The SL1600 mkII is built like a tank! Steady as a rock and ready for anything...

Can't think of any

Here it is.
I look for bargains when I can find them. this is one of those bargains. I got the thing for twelve buck, and found the needle was bad, and a foot was missing. Big Deal. I would have paid a LOT more than that for one in worse condition. I plugged my Stanton cartridge in and it was ready to go. I have a bunch of vinyl, but hadn't found a decent turntable cheap for a long while. I also can't get half the stuffI have on vinyl on CD, so my unit is hooked up to my computer, and with SoundForge, I can rip, clean, and burn to my hearts content... I see some dynamic range enhancement in my future, (dbx 3bx of a variety) and I will have some good gear for ripping to near CD quality AND range.
My SL1600 mkII is about as heavy a table as I've seen, has an analog quartz lock set up, and all the bells and whistles anyone needs. The retail on the thing in it's heyday was 400 bucks, so I figure I'll have a good strong runner for the next 20-30 years.
I just wonder how hard it'd be to find a second matching one?

Similar Products Used:

Technics sl 1200's Gemini and numark knockoffs
Sansui Direct drive w/sensor (programmable)
(used to sell PA and DJ gear)

Build, Durability

Other decks are better, Pitch funny around centre

I'd buy the Vestax PDX-2000s any day over the Technics. They are based on designs over 20 years old and technology has come a long way since. There is a slight discrepancy in the pitch when you move it off its centre lock which is annoying. But most importantly, the Vestax have a lot more start-up torque and a much quicker brake. Check the stats: Technics have only 1.5kg/cm torque whereas Vestax have 2.0kg/cm, and it feels like a whole lot more. Even Gemini and Numarks' top end direct drives have over 2kg/cm available. There is the argument that the Technics sound better, but using a better cartridge than a 500AL will easily correct this. And another thing: Vestax NEVER skip. It's incredible how much you can manipulate the platter without a simgle skip. Their pitch has no centre lock either and is just as accurate as Technics despite the 2% increase. BUY VESTAX. You know it makes sense.

Similar Products Used:

Vestax PDX 2000

well built, sturdy unit, never had a problem since I bought it in 1983

no 78 rpm, difficult to replace the small lamp, antiskating only good at center of 12" disc, distortion at the end of disc

Happy with this unit, my dream is to purchase a Technics SP 10 MKIII with digital read out, or an SP 15. My personal comment is that on the market a new SL 1200 should cost 30 % less than its current sale price. Too expensive!

Similar Products Used:

Technics: SL 1500, SL 1700, SP 15, SP 10

Unbeatable charisma, cult-table, perfect layout stolen and used by many other brands, has nothing to match with, with a good MC-cartridge a real high-ender. The limited edition is a real must have for people who own a pioneer elite system

no auto-stop, no 78r/min, no digital pitch display

I'm talking about the SL-1200 Limited Edition here!!!

The look of this thing, it's just like a piece of art. When you listen to a houserecord on it, and you look at this "thing", you feel the houseparty in your whole body.....
It gives you a real shiver.

This Limited Edition is like any other good piece of art, a real must have, the feeling of only having it is already enough.

Just priceless in anyway.

It has no use to fight against this piece of art, maybe there are better turntables, but none that have "the feeling"....................................

case closed

Similar Products Used:

SL-1210MKII, SL-BD22

Amazing sound quality, great build

Pitch not quite as good as some others etc etc

It is good. Full stop no qn. BUT I personally prefer the Vestax PDX-2000. The Anti Skate is better, there is more pitch, there is reverse and quartz, it has start, brake speed control.
Technics is good but no longer the king.
Adam.

Similar Products Used:

Vestax PDX-D3S, Vestax PDX-2000, Citronic PD-2, Numark TT-1520, Stanton STR-6

build quality, sturdy platter, superb control over pitch, tone arm, they look sexy

pitch control flutter when near to centre, not as many features as modern turntables

i bought my 2 1210s over 5 years ago. it took a while to decide to spend that much money on 2 turntables, but i have never regretted it. if you are a dj or would like to be a dj there is no alternative. every club in the world has a pair. if you know how to use them you can dj anywhere. the build quality is second to none. more modern decks may have more features (ie vestax) but technics do the job almost perfectly anyway, and if you buy a pair you will never consider getting any other turntable. EVER! The only problem is the flutter around the centre of the pitch control, when the light doesn't know if it should come on or not, but this is easily avoided when mixing. Apparently the new m3d decks don't have this problem

Similar Products Used:

kam direct drive, numark belt drive, and pro 150s, all dj turntables

Great built,look

sound quality

this a great built table in order to last for a lifetime.
but the quality of sound is not outstanding.clear,detail
and imaging is lower than average.Similar products in its price category like thorens,project and the new rega P3 sound far better.
In conclusion is a great turnable for DJ's but for home listening there some better tables to go for.

Similar Products Used:

thorens,project

Ok lets get real. This is a good piece, especially for dj's and casual vinyl users. It wasn't designed to be the ultimate...Technics themselves made better turntables such as the SP 10 (in use here). But for the money and features...a very nice job. Not quite as good as a Rega3 from the strict sense of sonics, but more rugged and far more features. Let's not kid ourselves..you don't get Mercedes for Ford Escort money. But for what it was made for and the price point it was built to, excellent!

None significant, unless you are talking about a no-holds-barred system.

If you are looking for an excellent inexpensive (relatively speaking) TT, you can't go far wrong here. DJ's add 1 star to each rating.

Similar Products Used:

5 years with broadcast TT's (CE of radio station), experience with most of the usual TT suspects...favorites include Verdier, Linn, SP10 Technics, Goldmund, EMT.

Hmmm... this is a toughie... The machine works. It is bullet proof. It is perfect for professional DJ's. It is not, however, an audiophile piece. Sadly, vinyl is all but dead, so audiophiles may not need to worry, anyway. This turntable can be made pretty good when the tone-arm is tweaked (mine was re-wired by Joe Grado, himself. I got this unit from my boss when I worked at a stereo store in 1989) and the interconnects are replaced (mine has been re-fitted with Phoenix Gold, which is very good for the dollar). Of course, a fine cartridge is a requirement. I use an experimental one from Mr. Grado (see above -- my unit really is unique, best thing I ever bought) that is comparable to one of his $200-$300 units. With vinyl all but dead, and good products so hard to find, I have to give this machine a good review... provided the tweaks have been done. For the money, it is a fine unit and would be a great starter for an audiophile. I will give the unit a four star review, holding the five star rating for more esoteric (i.e., expensive!) devices such as the Linn. But for most people, this will be the best unit to buy due to cost and availability. And it will never, ever, break.

As a DJ, I like the Sl1200Mk2s very much and I think that there is just no alternative. For a listening I wouldn't buy it. There are better tables for the same money.But since this table is modified in 1979 for DJing use only. It gets all the stars.
Btw. Check www.haafkes.nl/backspin for specs on this baby and a lot more
Technics turntables.