Technic turntables: Guide To Technics 1200 Turntables — TurntableLab.com

Guide To Technics 1200 Turntables — TurntableLab.com

Are Technics 1200 Turntables discountinued?

Yes. Panasonic, Technics’ parent company, stopped production of the Technics 1200 Turntable in 2010.

Are Technics 1200 Turntables still available? Why are they so expensive?

Yes. There is some stock from the original production run still available (deadstock). However, they are highly in demand and hard to come by, therefore, they are very expensive from the distributor. Click here to view Turntable Lab’s selection of Technics 1200 turntables.

Will Technics ever produce Technics 1200 Turntables again?

We do not know.

Why are Technics 1200 Turntables better than other turntables?

No other turntable has defined DJing like the Technics 1200. It’s design, performance, and durability are legendary. Here are some of its specific strengths:

iconic design, beautiful look

high quality construction, most parts are made of metal

high torque, direct drive motor (magnetically driven)

responsive pitch control

durability: built to last with little maintenance

high re-sale value

no real comparable DJ turntable

Why do most professional DJs still use Technics 1200 turntables?

In addition to having a pair of Technics 1200s at home, many professional DJs use Technics in the club or on the road. 1200s are familiar and reliable. Even with the advent of CDJs and digital DJing, most clubs have a set of Technics 1200s in their DJ booth. In terms of performance, the feel and drive of the 1200 platter can not be replicated by a controller. The response of the pitch control is excellent for beatmatching and the strong torque motor allows for accurate scratching and mixing.

Plus, the design is awe-inspiring like a great piece of art. Over the course of your DJ career, you may own several controllers or mixers, but it’s a high possibility that you’ll have the same pair of Technics.

Can I still get Technics 1200 Turntable replacement parts?

Yes. Turntable Lab stocks most available Technics replacement parts. Click here to view Turntable Lab’s selection of Technics replacement parts.

What are the differences of the Technics 1200 Turntable models?

Starting with the base Technics SL-1200MK2 (there was a SL-1200, but for DJ purposes, the MK2 is the unofficial start), here are subsequent popular models and their variations:

SL-1200MK2(silver) / SL-1210MK2 (black)

SL-1200M3D (silver) / SL-1200M3D (black) – subtracted dust cover hinges, added non-clicking pitch control (no click when you set pitch control to 0), added pitch control reset button (overrides pitch control to go to 0), redesigned sunken power on/off (to prevent accidental power off), added shadow-design slimpmat

SL-1200MK5 / SL-1210MK5 – added additional adjustment controls to tonearm, re-designed LED target light

SL-1210M5G – added glossy speckled black finish, increased pitch control range to +/-16% (vs. 8%), switched to digital pitch control, changed to blue lights, improved tonearm

I can’t afford a Technics 1200, but I want to DJ using a turntable. Any recommendations?

Recently, Turntable Lab has been recommending Audio-Technica’s AT-LP1240-USB DJ Turntable. It still no 1200, but has the functions and performance you need at a more affordable price. You can view our complete selection of DJ turntables here.

What are “gray market / dual voltage” Technics 1200 Turntables?

When Technics were in production, there were two model-types for international customers and US customers. The international model became known as “gray market” because they were less expensive and did not carry the same warranty for US customers (both are no longer applicable ). The international model featured a 220v-style power plug (usually with the US adapter included) and a voltage control switch underneath the platter that switches between 110v and 220v. The international model can still be used in the US with no difference in performance. In the market today, you’ll find many international models. Don’t let this worry you, the models are basically the same and function identically.

What’s the proper setup settings for the Technics 1200 Turntable?

Everyone seems to have a different answer for this. DJs always have their own personal settings for tonearm height, tonearm weight, and anti-skating. And those settings will always be different than your audiophile listener. We recommend doing some research based on your need, and tweaking them to best suit your needs.

If you want to get technical with your setup, we recommend Mobile Fidelity’s Geo-Disc Phono Cartridge Alignment Mat and Shure’Stylus Force Gauge.

