Steve Guttenberg is simply a fantastic reviewer - knowledgeable, honest, real and educational. Bravo. Notice his recent CREEK 4040 review, or his TEAC 701T review, you always learn something from this man.
Steve I live in Manchester England. I already own two Technics 1200 turntables and I love them both. After watcking your video I shall be getting the 1300 for my living room. Love you.
I gotta tell ya brother, I looked long and hard at these two tables for my upgrade. I currently have an old school SL-1200 Mk 5 and it's served me well for the last 18 years. BUT I finally chose the SL-1210 G for my 'last' table. I'm going to pair it initially with an Ortofon 2M Bronze. I'm really looking forward to re-listening to my vintage collection of rock albums from the 60s and 70s. Excellent review Steve.
I have the original SL1300 from 1974. Automatic cueing, no pitch slider, but it retains the strobe platter, which I love (could watch it for hours). Perfection.👌
We should tell all buyers of the original SL1300 about SONY's PS-LX350H from the year 1999, a low down, you know, copy of a Technics 1200 MkII, and obviously made by Matsushita for SONY,, the pattern on the rubber platter mat is pure Technics just as years before that in 1976, Trio | Kenwood too had made turntables for SONY ... and these 'stone resin' plinth turntables were great Disco turntables (for the huge Home Disco speakers) but had a 'dull' sound, and to tell the truth, the Technics 1200 MK II also had a dull sound, these heavy plinth turntables are somewhat dubious. Some think the SONY PS-LX350H is every bit as good as a Technics SL1300 using the SONY equipment of the time. But you see the own branded SONY cartridge meant for them probably gave a much better sound, only SONY you know lasts only about 2 years on average.
@@BO-kh1iz ...well you know, it uses the platter from the Technics SL-1800 that is Direct Drive but ... the secret to these is using their catalog match 'system' amplifier and speakers.
@@keplermission There is a full range of vintage Technics manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic turntables. I´d rather get a vintage Technics SL 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600 than getting anywhere near this flimsy & rickety piece of junk named SONY PS-LX350H. Doesn´t matter if they use one part of technics or not. And the Technics Sl 1800 was rather a low-end turn table. There are some very good vintage SONY turntables, but the PS-LX350H certainly is not one of them.
@@BO-kh1iz You know ... there are some very good (looking) vintage turntables but the sound of the low end ones might be nearly as good and the prices of the popular stuff are very high. Don't be fooled by high prices, you know, it really depends on your room as ... Herb ... says.
i have the 1210 G as well , i like the clean looks of the new one , but also like the looks of the DJ table as well . the one thing that the new one does not have it the platter brake ,when you stop it .i love that feature,thank you for all your good reviews ,
With the exception of a Thornes TD145 (love/hate relationship w/ that table) I've been using Technics broadcast models for about 25 years. I preordered the 1300G and I'm looking forward to it. It's my 1st "new" turntable in over 40 years. And even that was a Technics!
Another top-notch review, at the end viewers know how they sound and can make good choices. The 1300 looks a lot nicer, that's for sure. Still, the 1200 still seems to pull its weight. Dare I say, there's a connection to what we did in print to what you're doing now to a MUCH larger audience, so I can only say BRAVO! Bring it on... trickle down finally worked in one industry.
@@cradio52 I have a Pioneer PL-50L II and a Kenwood KP990. Both have electronic auto lift where there's an optical sensor that sees the arm at the end of the record (the shaft on the arm has a tiny mirror on it). Then the cueing is by solenoid. So there's no real mechanical interplay with the arm's travel. Both of these are from the early to mid 80s and still work perfectly. Electronics can be very reliable.
OK Technics, give us a 1100G. It would be an exact copy of the 1200G without the sliders, the strobe, etc., but with the same chassis, tonearm, platter and drive system.
As I mentioned, I was looking at an EAR or VPI, I couldn’t get past the Circuit City DJ table look. But after one final audition I grabbed the SL1200G, and love it. But an 1100G? Might just make the swap.
@@joshthayer1100 I bet its coming. Given that this barrows some things from 1000R it seems like they are testing to see what makes the biggest difference. That and they are also milking the market because they are pretty much competing with only themselves in the direct drive game at this point.
