[Hoodini]

Cant get away from my Technics SL-1200MK2 twins.
Please dont stop the production !!!!!

[jdubtxn]

@Hoodini I had a pro-ject with a speedbox and the acrylic platter. While it was a great table and it sounded good. I recently got a 1200 MK5 and I will never go back. Such a beautiful easy to use table. It still has a dj needle but as soon as I get some funds I will upgrade.

[Hoodini]

@jdubtxn Seems a dope set up !
ready to bang on wax
show us your set when you upgraded

[Spun out of control]

I recently invested in a 2nd hand Technics SL-1210 MK2 turntable off eBay... wanted something heavy duty that would last, alternatives looked a bit weedy to me.

Wonder if any of the forum regulars could recommend me an 'audiophile' cartridge/needle as a best fit for playing soundtracks and music at home in general...?

Am presently using the Ortofon Concorde cartridge / Pro S needle it came with, which seems fine, but as I understand it is more suited to DJs who want to 'scratch' than vinyl enthusiasts.

So just wondering if there was something more suited to home listening?

Any recommendations?

[static14]

@Spun you can upgrade the stlyus on the Concorde with any of the OM stylus'. For some time I ran a Concorde with a 40 stylus on my 1200mkII with really great results.

That'd be my recommendation go with a 20,30 or 40 stylus on the concorde and enjoy the music.

[Spun out of control]

@static14

Great stuff, thanks, will check out those!

[Voodoo_Jim]

I've seen a lot of good things about the U-turn Orbit, but I'm curious if anyone here has bought one. There's a part of me that wants to go full Technics 1200 from my DJ days...

[DrRhythm]

I'm thinking reconditioned LInn Axis right now!

[blackwaterrisin]

they're not the most glamorous,but I'm a huge supporter of vintage Dual turntables. models like the 1229,1019,and 701 can be found for prices less than the current "budget" Pro-Jects and they sound amazing.

I have some friends who are turntable and vintage audio collectors so I've had the good fortune to hear side by side comparisons of a lot of stereo gear.
I'd say that there's probably not a new turntable on the market for less than a $1,000 that can compete with a Dual 1229,a good ol' Thorens,or a Technics 1200.

and I'm not a "vintage is always better" guy,but in regards to turntables,it's usually true.

[Voodoo_Jim]

I've got a Pro-Ject Carbon Debut on order - is it worth the money for the acrylic platter they sell as an upgrade? I'm just wondering if its more than an aesthetic change and noticeable.

[Pain_Bubbles]

No personal experience really, but if the turntable is still on order I'd wait a little.
Maybe it's fine the way it is, there might be some subtle differences in sound quality between different platters, but if the stock one is level it should be fine.
Thinking of upgrading before you even receive your turntable is a very slippery slope, before you know it you're buying component A while you allready know you are going to save (a lot) of money to replace it with component B, your soundtrack albums will be banned to the attic and will replaced with a handful of Patricia Barber and Diana Krall albums, and you will start salivating over 500$ gold fuses for your fuse-box

[DrRhythm]

.....and let's not get started on cables!!

[Voodoo_Jim]

I appreciate the advice! It's here, but I won't have time until the weekend to properly hook it up. I'll wait on any upgrades until I have the all important first hand test done. I'm sure it will be a massive improvement from the nice, but limited equipment I've been using the last few years.

[deafmetal]

I have had a pair of Technics SL-1200MK2's running solid for almost twenty years now. They are built like tanks and function beautifully. Worship at the Matsushita throne.

I picked up a Pro-ject Debut III recently to listen to vinyls in my office, and it's been a decent purchase. How many of you skimmed the manual and are not properly using the plastic "key" to change the belt drive speed? Your oily meat-wrapped phalanges are ruining the delicate belt! -_-

[Hatter313]

@deafmetal wrote: "Your oily meat-wrapped phalanges are ruining the delicate belt!"

This is, hands down, the funniest thing i have read all week. thank you

[vegaman]

@deafmetal Thanks, i now know what the plastic thing is for!

@Voodoo_Jim I think it will be worth to upgrade the platter, mine came as standard acryl so i cant compare but i would do it only for the aesthetic part.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Ac ... er-Upgrade

[lazyben]

I have the acrylic platter on project debut in my office system and it's a worthwhile upgrade. The standard platter is pretty crap and not needing a stupid felt mat is a bonus. It also looks nice. It's nowhere near as nice as the acrylic platter on the JE Michell in my main system but I would still do it again for the project.

[antimax]

@lazyben - what are the differences with the acrylic platter? I figured it was for vanity's sake, but I really don't know. Does it affect the sound or vibrations much?

[lazyben]

It's a bit heavier (I think), less resonant and more solid so in theory it should damp out unwanted vibations better. Although it's difficuly to ascertain these things with any certainty I think my deck sounded better for it but it certainly is an aesthetic upgrade too. Did I mention I hate felt mats? I also have a speed box on mine and I messed with the feet too so it's not very stock any more. I would have just bought something nicer but it was a gift fom the missus so politcally it won't be going anywhere

[Mullett]

One of the best budget options for a decent record player is to take the arm off a Technics 1200/1210. These are great turntables, brilliant direct drive, but have two major flaws: the power supply causes hum, and the arm is rubbish. I would recomend fitting a Rega RB300 or 251, but any decent arm will do. Orgin Live do a replacement armboard with various fittings including one for Rega, it also performs better than the stock armboard on the Technics. The DIY is very simple to do the job: I did it, and I'm cack-handed. Plenty of info on pimping Technics out there, just google it. It really does turn the ugly duckling into a audiophile swan.

[Pain_Bubbles]

I have never heard a Technics SL1200 causing hum, the only thing that could cause hum are poorly shielded cartridges (Grado mainly) , which are a risk on any turntable.
The technics tonearm not being up to snuff is somewhat of an audiophile myth, and completely unfounded: Construction tolerances are among the best in the world and because of their medium mass they are compatible with lots of cartridges.
They are fantastic trackers, rugged, easy to set up and a joy to listen to. Properly set up and adjusted, with a suitable cartridge it will track anything.
This tonearm was designed by the cream of the crop of Japanese audio enineers in the golden age of vinyl as the best HiFi arm they could come up with.
The knowledge and resources that went in the development of every aspect of the SL1200, including its arm is simply beyond reach of modern boutique brands.

The SL1200 , untill a few years ago was the unique opportunity to buy a brand new, fantastically engineered piece of late 70's audio gear at ridiculously low price.
To get an idea of how much of a bargain an SL1200 was at $400 in 2010, it might be worth mentioning that the Linn LP12 , which cost upwards of $4000 today , was actually in the same price range as the SL1200 in 1978.

[philball1974]

Maybe the hum is from not grounding properly?

[Pain_Bubbles]

Nah, the Technics has the motor right under the platter (The spindl actually is the motor spindle), and the power supply is also inside the turntable. (as opposed to most modern belt drives, which use a wall-wart)
With poorly shielded cartridges, this can cause interference.
Grado is particularly notorious, but they should not be used on a Technics to begin with.