For a basic unboxing setup overview, check our Technics 1200 Setup video:

Want to read more? Check out our “My First 1200” Series on the Turntable Lab Blog where DJs share stories about their first Technics turntables.

Technics Turntables | Guitar Center

Save on orders $299+. Chat or call 866‑388‑4445 to get this deal, now thru July 5

{ “pageType” : “category_page”, “placements” : “3”, “placementNames” : “rr1,rr2,rr3” }

false

Matches

Filter

Sort by:
Best MatchTop SellersCustomer RatingsPrice – High to LowPrice – Low to HighNewest FirstBrand Name A-Z

Display:

Results & Compare List:

Top-Seller

{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL-1200MK7-Direct-Drive-Professional-DJ-Turntable/L47964000000000”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL-1200MK7 Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Technics SL-1200MK7 Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable

Your Price $1,099.95

or $23/month‡
with
48 month financing*. Limited Time. Special Financing Offers (Open in new window)

4.5 of 5 stars (10) Reviews

Compare
Compare Now
site515000000002548491500000264679
Top-Seller

{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL-1200MK7S-Direct-Drive-Professional-DJ-Turntable/L95006000000000”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL-1200MK7S Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Technics SL-1200MK7S Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable

Your Price $1,099.95

or $23/month‡
with
48 month financing*. Limited Time. Special Financing Offers (Open in new window)

0 Reviews

Compare
Compare Now
site515000000003444141500000375882
Top-Seller

{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “Grand-Class-SL-1210GR-Professional-Direct-Drive-DJ-Turntable/K46548000000000”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics Grand Class SL-1210GR Professional Direct Drive DJ Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Technics Grand Class SL-1210GR Professional Direct Drive DJ Turntable

Your Price $1,799. 95

or $38/month‡
with
48 month financing*. Limited Time. Special Financing Offers (Open in new window)

4.5 of 5 stars (4) Reviews

Compare
Compare Now
site515000000001361481500000147000
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL-1500C-Turntable/000000118861884”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL-1500C Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL-1500C Turntable

Your Price $1,299.99

Excellent Condition

810
Manhattan, NY

Compare
Compare Now
site5118861884118861884
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL-1500C-Turntable/000000118861885”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL-1500C Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL-1500C Turntable

Your Price $1,299. 99

Excellent Condition

810
Manhattan, NY

Compare
Compare Now
site5118861885118861885
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200M3D-Turntable/000000119048974”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200M3D Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200M3D Turntable

Your Price $494.99

Great Condition

222
San Jose, CA

Compare
Compare Now
site5119048974119048974
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200M3D-Turntable/000000119048975”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200M3D Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200M3D Turntable

Your Price $494.99

Great Condition

222
San Jose, CA

Compare
Compare Now
site5119048975119048975
Price Drop

{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “Sl1200GLD-Turntable/000000118382095”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics Sl1200GLD Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics Sl1200GLD Turntable

Your Price $2,999.99
Was:
Was Price $3,599.99

Great Condition

618
Dayton, OH

Compare
Compare Now
site5118382095118382095
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200MK2-Turntable/000000119074496”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200MK2 Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200MK2 Turntable

Your Price $434.99

Good Condition

829
Ocean, NJ

Compare
Compare Now
site5119074496119074496
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200M3D-Turntable/000000119074497”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200M3D Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200M3D Turntable

Your Price $449.99

Good Condition

829
Ocean, NJ

Compare
Compare Now
site5119074497119074497
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1210MK2-Turntable/000000118957646”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1210MK2 Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1210MK2 Turntable

Your Price $469.99

Good Condition

233
Southcenter, WA

Compare
Compare Now
site5118957646118957646
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200MK2-Turntable/000000118961368”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200MK2 Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200MK2 Turntable

Your Price $434. 99

Good Condition

361
Naperville, IL

Compare
Compare Now
site5118961368118961368
{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1210M5G-Turntable/000000118144130”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1210M5G Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1210M5G Turntable