Holy cow, this was amazingly quick to report. I was looking forward to hearing your feelings on this new deck. Very recently I upgraded, but I decided to be a reasonable person and bought the GR II with the thoughts of using the savings for additional upgrades and vinyl purchases. After seeing this new deck on other sites, in my mind I figured you’d still prefer the 1200. Probably the arm and the more robust plinth are its finer attributes as you very well stated. I really appreciate that you revisited your admiration for vinyl and called out artists and specific examples that you had used during the listening sessions. I usually end up buying at least one of your selections, this time it’ll be Gill Evans. I already have most of the Stones early albums all in Mono, I find them way better than any Stereo recordings especially when using a mono cartridge, the humble Grado ME+. The Platinum III is on the horizon. Thanks again. ✌️
Well, for checking super deep bass notes there's a reggae LP album called "Various Virgin Front Line II Sounds Of Reality" , a track by The Twinkle Bros 'I Love You So' and U-Brown 'Natty Dread On Mountain Top', if not some other tracks on there like Jah Works. So uh ... what you're listening for is feedback howl, on the Technics 1300, it's probably going to be affected by the ringing plinth - where a Disco turntable obviously, is going to be immune. But how LOUD can we listen 1200 vs 1300, Steve never said.
@@paulsacramone3193 You know uh ... the Denon is probably made in the same Japanese factory as the Technics because these are merely brands, as in for Cattle, John Wayne, Red River and 'D' for Dunson. Now uh ... it figures that one brand you know, is going to look and sound different from another. So you know Steve might just have the best sound system for a Technics but a Denon, is possibly going to sound better with Denon stuff and outsourced equipment that has more of a Denon sonic signature.
@@davidstevens7809 The R.I.A.A. is not an agreement but a curve plot on paper and suits certain cartridges by Brand, the width of the grooves in the vinyl record affect power of low notes, the 12 inch 45 thought better, but that record I gave you cut by a Studio Technician known as 'Porky Prime' and without doubt ... the most awesome LP in the business, everybody ought to have it as a test record for comparing detail with how loud we can turn the volume control with vinyl records.
Thanks for this. Was hoping the 1300G was just a cleaned up 1200G. Never liked the “disco” look. lol. The resonance test was enough for me. I believe that might be the difference in your listening experience. Thanks ….another great review.
Well long ago a Radio Shack C.E.O. told me their Realistic LAB-395 was custom made by Audio Technica and I checked recently who owns that brand, and was amazed to discover it's actually owned by Matsushita Electric! So now we know that the Direct Drive Servo-Motor in the 395 is basically a Technics, and the inside of the 395 is surprisingly similar to a Technics SL-150, wow! Not only that but the new Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB turntable (that would have been a Realistic branded turntable) boasts a new Servo-Motor. But the LAB-395 isn't a bargain today, we could get a used Technics much cheaper.
I'm glad that you're open and performance minded to use a direct drive turntable. I at least need an auto-shutoff TT so that I won't accidentally forget (very likely) to turn it off.
Oh woe is me! Now you make me regret selling my Technics 1200 DD turntable and I sold it for a song (ha, ha). I love how you are into what I as a baby boomer would still call contemporary music. Although I do love a good classical recording that post millennial era right there is more on pointe. Thank you Steve
The real (regrettably unanswered) question is what do you get with a 1300G over the 1200GR2? I love your channel but need to know what does the extra thousand get me besides the platter and clean looks?
Technics hurt themselves because many people (like me) are waiting for a model with all of the quality of the 1200G, without DJ features. Only that will replace my classic Technics SP-15 that I've been using for decades. Great review, Steve!
They'll keep making the 1200G until sales flag. I bit the bullet, I HATE the looks, but damn, what a fine table. And I was fully ready to spend another $2-3k. I would also assume eliminating pitch control etc. would simplify the pathway for improved sound.
The difference between the 2, or any other turntable for that matter, comes down to signal to noise ratio. The lower the rumble, the more detailed the turntable will be. You don't rap the turntable while it plays, but the deader the platter, the lesser the resonance and thus the lower the rumble.
I have the Technics SL-1210GAE (limited edition G). I felt the same coming from other belt driven turntables - Rega, MoFi etc. the technics is just more inviting and fun to use--from the cue level to the platter to the solid feeling I get from the deck itself. And this is before I start playing music! The only upgrades I did to make it truly awesome was to replace the mat with a Funk Firm Achromat 5mm and replace the stock RCA cables with Inakustik premium (cheap but my favourite RCAs). Made all the difference to audio quality! I put a Nagaoka MP500 cart on it and I never want another turntable. This is my end-game deck.
