Technics SL-1200mk2 TurnTables

Technics SL-1200mk2 TurnTables 

DESCRIPTION

Universally acknowledged. Built-to-last. Industry standard. Coin-of-the-realm. All of these phrases apply to this quintessential pro DJ tool.

  • Quartz Direct Drive accuracy, with continuous pitch adjustment up to 18%
  • Very high torque motor for quick start-ups (only 0.07 seconds stop to speed)
  • Custom brake speed control
  • Non "click" pitch fader
  • LED pop-up work light
  • Built-in anti-skate adjustment up to 6g
  • Arm-end scale for quick Weight setting
  • Molded aluminum diecast cabinet and heavy rubber base material help absorb unwanted vibrations from the dance floor
  • Includes Technics slipmat & scratch mat
  • Highly sensitive low-mass tone arm with gimbaled suspension
  • Includes removable hinge-free dust cover
  • Silver or Black finish
  • Cartridge required -- not included

  • USER REVIEWS

    Showing 111-120 of 148  
    [Aug 08, 1997]
    John

    I DJ gigs, parties ect... using two of the MKII's since 1990 and these things kick ass. I recommend them to anyone just starting out or is the hard core player as I am. Never had a problem with them. Just normal maintance and they
    will last forever. I give Technics 2 Thumbs up for quality and workmanship.
    The Technics start at around 400.00, and be careful of imatations. Later!!!

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    [Sep 21, 2000]
    Frodo
    Audiophile

    Best Dj turntable money can buy!

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Oct 12, 1999]
    Dan Johnson
    Audiophile

    Strength:

    Build, Performance

    Weakness:

    None

    The Technics models are excellent turntables and superior to virtually all equipment in the affordable price range.
    I'm a vinyl enthusiast who owns, or has owned probably twenty different turntables.
    The sound of the Technics is very dependent upon the cartridge mounted. While true of almost all turntables, the Technics shows the differences between cartridges more than most. I find that a good Grado or Ortofon sounds best to me. A Pickering, which sounded great on my Dual 1229Q, sounds bad on the Technics and unbearable on the Philips.
    The Technics is exceptionally quiet and has unwavering pitch. Any rumble heard is in the record and not the player. The Philips is quieter and has, to my ears, a better sound stage, but it is a pain to set up and is a very delicate machine.
    Is the Technics the equal of a good Thorens or a Linn? Maybe not but it's quality is way past the point of diminishing returns.
    I believe that many of the "golden-eared" are afflicted by snobbery. Their contention that the Technics isn't the equal of their mega-buck darlings is true but misses the point. Those of us, the great unwashed, can't tell them they are wrong because they hear what the rest of us can't. Who's to say they are wrong or right?
    I have been cursed/blessed with perfect pitch and know "hi-fi" when I hear it. Most of what I hear is far from "hi-fi" but many would disagree with me. I like accuracy and lack of distortion. I detest wow-and-flutter (it bugs the hell out of me!) and the Technics meets all of my criteria. It's quiet and accurate, as long as a good cartridge is installed and it's not played with the dustcover on. Plus, it's built better than my $20K automobile!

    Similar Products Used:

    Technics SL-1300
    Technics SL-3310 (An '80s version of the 1300)
    A Philips manual

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    4
    [May 19, 1999]
    Jonny Rocketpants
    an Audiophile

    I am a long time music lover,and musician. For a long time I sold High-End audio gear to the most discerning listeners.(I'm talking $200,000.00 Pairs of spkrs.)The Technics 1200mkII is a steal if your trying to learn how to spin (DJ)or if your just looking for a tank of a turntable. We can safely say that Technics is nowhere close to having the sonics etc.. that a good Basis, or Thorens, Or Rega , or Well Tempered Table has, But who has $10,000.00 to drop on one, NOT ME, NOT YET!
    Still none the less the Technics is a BAD ASS

    OVERALL
    RATING
    4
    VALUE
    RATING
    [May 17, 2001]
    Julian
    Audio Enthusiast

    Strength:

    Heavy, durable & soaks up vibrations well. Good strong basslines, tight and deep bass. Looks very pleasing and I like the retro touches like the strobe. Overall, very nice.

    Weakness:

    See below. As well as this, its sometimes not all that strong in right places : 1) tonearm lift control, fitting carts to headshell is difficult

    I am currently using a Technics SL1200mk2 turntable,Ortofon 510mk2 & Denon DL110,Technics SUV660 Amp,Mission 733 loudspeakers.
    I cannot seem to get a good sound from the turntable. Its on a proper table and set up according to the instructions - but I'm experiencing sibilance and distortion on female vocals (particular on "s" words and also cymbal crashes), as well as generally poor quality vocals. Basslines tend to sound OK, but its really on only the simplest of tracks that the deck sounds enjoyable. I'm not a DJ and decided on the deck for its pedigree from Technics.I've read in various web pages that its possible to get the 1200ml2 to outperform CD and turn it into a real audiophile deck, and run rings around the current British models like the Rega planar 3 also? Please do you have any tips, experience, knowledge or knowledge of web pages (non DJ ones) that share this sort of info - that could transform the deck, and vastly improve my current sound?
    Thanks!!

