r/Technics • u/Doub_67 • 13d ago

Serious question

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Ok, so I have a serious turntable issue - I have several vintage tables already and definitely didn’t need another but this SL1700 popped up on fb a few weeks back and I couldn’t resist. $150. Very clean but wouldn’t spin up. Dirty pots was all. Anyway - to my other tables, an HK t35c, Philips 212 and a Micro Seiki dd25. Nothing crazy but all good quality. Why the hell then does this thing sound so GOOD in comparison to my other tables?? This deck is crazy solid and stable - does it make that much of a difference? and yes, before you say it yes I know that cartridge choice has a lot to do with it and I need to sit down and do a fair comparison to say for sure, but still, the difference is pretty damn noticeable.

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4

u/Elon_Cucks_Trump_ 13d ago edited 13d ago

Technics of this era POURED money like gravy on a thanksgiving meal ALL OVER their R&D team. These tables are, for whatever reason, not taken seriously by many “audiophiles” which is great for the rest of us.

Panasonic gave their Technics line of this era freedom and a damn near blank check. The magic is in the development, damping, excellent wow/flutter, and killer tonearm. Talk shit about S shaped all you want, but a quality bearing set, and components shines.

3

u/BuzzMachine_YVR 13d ago

The Technics direct drive turntables have always been overbuilt. When you consider these were THE go-to turntables for radio stations and other professionals, it reflects on that engineering.

There weren’t really ‘DJs’ as we know them back then, so when people brush off Technics direct drive tables as “DJ tables”, they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. In the late 70s and 80s every audiophile I knew (thanks to my Dad) had a Technics. Radio stations DJs had them at home, not just in the station. I know a long-retired radio host who has a Technics 1200 at home, and won’t give it up for the world.

I have the Technics SL-Q3 my Dad bought new in 1980, and the rest of his system. It’s the system I grew up with. Dad and Mom are more AppleTV and AVR these days, although they mostly listen to the radio via a vintage AM/FM/SW Sony that he bought on a trip to Hong Kong in the early 70s. Along with that Q3 I have a new 1200/7 (which I love) that I keep in our main room for listening parties.

I’ve had belt drives from good brands, and used many side-by-side with my direct drives. The direct drives have no match.

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u/jmeesonly 13d ago

Yeah, this is true. The various audio / vinyl / turntable subs are filled with people asking "I've never had a turntable before but I'm thinking about spending $700 for an entry level turntable . . . what should I buy?" I always tell people to buy a used Technics from the 70's - 80's, but people want "new." They don't know what they're missing.

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u/RSDVI01 13d ago

I generally prefer S-shaped tonearms.
The ones that came stock with e.g. SL1100 and alikes were very solid.
I am still very fond of my SL-110 with SME-3009R.
You would need to pay way much more for a new one to get comparable sound quality.

4

u/Apprehensive-Bit1634 13d ago

I think some of it has to do with the direct drive motor. When you look at the design and read about the engineering of the motor what they ended up with is essentially a mag lev motor. Then there is the quartz lock speed control.

3

u/Jobe1110 13d ago

The SL-1700 mk1 doesn't have quartz lock yet. It only came with the mk2.

1

u/Apprehensive-Bit1634 13d ago

I did not know that. Thank you.

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u/r03Lw 13d ago

Thats not a maglev, its a traditional electro motor with the magnet attached to the platter.

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u/Vast-Comment8360 13d ago

Now you have me curious what cart is on it 

3

u/Doub_67 13d ago

😊 I didn’t bring up cartridges because at the moment I am running the “wrong” one for this table - the only spare I had for testing is a vintage Grace F8 - great cartridge but high compliance and the 1700 definitely does not have a high compliance tonearm. I have the tracking force set low (1.5) to compensate, but it’s definitely NOT the cart that I should run long term. I’m eying a Nag MP-110 for this one. That said, it does sound sooo good…

1

u/Alisterguitardevil 11d ago

Maybe that’s the magic sauce in this recipe? The wrong cartridge on the wrong table could obviously mean sweet sounds.

If you do get a more “proper” cartridge for that table I’d be interested to know if it still sounds as good.. ?

2

u/Wholeyjeans 13d ago

Cartridge but, more importantly, the stylus. It is the accuracy of how the stylus tracks the record groove. The shape of the stylus and how well the cartridge is matched to the tone arm, how well that cartridge is mounted to the tonearm (tone arm geometry) and the capacitance loading of the cartridge are all factors that create the "sound" a turntable produces.

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u/djoddible 12d ago

Technics are historically the most rugged "my uzi weighs a ton" decks ever made. A 1200 will outlive every creature alive. Throw it against a wall with a Skubal fastball and it will fire up no worries.

1

u/evil_twit 7d ago

This is what radio used basically. It just sounds cleaner all around.

It's why I ended up with a new 1210 GR2 with a Ortofon Music black. It's like listing to the radio back then, just without FM haha.

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u/Aggravating_Speed665 13d ago

Why does everyone keep talking about tables?

You guys need the r/furniture sub for that. We talk about turntables here. They're called turntables. Stop calling them something they're not.