Technics turntables are best used with Technics cartridges. Technics EPC-P100C Mk.4 has a wide-band sound 5Hz-120KHz 1.2mV but Nagakoa is 20Hz-25KHz, 3mV and these suit different input stages.
I'd love to see a Technics turntable like the 1300G but with the little light to clearly see the needle when positioning it over the start of a LP record. So, I guess my dream TT would be a "semi-DJ" or "Semi-audiophile", just for that feature alone...
I have a Thoren TD124 Mk.2. At the time I bought it, I was also considering the Technics SL1200. When I listened to them both, the Thorens sounded better in a blind listening test. (Slightly better bass and noticeably better midrange). Does the 1300 Technics address these (admittedly subtle) issues?
There is only one way to top the 1200G in the technic's "stable" a 1000R. Almost 5 times the price. But a bargain compared to other so called "true audiophile" grade "vynil turners" 😂 The 1200G is the best "audiophile" grade turntable that "regular" hi fi fans can afford from any brand, full stop.
You know a Technics, wow! 1000R is a Broadcast Studio turntable not a Disco turntable and so it ... wasn't designed for LOUD music in the same room but rather, how much detail it could extract from a vinyl record, and so also configured for much more expensive cartridges. So the 1200G is 'A Okay' for the affordable cartridges (like Ortofon, Grado, Audio Technica) and the 1000R might not sound best with these but at its price point, urge the buyer to spend their time with more suitable components.
The Technics SL-1200 series was never originally marketed as a DJ player. No, it is a quality product from the 1970s, from the time when gramophone record technology was fully developed.
I'm in my 50s so to me a turntable should look like an SL 1200 xxx (DJ or not) because in the 80s when i was a teenager thats what good turntables looked like.
Yeah but Google tells us that Denon you know is downmarket of SONY and that guru of lifestyle is downmarket of Technics and we can get Pioneer Disco CD players for a reasonable sum, today refurbished, the 1000 and the 800 are going to give 1200 Mk II sound in a compact space and space is at a premium in many places that would ever see Denon, SONY or Technics.
TBH, the look of the SL1200G almost kept me from buying it. I’m glad I did though, and my vinyl experience is the same. I never thought I’d leave belt drive, but it’s so nice having a turntable that just works. Plus I saved a bit of money with the Technics. You did address what I was most curious about, verticals adjustment. To me it’s not minor, if you use an upgraded or different head shell, the VTA doesn’t cut it. And for the first time in my 50 years of audio I can not only afford but change carts in just minutes. I wound up getting a crystal mat to make up for it. Sounds like the 1300G is a good solution for the price point, but I’ll be keeping mine for now!
Steve I was very interested to hear that your enjoyed the Technics 1200G over the SME you had before. You seem to be suggesting that it was down to a question of the sound of the belt turntable vs.the sound of a direct drive. I wonder though whether there were other factors. Like the pleasure of a turntable’s physical useablity? I ask this because I am finding myself drawn more and more to the idea a traditional simple plinth-based turntable ( belt or direct drive) over my current direct-drive Brinkman Bardo. I find myself not wanting to play records on the Brinkmann , no matter how good I think it is, sonically. I suspect this is because I do not enjoy the form of the Brinkmann and how that affects its ease of use. Any thoughts, please?
Hi Steve, among all the video reviews, yours is the one I liked the most; however, after your conclusions, I think that perhaps it would have been appropriate to make a comparison with the 1200 GR as well. Greetings from Italy.
I bought the SL 1210 GAE when it was released. I'm with Steve, it is a truly enjoyable experience listening to records. Only music nothing more nothing less. Its a perfect piece of engineering. The slide is of no use to me. But I dont mind it be there. That is how a classic Technics SL 12** look like.
I replaced a Project belt drive with the SL-1200GR and love the way DD just seems to keep the sound even and powerful. The weakspot(ish), however, has always been the tonearm. That they built this table without making the magnesium arm available is a crime. Are they paying attention, at all, to consumer (audiophile) opinion?
When the SL1200 GAE/G was introduced I was disappointed they didn't also update the styling. In spite of that I bought a 1200G and I love it. Regarding the "DJ features" I've actually found the pitch control to be useful. A couple of LPs sounded a bit doggy, so simply upping the speed +2 restored natural tone. So it can be worthwhile. BTW I continue to be amused by the label "DJ table" for the SL1200. Look at the Technics history, it was designed for home audio. Then after years in production it was the DJs who kept it in their line up with demand for its rugged versatility. Now today several good to great tables at various price points.