    Similar Products Used:

    Technics SLDD33 direct drive turntable, Memorex LAB302 turntable, other odds and ends. No DJs to respond with all the DJ hype, as it doesnt apply to me. This deck came out in the 80s in Technics 'hifi' range - please can someone help me understand how to use it to the full?

    OVERALL
    RATING
    3
    VALUE
    RATING
    3
    [Mar 13, 2001]
    Seti
    Audiophile

    Strength:

    For one, in 15 years I've never >HAD< to have them serviced. Build quality, tracking, adjustability and the motor spins up quickly and quietly.

    Weakness:

    The wiring and the stigma of mass production.

    Like I said, I've owned my Techs for so long I don't remember the name of the place I bought them. I've had them for 15 years now. I do know that they suffer badly from personal prejudices both for and against it. They have the reputation of being a DJ's TT so those who consider themselves "audiophiles" (a ridiculous term I only entered it because you're required to choose one, the webmaster should think about making that optional) believe them to have bad sound even if they've never heard one properly set up. Not to mention they don't have that exclusivity that comes with TT's that aren't over produced. DJ's on the other hand swear by them and couldn't conceive of anything sounding better let alone performing better. Their love for the 1200's skews their judgment in many cases.

    In any case the Technics 1200MKII is one of if not the most versitile TT ever produced. It spins up better than any other TT I've ever seen or heard and it does sound good. As good as the Gyrodec? No but its a third the price of the Gyrodec and in my experience no other TT sounds as good as the Gyrodec, not even the LINN. The Techs reproduce the full range of what ever it is you decide to play on them. I have a collection that ranges from Alice in Chains to Aretha Franklin to Sun Ra and it all sounds great. You get as much detail of treble, mid and bass as you are capable of hearing. This is one case where mass production has resulted in a better overall product. Technics really got it right with this product.

    I have used so many different makes and models of cartridge on the 1200's in the years I've had them that I can say the the real difference is in the wiring. The wiring of the Techs is its "Achillies Heel". I had my Techs re-wired with some decent cabling and the difference is incredible. It didn't cost much considering the gains in sound quality. With the right set up, componants and LP's the Techs will definatly out perform any CD player in the same price range and any other TT's in that range as well.

    The set up is a bit tedious though and the manual has everything you need but its equaly tedious. The good thing about the Tech is that when you get it dialed in you probably won't ever have to do it again. Providing of course you don't drop a heavy object or something on it.

    The best thing about the Technics 1200MKII though is the build quality. Like I said I've had them for 15 years and never once have they given me cause to have them serviced. I had a friend break the power button on one once but it was in the on position and it still played. I only got it fixed for asthetics, I wanted it to look just like the one sitting next to it. The rewired I had done was my decision, they sounded fine I just wanted to see if they could sound better.

    One thing people should remember is that the 1200's were not designed to be DJ TT's, they were origionally home audio TT's. DJ's just discovered that they were better for DJing than anything else on the market at the time.

    So is the Technics 1200MKII the best sounding TT ever? No but anything that sounds better can't do all that it can and there is nothing on the market that can do what it does and sound as well. So in reading the ratings I will give my Techs 5 stars on both counts because they are far better than even those who love them ever imagined. Thanks for listening.

    S.

    Similar Products Used:

    Michel Gyrodec: listened to one in an audio museum and it was the best sounding table I've ever heard. LINN LP12: a friend owns one and it looks and sounds great but after getting the Techs rewired they sound better. Rega: two different models, both were good but I understand why people think they spin fast. Two other Technics tables neither of which are worth talking about. Stanton's imitations and Vestex's TT. The Stanton was no better than the other Techs and the Vestex doesn't have the sound or build quility of the 1200, not much does.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Mar 11, 2001]
    busy child
    Audio Enthusiast

    Strength:

    built to the hilt

    Weakness:

    the pepsi generation drove the price up

    yes as a teenager in high school i got these w/a friend to open a dj business. i paid 376$ at a philadelphia trade show (you know the ones?) for the pair and 158$ for 2 cartridges by stanton. they paid for themselves 1st show. bought me my first car, paid my gas, insurance, play money, ect... it has been 15 years. they still play like new and bring me much enjoyment. for dj potentials: start on a dime stop on a dime (9cents change) curved tone arm tracks like laser guidance. snr at 80db is good for vynle.



    there is no other only imitations


    make no mistake

    Similar Products Used:

    there is none

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Oct 21, 1999]
    SPLIFF (a turntablist)
    Audiophile

    These turntables have been through the mill with me and back. The man who said that God must have been a DJ was right; he's a turntablin' genius, and Jesus brought 'em to us. To get maximum quality, hook them up with Ortofons; forget about Stantons or anything else. Vinyl for ever, to hell with CD's!!!

    Similar Products Used:

    Gemini BD-10's

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Mar 10, 1999]
    dj legend
    an Audiophile

    Technics rock. The quality of these turntables surpass any. Vestax has nothing on these. Others have tried to immitate the sweet style and simplicity of these pieces of art, but no one will come close.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    [Mar 10, 1999]
    cb
    an Audio Enthusiast

    The Technics SL1200's are the highest quality tables that have ever been built and have not been surpassed in 20 years. There seem to be a lot of low reviews, however, based on the fact that some of you were sodomized as children by your fathers, who invariably clouted the advantages of the MKII's while your mothers watched you take it up the ass.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    Showing 111-120 of 148  

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