Home > Consumer Reviews > Technics SL1200MLK2 TurnTable

I've known some people to still own a manually operated Technics that has lasted over 25 years (the beauty of a manual is no extra gizmos or electronics to break down or mechanically and annoyingly affect pure playback) ! If you want proof just look at how many Denon or other top brand name turntables listed on E-Bay will often carry a disheartening claimer by the seller that reads something like, "turntable works fine except automatic tonearm or speed chip sensor does not work properly".Lesson learned is to stay away from turntables with a lot of "computerized-electronic sensing automatic features". So, no, this 'table is not an automatic nor is it for the lazy listener who will fall asleep only to wake up and find the needle has been scratching and bumping at the end of playing. Once you damage your needle in this fashion you will never make the mistake of falling asleep again while playing it.... But, again, the trade off or sacrifice is worth it versus having an automatic tonearm malfunctioning with time. It was first and foremost designed back in the 70's as a mid-priced audiophile turntable for home consumer use and later incorporated as the reference or standard dj equipment for radio stations and then dj/scratching venues. Over the years Technics has fine tuned and tweaked what was already, in my opinion, an almost perfected machine. While audiophile purists and snobs gasp at the thought of using a direct drive 'table to hear their precious vinyl collection, I for one don't mind a direct drive over a belt drive. Advantages of a direct drive is no belt to replace, wow & flutter are almost non-existant (since the platter is driven by the spindle shaft motor directly), speed accuracy is on target. Some purists have pointed out that this 'table is not "dead" sounding enough and may produce some rumble or motor vibration noise when listening to extreme quiet passages on classical disc pressings. So far I have tested some classical records and cannot hear any unwanted vibrations coming from the motor or disturbing noises.In fact, Technics makes one of the best turntables with a very quiet and smooth running motor. The plinth is heavily weighed down and isolated from unwanted vibrations that would otherwise be picked up by the cartridge.Over the years I have owned a fully automatic-remote controlled Kenwood table, a Pioneer 'table, and an el cheapo Sears LXI 'table...All of these turntables ended up in a junk pile in Siberia due to their cheap plastic nature and gamut of so-called bells and whistles. Technics is the only one for those, like myself, not yet to make it into the higer end audiophile arena with 'tables costing from $1000.00 and beyond price range realm. I have used everything from a cheap Audio Technica cartridge to a mid priced Shure cartridge and finally a Grado Prestige cartridge (the Grado being the best in sound quality, price and workmanship).Whether you decide to use an Ortofon DJ cartridge/needle for DJ/scratching purposes or a Grado audiophile cartridge for in home listening you will be thrilled of the workmanship and sound quality of this finely crafted and engineered product ! As a plus, the Technics is an aesthetically pleasing piece of audio gear to look at and realize some solid materials were used to produce it...Finally, who would have thunk decades ago that the Technics 1200 would carry the distinction to be used as a "DJ instrument" for scratching (the motor is that strong) as well as being dubbed the honorary title of the true "Wheel of Steel"!

It's one of the classic turntables out there & it's built like a tank. Mine (at least the one I picked up) of course didn't come with a stylus so you will have to get one of those... but it's a great turntable. Good sound quality (depending on the stylus you use - try Grado's if you've got the cash to burn) and well made.

Except for one design flaw... the output wiring. The output wiring (white/red) that you would put into your mixer or phono pre-amp isn't that great. That wouldn't be so annoying - except that you have to dis-assemble the bottom of the table (just unscrew the mat) to actually be able to unplug the bloody thing to make the changes and put a better cable in there or replace the cable if need be... and you DO NOT want to do that or void your warranty if it's new. Cables bust & go bad... IMO they should've made it easier to dis-assemble that & not built it into the table.

But otherwise, it's a great table that'll do you well with the right mixer & cartridges, of course.

The technics direct drive table that you are looking at is a great buy for anyone. The technics tables have a great rep. amoung D.J's for being a very well built and sturdy turntable. A direct drive is they way to go if you are looking to do any back cueing, and scratching. This is due to the fact that a belt driven turntable will burn the belt and distroy the motor. If you are planing to listen to your old records eather one will do. James D. Higgins D.J. RA Exit Only Entertainment

This turntable is top of the line. Exactly the same as the one my mother bought for her top dollar Technics home stereo system in the late 70s and hers still works, Technics is a trusted name in home audio and when I buy my first home stereo component system it will be a Technics.