Hi Steve! I have a question. Aren’t you curious about the gear that is cutting the original for future vinyl masters? I am curious how you would explore this matter as I had noticed before that you are into mics technology. You questioned that at least once before, right? So, what do you really think about the accuracy of the cutting gear? Like, everybody takes it for granted that it is accurate always and represents a standard to which everything else has to compare. But is it the standard?
I recently went back to direct drive with the Denon DP-3000NE and have to say I agree that I likely won't go back to belt drive. The Pro Ject I had was good but the Denon is just easier and better.
You know I'd ask Steve to get Herb to electrically match any cartridge under test to the input of the amplifier used for the audition. One size does not fit all. These are very difficult, time-consuming efforts of an electronics tech and young audiophiles have the energy but older people just ... need service techs to do it. It's not 'Technics' or the '1300g' but the electrical demands of your choices of turntable that won't suit just any amplifier so that we HAVE TO use matching devices. The QUAD 44 used to be used but these weren't very long-lived and not going to be very popular buys today.
I personally like the strobe light, pop up light, and pitch slider even tho im not a dj and just use it as a home listing hi-fi device. The light make it look a lot cooler to me which makes me enjoy it more. But to each their own. I have a black 1200Mk5 right now and will get other a GR2 or the G in a bit or see if they make a G2 as the G has been out for 7 yeas now
This comment will stick out like a sore thumb .. lol. I don’t have a turntable and sold all my vinyl. These days I listen to mostly rock and prog but one occasion jazz. Thanks for mentioning ‘Out of the Cool’ by Gil Evans, so vastly underrated and with some of the best jazz musicians of the period, I can only find one word to describe some of the tracks and that is ‘sublime’.
I’ve had plenty of SL1200’s and they are excellent TT’s but they can easily be beat sonically, by a Linn or similar TT. The Technics are perfect for their role tho 🎶
Don't forget the feet on the sl-1300g are in a plastic housing, as opposed to the feet on the sl-1200g, which are in a housing made from zinc and are truly heavy affairs.
Steve, I would love a comparison of similarly priced belt vs. direct drive turntables and why you are now a direct drive fan. I have an old Rega Planar 2 from the late 80's with the Grado Platinum cartridge you recommend and I love the sound. But am thinking of upgrading the turntable and wonder should I be considering direct drive. Good DD also seems more costly. For you Steve, is it mainly the ability to easily change cartridges? Thanks. As always love your programs.
Technics SL 1200 series tables start around $1000. It's not just about removable head shells, as I mentioned in the review I stopped playing my $20,000 SME turntable when I started living with the 1200 G. I enjoyed Music more
In the late 70s, we all had these direct drive turntables. Then we were sold on belt drive turntables, the Linn, VPI, Sota Sapphire, Oracle, etc. I was kind of shocked you sold your SME and went to direct drive. Is the Technics arm comparable to the SME? Then you have the folks going really old school with rim drive Garrard 401s. Things come full circle, I suppose.
What I'm saying is, I am enjoying Music more with the SL 1200 G and I did with the SME turntable. As for the tone arm difference, I cannot evaluate them separately from the turntables they were used with.
I love my 1998 Technics sl 1200 MK5 purchased in 2016 for $450. Does not sound hollow when I tap it on top. THUD. Would love to do a/b sound comparison between my turntable and a new one.
I found and bought an SL-1600 from a thrift store for $25.00. For me it sounds excellent so I'm curious how much better are these SL-1200 and SL-1300 TTs. Any thoughts?
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on interconnect cables - buy quality cables that will work at any level of system you have. Using a percentage of what you spent on your system/component towards cables ignores the actual quality of said cables - buy them on their own merits.
Get yourself the SL-1000R and put your suffers to rest. No more compromises and no more wondering if the table is up to the task. That being said a 1200G without the DJ stuff would be a killer product.
Here’s the thing that i don’t get….I have an SL 1200 and the SL1210 in black. Both still in perfect working order. So what has improved since its inception that would entice me to either invest in one of these or sell my trusted turntables..?
If your turntable is made after 2016 and it is a 1200 G, then nothing has changed. But I'm guessing your turntable is not a 1200 G. Compared to the older models the G has a different motor, heavier platter, 2 mm brass top, new power supply and a much different construction of the base. Does your turntable weigh 40 pounds?
