Let me clear up the controversy. You cultist tweako audiophiles are wrong.All turntables sound the same as long as they are well isolated, damped, and set on a stable platform. The Technics 1200 is well damped; if you isolate and level it on a stable platform you have sound that is indisdinguishable from your holy grails. Don't tell me your "golden ears" can tell the difference under blind ABX tests.
However the only turntables that I would rate higher than the 1200 are the Nakamichi tx-1000 and Dragon CT. This is because they correct for off-center records, measurably reducing inner-groove distortion as well as allowing the stylus to trace the grooves with less stress. The tonearm could be better but at the same time it is silly to spend thousands for the tweako arms. The trick is with this turntable is to use a good cartridge. Audio-Technica's top models (MM or MC) are excellent as they have flat response.
As for the DJ's, hey if the 1200 works for you (and it does very well) then more power to you!

Bullit proof!

It doesn't cost $5000

I bought this TT because I own lots of vinyl and wanted a durable deck, none more durable that I know of! I'm outfitted with a Shure M111E cartridge.Any suggestions for a better needle? I use it for Home use only Anysuggestions please email me.Peace

Build quality, Performance

NONE

I have the 1200M3D. I had a Garard that was 18years old. The Garard finally died, but I got my money's worth out of it. I was hoping to get my Garard repaired, but I could not find any parts for it. To bad, cause I am very pleased with the 1200M3D. This is the best turntable out there right now. I am using Ortofon Concord Gold cartridge, Monster Reference2 RCA interconnects.

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Thorens, Numark

Build Quality! Durability. Performance.

No snob appeal.

I can't really think of anything I don't like about my 1200. I even like the goofy dustcover! I suppose I would like to have some kind of automatic tonearm lift, but I can live without it. I just got a Prestige Red cartridge from Grado and am very pleased with the way things sound.

REALLLY WELL BUILT! Pleasing to look at, easy to maintain

Not the last word in sound.

I was really interested in getting a vinyl setup for my system, and this was the first deck that popped into my mind. The strenghts of this turntable are numerous and unique. For some uses it is the only logical choice, such as DJing. DJing has created a whole new demand for vinyl and for this turntable, so that is a reason that it has become even more recognizable in the marketplace. They call it the Fender Stratocaster of these times. But I was not really interested in DJing with it, more to listen to playback, and this deck was just not in the same class in that way as the Planar 3. Not that there is any thing wrong at all with this table. On the contrary, I have the utmost respect for it. But if you are strictly into listening and not into DJing, look at the Rega. If you are into DJing, this is a deck without peer. Make sure you follow the design that best describes your needs, and you can do no wrong. Happy listening!

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Rega Planar 3

Keeps its value better than a lot of other audio products; extremely good reliability record; a “monument” in the (DJ)turntable market; solid, no nonsense design/construction, built to last you half a life time; ok and good looks, but that’s a personal opinion.

Maybe I would have preferred if it would have been semi-automatic, on the other side: since this feature was never included, it cannot mall function either… thus helping it’s near perfect reliability record. The light that illuminates the stylus is ridiculously difficult to replace when broken. This is caused by it’s small size and what’s worse is that you’ll have to dismantle half the turntable to get to it. The “click” in the pitch slider can be annoying when pitching close to 0%. Spare parts are far too expensive: $40 for an “original” Technics headshell (piece of metal with some wires) and about $100 for a new dust cover (piece of plastic with a fish bowl on it) really stinks according to me. Please note that these are prices that the Panasonic/Technics importer in Holland charges for these spare parts.
My advice: if you need some spare parts, consider buying a decent second hand SL1200/SL1210 and use parts from that one.

Despite the mostly minor weaknesses, mentioned above, I simply love the one and only “wheel of steel”. Although I always wanted to own one myself, somehow I never made it a top priority to buy one. As a result many years went by, before I actually forked out money for one. When I purchased it I knew exactly what I was buying and what to expect of it. As a result I have been satisfied with it, although I’m well aware that there are tables out there, which of course will sound better. The cartridge I use is the Stanton 681EEE MkIII and it was recommended to me by mixer/remixer Ben Liebrand – maybe there are some people who have heard of him. In general I’m satisfied with this cartridge, however somehow I have the feeling that there must better sounding ones out there. If people have any cartridge suggestions for me (max. approx. $200), feel free to send me an E-mail. Overall I’m satisfied with this turntable, I’m going to give it 4 out of 5 stars for value – mainly caused by the fact that spare parts are ridiculously overpriced… but due to its reliability record, construction, reputation, and no nonsense design it simply deserves 5 stars for it’s overall rating!

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Several cheap turntables throughout the years.

I don't see how this cannot be on the Hall of Fame!!!
They are an awesome value (especially used) for DJs and general use. They are solid and will never become obsolete. The Hall of Fame needs more turntables like this!!!

It beats all the competition

As a DJ, these are hands-down the most reliable, sturdy, and best sounding turntables money can buy. I don't think audiophiles should be buying these to get that sound that they get into a trance-like state to listen to. It's a record player. It's also not a record player for audiophiles. This turntable is for DJs. Go out and buy a $50,000-we-make-2-a-decade turntable and leave the knocking (which won't happen too often) to the professionals who really use the product they way they are meant to be used.

I'm sure most 'audiophiles' will snub the 1200 on the Technics name alone (the same group that claims marking a CD with green felt tip pen improves the sound). Mass market junk! Sounds awful! In reality, the venerable Technics 1200 is a fine table for the bucks. It is well built, heavy, and the acoustic dampening properties are excellent, which is why it took off as a DJ table. A properly executed direct drive, as is this one, is evey bit as good as a belt drive, with the benefit of extra torque. And the tonearm, an audiophile 'no-no' S-shape, is medium mass which all the straight arms are now becoming anyway. Gee, what happened to the low mass audiophile arms I remember like the Grace 707 and Infinity Black Widow? Gone! I guarantee, put the same cartridge in this table and in an audiophile table of similar price (Rega, Music Hall, etc) and do a blind test....you will not hear the difference. This table will last 20 years however while the others fall apart or the company goes out of business.

Simply the best