Your Price $1,199.99

Good Condition

761
Atlanta, GA

Compare
Compare Now
site5118144130118144130
Price Drop

{ “inCheckoutPromo”:[] , “thumbImageID”: “SL1200MK3-Turntable/000000117048522”, “defaultDisplayName”: “Technics SL1200MK3 Turntable”, “styleThumbWidth”: “60”, “styleThumbHeight”: “60”, “styleOptions”: [ ] }

Used Technics SL1200MK3 Turntable

Your Price $349.99
Was:
Was Price $419. 99

Fair Condition

337
Highland Park, IL

Compare
Compare Now
site5117048522117048522

Was:

false

See all 14 Technics DJ Gear

{“loop”:false,”lazyLoad”:true,”jqueryLazyLoad”:true,”rewind”:false,”slideBy”:”page”,”dots”:true,”responsiveBaseElement”:”#category_page_rr1″,”responsive”:{“0”:{“items”:2},”568″:{“items”:3},”768″:{“items”:4},”900″:{“items”:5},”1158″:{“items”:6},”1340″:{“items”:7},”1500″:{“items”:8}},”nav”:true,”itemElement”:”li”,”stageElement”:”ul”}

{“loop”:false,”lazyLoad”:true,”jqueryLazyLoad”:true,”rewind”:false,”slideBy”:”page”,”dots”:true,”responsiveBaseElement”:”#category_page_rr2″,”responsive”:{“0”:{“items”:2},”568″:{“items”:3},”768″:{“items”:4},”900″:{“items”:5},”1158″:{“items”:6},”1340″:{“items”:7},”1500″:{“items”:8}},”nav”:true,”itemElement”:”li”,”stageElement”:”ul”}

{“loop”:false,”lazyLoad”:true,”jqueryLazyLoad”:true,”rewind”:false,”slideBy”:”page”,”dots”:true,”responsiveBaseElement”:”#category_page_rr3″,”responsive”:{“0”:{“items”:2},”568″:{“items”:3},”768″:{“items”:4},”900″:{“items”:5},”1158″:{“items”:6},”1340″:{“items”:7},”1500″:{“items”:8}},”nav”:true,”itemElement”:”li”,”stageElement”:”ul”}

You are changing the Ship-To country.

Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturer
restrictions. If you change the Ship-To country, some or
all of the items in your cart may not ship to the
new destination.

Cancel

Turntables

Main page
Stereo system
Turntables

Digital sound sources

CD player
SACD player
CD transport
Processors (DAC-DAC)
How do I select a digital source?
What to pay attention to when listening?
S/PDIF digital interface and how it works

Turntables

Drives
Tonearms
Cartridges
How to choose an LP player?
What to look for when listening?
Player setup

Everything about vinyl

Digital sound sources

Turntables logical information imprinted on vinyl discs into an electrical signal, which is then amplified by the rest audio system components.

Long-playing record (LP) turntables are a combination of drive mechanism, arm and cartridge. The driving mechanism rotates the disk, the tonearm supports the pickup in a certain way, and the latter converts the curves of the groove into an electrical signal. Each of these elements, as well as the nature of their interaction, play a very significant role in achieving a good sounding speaker system. The need to choose between vinyl and compact arises from the fact that even today the most advanced digital audio systems have not yet come close to the sound quality provided by good turntables. If we compare the best samples of the equipment of each of the systems, then there is no doubt that the recording systems are musically superior to digital systems.

Of course, the current state of affairs, when an archaic storage medium of almost a century ago surpasses modern digital technologies in sound quality, is temporary. Digital sound engineering is moving towards perfection by leaps and bounds and the time is not far off when digital technologies will finally justify the hopes that are placed on them and put an end to the rivalry between analog and digital systems.