So, 20,000 for the British SME Tt an u find u like the SL1200 better? Seems like a very expensive lesson. I picked up a Toshiba,SR-A200 w a Stanton 681EEE cart.stylus back in 80 and the system w an sx950 w CV SL-15 sounds great.
I get where you're coming from Steve but it really doesn't matter what a TT looks like, it just matters what it sounds like.....but the 1300G *does* look clean and very nice.
It's a shame Technics did not add different finishes to the redesign. Would love to see it in Gloss black w/ anodized brass tonearm or a Brushed Champange.
Strobe light is actually quite handy. I had some wow/flutter problems on one of my turntables and using app wasn't so convenient. I'd rather have this function in the tt than depend on my dropped smartphone's accelerometer.
Hi Steve, I m own a Thorens TD124 mk2 modified with a Ortofon SPU GME mk2 cart. How do you think this compares with the 1200G. I love my TD124 but to use it (big dustcover) is a bit of a thing.
Two months ago I bought the U-turn Theroy turntable. At $999.00, you can't find a better turntable! I dare you to try. It's sound is outstanding on so many levels. I'm enjoying music again.
I own the Technics sl1210gr and a Rega P3. Both have a Grado Gold 8mz stylus Rothwell Simplex for both. The Rega is noticeably better. The Technics is good the Rega is great. The difference isn’t subtle.
Steve, I just saw another review on this deck, and they said it was hand assembled in Japan. AFAIK the 1200G's are now assembled in Taiwan or similar? Love you to quickly mention in next vid. ✌
They do that if the demand is very high. But you know Taiwan ... Japan ... a bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush. Made in Japan and a waiting list of 4 years? Or made in Taiwan and you can buy it today?
I wish I could tell you but I don't have that superpower that allows me to remember the sound of a product that I only spent a couple of weeks with months ago. Sorry I cannot do that.
Steve makes a great point: if a piece of equipment changes your behavior, you're experiencing a real difference. Those people crying "you need a blind ABX comparative test" are simply not worth listening to.
I have the SL-1500 and the tonearm lift completely pisses me off. It feels like a .99 cheap toy. How can Technics screw something up that the user touches every time they play a record? It's simply not acceptable. If the SL-1300 has a cheap-feeling tonearm lift, it's a no-go for me.
How about replacing the arm? There are arm-boards made for Rega arms for example. I'm guessing a current Rega would seriously improve on any of the Technics arms.
Didn't the "DJ look" originate with the SL1200? Technics didn't design it to look like a DJ turntable. If so, it's probably more accurate to say the "the SL1200 look" or "early 80s look". It reminds me of minivans being eschewed by "soccer moms". Chrysler didn't design the Caravan for that "soccer mom look". Meanwhile soccer moms all drive SUVs now. Anyway-- interesting and thorough review!
Strange that you’re an old school salesman who has just now realized the beauty of a direct drive- I sold from 72 to 78 and went with a direct drive in 73? When the TECHNICS 1100 came out-i put a SME 309 arm on it - I have 3 dd tables today Dual 606 Pioneer pl 518 Technics fully automatic dd 😳😁
almost as if technics saw the denon dp3000ne and said lets listen to steve and do exactly that - an audiphile grade 1200 that doesnt look like a DJ table
Modern turntables use electronics to control the speed of the motor, unlike the older ones, which used synchronous motors, locked to the mains frequency.
@@parsaeye Well, that depends on how you define "modern." My Philips had electronic speed control in 1977. I believe VPI still prefers AC synchro motors, which should be very stable unless the belt starts to slip (based on a true story) 🙄
@patbarr1351 Turntable was technically obsolete in 1982, when the first CD went on sale. As a young electronics engineer maintaining audio and video equipment in the late 70s, my reference to modern turntable makes sense to me, but not necessarily to younger people!
Steve Guttenberg is simply a fantastic reviewer - knowledgeable, honest, real and educational. Bravo. Notice his recent CREEK 4040 review, or his TEAC 701T review, you always learn something from this man.
Steve
I live in Manchester England. I already own two Technics 1200 turntables and I love them both. After watcking your video I shall be getting the 1300 for my living room.
Love you.
That's great, enjoy!
I gotta tell ya brother, I looked long and hard at these two tables for my upgrade. I currently have an old school SL-1200 Mk 5 and it's served me well for the last 18 years. BUT I finally chose the SL-1210 G for my 'last' table. I'm going to pair it initially with an Ortofon 2M Bronze. I'm really looking forward to re-listening to my vintage collection of rock albums from the 60s and 70s. Excellent review Steve.
