Technics SL1200/1210 debate

Setting Son,

As I've said, I am perfectly happy to talk about any deck you like on the forum, and give my own opinions, 'on record'. Why shouldn't I be? I do this every month in print, it's my job!

When I review stuff I detail the good points and the bad points, and have done since I started reviewing things for a living 17 years ago. If I didn't, our readers would stop buying the magazine as they can get 'PR puff' type reviews elsewhere, especially online. I am also quite happy to compare these decks to the SL1200 or any other deck I've tried. What I won't do for you is talk about a deck I've never tried, sorry!

The only reason I didn't raise to your challenge is that I didn't want to write you a 20,000 'treatise' on turntables on a Friday night, while I was supposed to be watching a film with my wife! There's also the point that even if I'd had 170 years of experience and was universally respected by anyone who'd ever read me, you wouldn't give a fig and probably wouldn't read my words anyway...

You can also call me by my name, 'David', if you like, instead of 'the guru'. Sarcasm isn't going to get us any nearer to the answer to the question, is it?

David

 

Steven - do you know what Setting Son's real name is? If not, Setting Son, perhaps you'd like to let us all know? David

 

I don't think I made a generic statement.

But nevermind. I suppose it all depends what 'suspended' means, and what the suspension is intended to achieve. I'm not sure this is clear in many turntable designs.

In the context of this thread it is notable that the Technics are extraordinarily well engineered, but to achieve audiophile acceptability they need crude modification with exciting sounding names.

Paul

 

Very nice, David. I am sure you are very knowledgeable and very good at your job. However, you are being disingenuous here.

My question has nothing to do with a particular product or the sound quality of any product. You stated that the Technics is better engineered than most 5k British turntables (I can't quote it exactly as it's not been included in this thread for some reason). All I asked was what 5k British turntables were you referring to? Simple question. Any chance of an answer? If you feel that you can't provide an direct answer to a direct question a simple 'no' would suffice. At least members can then make up their own minds as to why you won't back up your claim.

 

Why the interest in my name? David check post 84.

Let me know what else you want to know about me? Age, occupation, inside leg measurement?

 

I'll reply to this if you tell me your full name, Setting Son. What is it? Please do me the courtesy of telling me to who I am speaking?

 

setting son / Lee

We all know David is a magazine editor, and I feel a little unfair to ask him to 'name and shame' expensive turntables. Like it or lump it - magazines are about praising good products rather than damning those that perform less well. We all know that is the case.

It is nice to have DP here, whatever you feel about him (good or bad) he certainly has heard a lot of equipment, and done so for many years.

 

David,

You have pm.

It is nice to know who you are talking to isn't it?

On this particular matter, I have changed my password.

I do think someone else, my co-owner/admin of another busy forum, should have a voice here though, one with a real name attached to it.

 

Then perhaps he should have been more guarded in his post where he compared engineering quality? I am well aware why he won't provide an answer. He made a mistake in posting that statement, hence it has mysteriously disappeared. He obviously lacks the integrity to admit his mistake.

 

Fast editing there, Steven. Pots and kettles.

 

What I find odd about this is the choice of comparison - an LP12 with a Rega 250 arm. In those dim and distant days when I still had an interest in vinyl, that was known as the marriage made in hell. The two parts were individually fine, but in combination produced a sound that a Dual turntable could out-perform.

This wasn't just hi-fi folklore, the flying leads out of the base of the 250 would foul the baseplate if not P-clipped in place, and if they were P-clipped in place, the travel of the arm was compromised.

Has something changed?

 

Steven,

Can you please explain the meaning behind this? Can I assume that you (or rather, Marco) have and are distributing my personal details?

 

Lee I don't have your personal details to distribute so there is no need to be a drama queen.

 

Hi Lee (that's better, at least I've got a first name),

...well I've said this many times - here it is again - in my view, the Technics SL1200 is better engineered *in some respects* than many £5,000 turntables. In my view, the diecast aluminium top plate, motor housing, bearing housing, motor and motor control circuitry, etc. are exceptionally well made, and surely more expensive to produce, than those found on many high end modern decks now.

What I'm not going to do is single out any one product for attention, because you're bound to repeat it back to anyone who'll listen in a tendentious and misleading way. What I will do is tell you what I think about *any* deck you care to ask me about (one that I've tried), and compare it to the SL1200 or any other deck.

I'd also like to make it clear that I am not saying the Technics is better overall or sounds better than these high end decks; I'm saying that parts of it are superbly well engineered, and this is why people have got into modding them. It's like buying a racing car with a Fiesta engine; the chassis is there and ripe for modding. When we put the SME V/Koetsu into the SL1200 we showed this, as the deck sounded sublime (and I have several independent, non-HFW industry figures who'll attest to this). This experiment, and the build process it involved, made me realise just how well made the SL1200 is.

I'll happily continue to talk about Technics turntables (or any others), but won't get into a 'who said what to whom' ding dong, otherwise we risk this thread becoming a cul de sac.

David

 

Thanks, David. Thanks for making that assumption about me. As I said, a simple no would have sufficed.

 

So I assume you're not interested in asking me about any particular deck then, Lee? And that your recent strand has been more about grandstanding?

May I ask what decks you use, or sell? Maybe that would be a good place to start?

 

Drama queen?

It wouldn't be the first time that Marco has taken arguments from a forum into the real world and tried to damage someones personal life, now would it?

 

David,

I asked which decks you meant in your statement. You have refused to answer.

 

I am happy to answer anything about hi-fi from anyone, my friend, as I do it all the time. But I'm not going to spend Sunday morning in a game of semantics with you (which is obviously your intention)...

I'm fascinated to know why you're more interested in semantics than hi-fi? Is this why you hang around on forums; to wage wars from behind your keyboard? I think most people find this tiresome, me included, as all we wanted to do was to talk about how good (or bad) the SL1200 is. You're 'going off on one', and I don't think it's making anyone the wiser.

 

Lee, forums are not a separate place to the real world, they are very much a part of it with real flesh and blood behind the keyboard. If you view the situation thus you will come across as a nicer person online.