Drives Drives consist of a base, disc, disc bearing, top plate, motor and often a sub-chassis. The base is the main structural element. All other nodes and elements are installed on it. A massive disk is designed to accommodate a record with a record on it. It is mounted on the bearing assembly. The top panel is the top of the player, located directly below the disc. Through the intermediate rollers or the belt, the rotation from the electric motor is transmitted to the disc. In some cases, a subchassis is suspended from the base, on which the disk and tonearm are mounted, mounted on the tonearm support. Many players do not have a base or top panel.

Consider the role each of these elements play in the design of a modern turntable:

Base and top plate

The base and top plate of a turntable are essential to achieving high sound quality. The base must be rigid, vibration-resistant, since it is on it that all other components and structural elements of the player are mounted. If the base is made too light or thin, it will vibrate, and with it the top panel and tonearm, resulting in poor sound.

Disc and bearing assembly

The disc not only serves as a support for the record, it also performs two more important roles: a flywheel that makes rotation smoother, and a kind of “sewer drain” into which all the record’s own vibrations are diverted. Many discs are made quite heavy (up to 13.5 kg), with most of the mass concentrated closer to the edges of the disc to increase the moment of inertia. At the same time, the large mass of the disk increases the friction forces in the bearing. However, their irregular (non-linear) nature can lead to rapid changes in the speed of rotation of the disk, which, in turn, leads to frequency modulation of the reproduced sound signal. The use of massive disks ultimately still significantly reduces the audible effect of friction forces in the bearing.

Many discs are made from solid materials such as acrylic, stamped metal (lower models), cast and then machined aluminum (higher models), or even more exotic materials such as ceramic compound. Sometimes the disk is made with an annular recess located closer to the edge, which is filled with heavy metal to increase the mass of the disk or a special vibration damping material to make the disk more inertial and resistant to vibration.

Disc mats, record clamps and vacuum clamp systems

Disc mats are designed to absorb residual vibrations of the record. Some soft mat makers insist that felt mats are the best at dissipating vibrations from the record. Other experts argue that the harder the pad material, the better the contact between the record and the disc. In the end, many manufacturers simply stop paying attention to these disputes and make coatings from any suitable material, believing that the design of their discs is carefully designed and isolates well enough from any vibrations.

Clamps keep the record in contact with the disc, eliminating its free vibrations. The disc acts as a “sewer pipe” to remove vibrations. Due to the tighter contact between the record and the disc, the clamps improve the sound quality.

There are three basic clamp options. First, it may simply be a heavy weight placed on top of the spindle. The record is sandwiched between a heavy clamp and the disc. In other designs, a threaded clamp is used, which, when tightened, also secures the record. The third type of device uses “reflex” clamps, in which the locking mechanism presses on the clamp, fixing the records on the disc. Which of these options to choose is best left to your own judgment based on listening, manufacturers’ recommendations, or advice from your local dealer. It should be remembered that some too heavy holders can cause excessive tension in the spring hangers. True, some holders in high-end class devices must certainly be in order to ensure the best sound quality.

Another mechanism used to achieve tight contact between disc and record is vacuum pressing systems. With the help of an external pump and a system of tubes connected to the disk, a vacuum is created. Vacuum clamps make it possible to achieve the tightest fit of the plate to the disc surface, so that all vibrations are transferred to the disc. In addition, the vacuum clamps flatten the record to some extent, even if it is not completely flat. However, vacuum pumps sometimes suck and require acoustic isolation from the listening room

Disc drive assembly

The player’s disc drive assembly transmits rotation from the motor to the disc. Almost all modern models of turntables use mechanisms in which the rotation from the motor shaft to the disc rim is transmitted using a rubber or silk belt.

Medium quality mainstream models use direct drive. This means that the electric motor is directly connected to the disk. In this case, the motor shaft usually serves at the same time as the shaft of the disk on which you put the record. The general public was persuaded of the clear advantages of this system over belt drive, as there is no belt to stretch or wear out. The direct drive motor, on the other hand, can be controlled electronically, which allows for precise speed and low knocking. Indeed, this coefficient for direct-drive turntables is usually much less than for belt mechanisms. Direct drive machines often use an automatic speed control system, and in some cases a phase locked loop (PLL) system, to ensure ideal speed stability. In such automatic systems, the rotational speed of the disc is measured; The signal from the speed sensor is used in a feedback loop to control the motor, which makes it possible to very accurately maintain a constant speed. Direct drive machines typically use high torque motors that react almost instantaneously to feedback signals, thus maintaining a stable rotational speed.

