I've used the 1200 mkII on my home system for at least 7 years. Not only did it blow away what I replaced, but it has become the most used piece of audio gear I own... except for the amplifier! I haveno fewer than 16 different cartridges, all mounted on appropriate headshells, at the ready, both MM nd MC
varieties. The arm on the 1200 offers the best range of adjustment that I've seen on any turntable under
$1000. Not only tracking force and anti-skate, but
VTA as well! Anyone not totally blown away by this table when used with popular-priced equipment probably needs to re-check their set-up. This is clearly the last turntable I'll ever have to buy.

i have been djing for about 13 years and my 12's have never failed me. i love them to death. since then i have also purchased a pair of technics sl 1200 mk3's, very nice, and also a pair of sl 1200 ltd's. nothing but the best

Top of the line, nothin beats it...what else can I say?Oh yeah, I got a great deal on mine, I paid $550 for two 12's and
a gemini scratchmaster. Beat that

the turntable you're talking about is the techinics sl-1200 mkIImore commonly known as the 1200 ....
it is a great turntable... but very expensive. if you can get one for $400 post it here because the absolute cheapest ive seen em is $450.. a place not too far from here sold one for $699

Tank-like construction, super-reliable, easy to adjust, excellent investment

none.

I've seen claims here that this turntable sounds "terrible". RUBBISH! It's just audiophile snob-factor rearing its ugly head, and that's ALL it is. The Technics SL1200Mk2 is a rare beast these days--an unbeatable combination of great $$ value, construction quality, and usability. Buy an even half-way decent cartridge, and this turntable will not disappoint. Buy a lousy cartridge, and it will sound bad even on a super-expensive Linn or Thorens turntable. I can't hear the difference between the Technics and my "junior-audiophile" Sumiko turntable. The Technics is LOTS easier to adjust, too, and much more accurate in those adjustments.

I will concede that this turntable doesn't sound as good as a "true" audiophile turntable with a $1500 Benz Micro cartridge, but who can afford such things? Not me, and not most people. This is a great turntable for normal people who love music and love their vinyl.

Similar Products Used:

Sumiko Pro-ject 1.2, Ancient Sansui DD

Built like a Tank

A little Pricy, but worth it

I've got a MKIII thats almost mint, and a MKII that looked like it had been thrown from the back of a moving truck when I got it. I replaced the tone arm-assembly and power switch on the MKII (which were smashed), and honestly, now theres not much noticable difference between the two. That just goes to show you how well these are built. The MKIII has a slightly lighter touch on the platter than the MKII, which you will probably only notice if you're a DJ. Either one should be solid for years though.

Solid build, value for money

not the best arm

I used to have a Thorens TD166 but it was old, the 33/45rpm switch didn't work any more so I decided to change it for a more convenient turntable.

The TD166 is appreciated by audiophiles and I think it costs now more than a Technics, so I bought the 1200 thinking that I might gain in convenience but loose in sound quality. Wrong.

The technics sounds better than the Thorens in any possible way, better stereo, better dynamic, better timing, less background noise, and I can see why, it is heavier, better build and I believe that its direct drive may cause more hum than a High quality belt driven system with a well insulated motor but it is certainly better than the crappy modors/belts that you find on the affordable "HI-FI" turntables.

If you have the money and reccord collection to afford a better LP-12, go for it, if you don't, the technics is a very good deck for the price and will last for ever.

Audio enthusiasts do not like the technics because it's a DJ tool and they're used to hear them badly set up with crappy cartridges and 3 coins cellotaped to the headshell, but set the 1200 properly and fit it with a decent cartridge (I use a Sumiko Blue point special) and it really sounds good.

The arm looks like the weak part. I was thinking of replacing it with a Rega RB300 but it's hard to know how it will work. Also the Technics is to be enjoyed as it is and I like the looks with its original s-arm

It's hard to tell if it is the best in its class because it's kind of alone in its class since other decks in this price range are belt driven and of completely different designs (Rega planars, thorens TD's etc...)
At that price 4 stars for the deck, 3 stars for the arm.

