevin's skeptical of other headshells, but many Technics owners swear by the improvement wrought by the Sumiko/ZuPreme headshells.

Also, Kevin has a routine for bringing a turntable into absolute spec, including balancing the platter to closer tolerances and ensuring that the headshell mount is absolutely level.

The Isonoe footers may be the best available, but they're pricey, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Vibrapod Cones plus Isolators at $56 total were competitive. My Vibrapods are audibly better than the $85/ea. Navcom Silencers.