I have the original SL1300 from 1974. Automatic cueing, no pitch slider, but it retains the strobe platter, which I love (could watch it for hours). Perfection.👌
We should tell all buyers of the original SL1300 about SONY's PS-LX350H from the year 1999, a low down, you know, copy of a Technics 1200 MkII, and obviously made by Matsushita for SONY,, the pattern on the rubber platter mat is pure Technics just as years before that in 1976, Trio | Kenwood too had made turntables for SONY ... and these 'stone resin' plinth turntables were great Disco turntables (for the huge Home Disco speakers) but had a 'dull' sound, and to tell the truth, the Technics 1200 MK II also had a dull sound, these heavy plinth turntables are somewhat dubious. Some think the SONY PS-LX350H is every bit as good as a Technics SL1300 using the SONY equipment of the time. But you see the own branded SONY cartridge meant for them probably gave a much better sound, only SONY you know lasts only about 2 years on average.
@@keplermission 😂😂The Sony SONY PS-LX350H is a very low quality piece of junk belt-drive turn table. Give me a break.
@@BO-kh1iz ...well you know, it uses the platter from the Technics SL-1800 that is Direct Drive but ... the secret to these is using their catalog match 'system' amplifier and speakers.
@@keplermission There is a full range of vintage Technics manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic turntables. I´d rather get a vintage Technics SL 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600 than getting anywhere near this flimsy & rickety piece of junk named SONY PS-LX350H. Doesn´t matter if they use one part of technics or not. And the Technics Sl 1800 was rather a low-end turn table. There are some very good vintage SONY turntables, but the PS-LX350H certainly is not one of them.
@@BO-kh1iz You know ... there are some very good (looking) vintage turntables but the sound of the low end ones might be nearly as good and the prices of the popular stuff are very high. Don't be fooled by high prices, you know, it really depends on your room as ... Herb ... says.
Excellent review Steve, you have helped me to make my decision, thanks.
Thank you, Steve, enjoyable and informative review. Appreciate all.
i have the 1210 G as well , i like the clean looks of the new one , but also like the looks of the DJ table as well . the one thing that the new one does not have it the platter brake ,when you stop it .i love that feature,thank you for all your good reviews ,
Steve, this is one of your better and most focused videos.
First Hi-Fi review where I hear some love for music itself. 🙏
With the exception of a Thornes TD145 (love/hate relationship w/ that table) I've been using Technics broadcast models for about 25 years. I preordered the 1300G and I'm looking forward to it. It's my 1st "new" turntable in over 40 years. And even that was a Technics!
I preordered too! Hope I get mine first! LOL!
Another top-notch review, at the end viewers know how they sound and can make good choices. The 1300 looks a lot nicer, that's for sure. Still, the 1200 still seems to pull its weight. Dare I say, there's a connection to what we did in print to what you're doing now to a MUCH larger audience, so I can only say BRAVO! Bring it on... trickle down finally worked in one industry.
Thanks Jonathan!!
I really wish they had included an auto lift and shutoff feature on this one.
Same… at least auto-lift. It can be purely mechanical/analog, no need for additional electronics.
@@cradio52 I have a Pioneer PL-50L II and a Kenwood KP990. Both have electronic auto lift where there's an optical sensor that sees the arm at the end of the record (the shaft on the arm has a tiny mirror on it). Then the cueing is by solenoid. So there's no real mechanical interplay with the arm's travel. Both of these are from the early to mid 80s and still work perfectly. Electronics can be very reliable.
OK Technics, give us a 1100G. It would be an exact copy of the 1200G without the sliders, the strobe, etc., but with the same chassis, tonearm, platter and drive system.
As I mentioned, I was looking at an EAR or VPI, I couldn’t get past the Circuit City DJ table look. But after one final audition I grabbed the SL1200G, and love it. But an 1100G? Might just make the swap.
Jeez, that's what I thought the 1300G was meant to be, but apparently not.
Yep. Why wouldn't you make your top flight audiophile turntable without the DJ, non-audiophile extras?
@@joshthayer1100 I bet its coming. Given that this barrows some things from 1000R it seems like they are testing to see what makes the biggest difference. That and they are also milking the market because they are pretty much competing with only themselves in the direct drive game at this point.
