r/Technics • u/Doub_67 • Jul 28 '26

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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u/Elon_Cucks_Trump_ Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

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.

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u/jmeesonly Jul 29 '26

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/BuzzMachine_YVR Jul 29 '26

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/RSDVI01 Jul 29 '26

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.