There is no doubt, however, that belt-driven machines produce a much better sound than direct-drive turntables, in which all engine vibrations are transferred to the disc. In belt-driven turntables, there is no direct connection between the motor and the platter. The belt serves as a kind of buffer that separates the disc from the engine. Motor noise is isolated from the disc, resulting in a much quieter driving mechanism than direct drive. Another advantage of the belt drive mechanism is that it is much easier to combine it with the disc suspension system on the subchassis.

Turntables with this drive usually do not use any complex speed control systems, since the electric motor usually rotates at a fairly high speed (on the order of 1000 rpm). The fast rotation of the motor is transmitted to the large diameter disc by means of a small pulley, resulting in a disc rotation speed of 33 ]/3 rpm. As a rule, synchronous AC motors are used in belt drives. Their rotation speed is determined by the frequency of the supply voltage. But since the AC network is subject to all sorts of distortions and fluctuations, these minor errors can also affect the speed of rotation of the disk. And although it changes very slowly, with a period of tenths of a second, this is enough to cause distortion in the pitch of the musical tone and the stability of the sound image. Therefore, some manufacturers synthesize their own alternating voltage with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz in the player, using an additional device external to the player for this. It creates a clean, stable sine wave using a precision oscillator, then the signal is amplified to 120V and fed to an AC synchronous motor. The most successful example of devices of this kind is the Linn Lingo power supply for the Linn LP12 player. Some models use AC synchronous motors rated below 120V.

The electric motor can also cause the player to vibrate. During its rotation, various vibrations arise that can be transmitted to other components of the system and create a low-frequency rumble. Even if our ear does not directly perceive this rumble, nevertheless, it leads to a decrease in sound quality. For this reason, the engine assembly of some models is made completely separate from the base and encased in damping material. In other designs, the engine is placed on a subchassis, thereby isolating its vibrations from other components of the apparatus.

How to choose vinyl players

Players that have long sunk into oblivion, on which our mothers and grandmothers played vinyl discs and listened with tenderness to records of the 40-50s, are returning from oblivion. Music lovers believe that no perfect digital recordings can compare with the sound quality of melodies played from conventional records.

Unjustifiably consigning players to oblivion at the end of the 20th century, humanity is gradually returning to them. A new generation of devices appeared on sale, devoid of the shortcomings that the designers of the 80s almost unsuccessfully struggled with. The question arises of choosing a specific model of the player. How to understand all the intricacies of the technical characteristics of the samples?
Here is a list of the most important parameters of turntables:

frequency range;
Non-linear frequency response;
signal-to-noise ratio;
downforce;
speed deviation;
Shaft knock coefficient.

The first two characteristics are no longer so relevant today, since modern signal processing methods have made it possible to bring them almost to perfection.

The signal-to-noise characteristic depends on the design features of the player. All structural elements must be manufactured and located in such a way that during operation they do not interfere with the pickup.

Tracking force affects the turntable’s frequency response and record life. With its decrease, the sound acquires a more faithful sound, and the plates wear out less. It should be noted that in all modern players the downforce is in the range of 10-35 mN. Its further reduction would lead to the needle jumping off the sound track.
Rotational speed deviation and knock coefficient depend mainly on the weight of the platter. Other influencing factors, such as engine type, automatic tracking system, are perfected.

The shape of the stylus head greatly influences the performance of a turntable. It can be spherical or elliptical. Spherical blades are more subject to wear, so it is preferable to use needles that have an elliptical head shape.
The popularity of turntables depends on various factors. However, in most cases, quality and price are directly related. Of the large number of turntable manufacturers, it is worth highlighting Pro-Ject, which has been a leader in this field for many years.