@@martinscase3904 heritage
Holy cow, this was amazingly quick to report. I was looking forward to hearing your feelings on this new deck. Very recently I upgraded, but I decided to be a reasonable person and bought the GR II with the thoughts of using the savings for additional upgrades and vinyl purchases. After seeing this new deck on other sites, in my mind I figured you’d still prefer the 1200. Probably the arm and the more robust plinth are its finer attributes as you very well stated.
I really appreciate that you revisited your admiration for vinyl and called out artists and specific examples that you had used during the listening sessions. I usually end up buying at least one of your selections, this time it’ll be Gill Evans. I already have most of the Stones early albums all in Mono, I find them way better than any Stereo recordings especially when using a mono cartridge, the humble Grado ME+. The Platinum III is on the horizon. Thanks again. ✌️
Hi Dave, thanks for watching! You sound like you're on the right track! Steve
How want you to compare the Denon 3000 to the 1300 I would truly like to hear your thoughts on those two they are much closer and price
Well, for checking super deep bass notes there's a reggae LP album called "Various Virgin Front Line II Sounds Of Reality" , a track by The Twinkle Bros 'I Love You So' and U-Brown 'Natty Dread On Mountain Top', if not some other tracks on there like Jah Works. So uh ... what you're listening for is feedback howl, on the Technics 1300, it's probably going to be affected by the ringing plinth - where a Disco turntable obviously, is going to be immune. But how LOUD can we listen 1200 vs 1300, Steve never said.
I would like to hear that comparison also. I own a Denon 3000 and absolutely love it.
@@keplermissionthe bottom end is limited by the riaa agreement.
@@paulsacramone3193 You know uh ... the Denon is probably made in the same Japanese factory as the Technics because these are merely brands, as in for Cattle, John Wayne, Red River and 'D' for Dunson. Now uh ... it figures that one brand you know, is going to look and sound different from another. So you know Steve might just have the best sound system for a Technics but a Denon, is possibly going to sound better with Denon stuff and outsourced equipment that has more of a Denon sonic signature.
@@davidstevens7809 The R.I.A.A. is not an agreement but a curve plot on paper and suits certain cartridges by Brand, the width of the grooves in the vinyl record affect power of low notes, the 12 inch 45 thought better, but that record I gave you cut by a Studio Technician known as 'Porky Prime' and without doubt ... the most awesome LP in the business, everybody ought to have it as a test record for comparing detail with how loud we can turn the volume control with vinyl records.
Thanks for this. Was hoping the 1300G was just a cleaned up 1200G. Never liked the “disco” look. lol. The resonance test was enough for me. I believe that might be the difference in your listening experience. Thanks ….another great review.
Well long ago a Radio Shack C.E.O. told me their Realistic LAB-395 was custom made by Audio Technica and I checked recently who owns that brand, and was amazed to discover it's actually owned by Matsushita Electric! So now we know that the Direct Drive Servo-Motor in the 395 is basically a Technics, and the inside of the 395 is surprisingly similar to a Technics SL-150, wow! Not only that but the new Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB turntable (that would have been a Realistic branded turntable) boasts a new Servo-Motor. But the LAB-395 isn't a bargain today, we could get a used Technics much cheaper.
I think the magnesium arm is most responsible for the noted differences (resolution and transparency)
@@cpunter Good observation…..had not considered that after the “knock” test. Thanks for adding in
I'm glad that you're open and performance minded to use a direct drive turntable. I at least need an auto-shutoff TT so that I won't accidentally forget (very likely) to turn it off.
A comparison between the 1200GR2 and this would interest me more, but thanks for a fine review.
Oh woe is me! Now you make me regret selling my Technics 1200 DD turntable and I sold it for a song (ha, ha).
I love how you are into what I as a baby boomer would still call contemporary music. Although I do love a good classical recording that post millennial era right there is more on pointe. Thank you Steve
Thanks for putting me onto Out Of The Cool. 👌
I just bought the Denon, it’ll have to do for now - and the tone arm lifter is just fine.
I bought the Denon as well, fit and finish is fantastic. It sounds as good as it looks.
The real (regrettably unanswered) question is what do you get with a 1300G over the 1200GR2? I love your channel but need to know what does the extra thousand get me besides the platter and clean looks?
I just got a 1210 and really enjoying it.
Thanks for review Steve! But what about 1200gr vs 1300g? Should we upgrade or stay?
Man is looking fresh and his hearing is still great.