Similar Products Used:

Thorens TD 166

The Use of Heavy Rubber Dampening in the Platter & Chassis to reduce rumble/noise.
High Torque Motor(.7 Sec)
Execellent Pitch Adjustment & Quartz Lock
Verticle Tracking Control (Some Extreme High End Decks Don't Have this option.)
Made for Extreme High Sound Pressures...

I would Only Say the Tone-Arm

The Technics SL-1200 MK II, A Great Turntable and thats no lie. I've tried other Decks Such as SOTA Star, REGA Planar, Basis 1400, Thorens TD-124 & V.P.I., obviously these Decks are a little bit more on the higher end then the 1200 mk2. However the High End Decks can really meet there match with the 1200 mk2/mk3. HOW? well U simply just have to know how to set up your Deck. We used a Benz-Micro Glider Cartridge on the 1200 and compared it with the Basis 1400 and the Rega(using the same cartridge). With Proper alignment,tracking force,anti-skating & VERTICLE TRACKING. We were able to get the most of what the turntable was capable of in sound. The Sound is Over Execeptional but I wouldn't go to far. I'd give it a 4 out of 5 because of the J Tone Arm that Technics uses. Light but not light enough and also for tracking reasons. But Seeing that the 1200 Mk2/Mk3 is the Standard in the DJ industry, it is designed to get the Best of Both Worlds.

The ORTOFON Nightclub(E) is probably the most best sounding DJ CARTRIDGE for the 1200 and is good for all kinds of scratches and scribbles. However between an Ortofon NCE and a Benz Micro Glider, the 2 are totally different setups. But if you set the Turntable the rightway(WITHOUT USING PENNIES AND OTHER STUFF TO IMPROVISE) You should not have a problem.

Remember V.T.A. is crucial if your Turntable provides it. They should be set accordingly for best Sound & Tracking Performance.

In the End, there are basically no Losses for the DJ, but there is few things lost for an audio expert but it's nothing to cry about. If you have the money, I'd recommend getting something a little more higher.

EXCELLENT FOR DJ's
Great Value for a Budget Minded Audio Expert

Similar Products Used:

Vestax PDX-D3
NUMARK TT-1

build

sound quailty

just looking at this deck tells you that it is just ment to be abused in night clubs by drunk dj's this truly is a dj deck to aspier to but as a peace of hifi it is crap and do's not come near to my rega planer3 in sound tearms

Similar Products Used:

rega planer3

Isolation, dampening properties, solid build

Technics name, tonearm

First, the audio cultist myth that you can "hear" differences in turntables (NOT cartridges or sound/vibrations that the turntable is picking up) is nonsense. All so-called differenes are due to cartridges and acoustic feedback/isolation related issues, assuming of course nonexistant wow,flutter, and rumble. It's simple physics. I remember years ago (late '70's) the Audio Critic expose' on high end turntables. Most of the then-touted "best sounding, high end" tables were exposed as shams. One of the best sounding tables was a lowly Kenwood direct drive, and that was mainly due to the platter sitting in an acoustically inert, concrete-like resin. I was sold what was a moderately "high end" table at the time, a Denon equipped with a Grace 707. The thing would feedback like mad. If you tapped on the wooden base, you heard a 'thud". If you remove the platter pad and tap on the platter, it rang like a bell.
Which brings us to the Technics 1200. Contrary to what most "audiophiles" think, the 1200 was NOT designed as a DJ
table. It was designed as a home audio unit, and took off as a DJ table because of it's torque, ruggedness, and excellent isolation properties. The flimsily constructed entry level "audiophile" tables like Music Hall, Rega, and ProJect will howl like mad at even moderate sound pressue levels. I owned a similar table years ago, a Connoisseur, and it had the same problem.
Put a good cartridge in it, and the Technics is the best table out there for the price. Anyone who tells you it is 'crap' or 'sounds awful' is just an audio cultist dissing it because it says Technics.

Similar Products Used:

Denon w/Grace 707