Technics hurt themselves because many people (like me) are waiting for a model with all of the quality of the 1200G, without DJ features.
Only that will replace my classic Technics SP-15 that I've been using for decades.
Great review, Steve!
They'll keep making the 1200G until sales flag. I bit the bullet, I HATE the looks, but damn, what a fine table. And I was fully ready to spend another $2-3k. I would also assume eliminating pitch control etc. would simplify the pathway for improved sound.
Still twice expensive as they should be.
@@Jake-et6ffmost are more expensive than need be…just like automobiles.
The difference between the 2, or any other turntable for that matter, comes down to signal to noise ratio. The lower the rumble, the more detailed the turntable will be. You don't rap the turntable while it plays, but the deader the platter, the lesser the resonance and thus the lower the rumble.
I have the Technics SL-1210GAE (limited edition G). I felt the same coming from other belt driven turntables - Rega, MoFi etc. the technics is just more inviting and fun to use--from the cue level to the platter to the solid feeling I get from the deck itself. And this is before I start playing music! The only upgrades I did to make it truly awesome was to replace the mat with a Funk Firm Achromat 5mm and replace the stock RCA cables with Inakustik premium (cheap but my favourite RCAs). Made all the difference to audio quality! I put a Nagaoka MP500 cart on it and I never want another turntable. This is my end-game deck.
Great, thanks for sharing!
Technics turntables are best used with Technics cartridges. Technics EPC-P100C Mk.4 has a wide-band sound 5Hz-120KHz 1.2mV but Nagakoa is 20Hz-25KHz, 3mV and these suit different input stages.
I need the 1300 looks at the GR2 price point!
Good stuff AudioPhiliac.....................👍
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
I'd love to see a Technics turntable like the 1300G but with the little light to clearly see the needle when positioning it over the start of a LP record. So, I guess my dream TT would be a "semi-DJ" or "Semi-audiophile", just for that feature alone...
I guess if you look around on the Internet you could find a small light you could attach to any turntable.
I have a Thoren TD124 Mk.2. At the time I bought it, I was also considering the Technics SL1200. When I listened to them both, the Thorens sounded better in a blind listening test. (Slightly better bass and noticeably better midrange). Does the 1300 Technics address these (admittedly subtle) issues?
There is only one way to top the 1200G in the technic's "stable" a 1000R. Almost 5 times the price. But a bargain compared to other so called "true audiophile" grade "vynil turners" 😂 The 1200G is the best "audiophile" grade turntable that "regular" hi fi fans can afford from any brand, full stop.
You know a Technics, wow! 1000R is a Broadcast Studio turntable not a Disco turntable and so it ... wasn't designed for LOUD music in the same room but rather, how much detail it could extract from a vinyl record, and so also configured for much more expensive cartridges. So the 1200G is 'A Okay' for the affordable cartridges (like Ortofon, Grado, Audio Technica) and the 1000R might not sound best with these but at its price point, urge the buyer to spend their time with more suitable components.
@@keplermissionwhat exactly is an “audiophile” turntable?
@@TemujinScott80 A Technics SP 20 and SAEC WE-308 Double Knife Edge Tonearm
oh really?
The Technics SL-1200 series was never originally marketed as a DJ player. No, it is a quality product from the 1970s, from the time when gramophone record technology was fully developed.
I'm in my 50s so to me a turntable should look like an SL 1200 xxx (DJ or not) because in the 80s when i was a teenager thats what good turntables looked like.
Yeah but Google tells us that Denon you know is downmarket of SONY and that guru of lifestyle is downmarket of Technics and we can get Pioneer Disco CD players for a reasonable sum, today refurbished, the 1000 and the 800 are going to give 1200 Mk II sound in a compact space and space is at a premium in many places that would ever see Denon, SONY or Technics.
TBH, the look of the SL1200G almost kept me from buying it. I’m glad I did though, and my vinyl experience is the same. I never thought I’d leave belt drive, but it’s so nice having a turntable that just works. Plus I saved a bit of money with the Technics. You did address what I was most curious about, verticals adjustment. To me it’s not minor, if you use an upgraded or different head shell, the VTA doesn’t cut it. And for the first time in my 50 years of audio I can not only afford but change carts in just minutes. I wound up getting a crystal mat to make up for it. Sounds like the 1300G is a good solution for the price point, but I’ll be keeping mine for now!
Steve I was very interested to hear that your enjoyed the Technics 1200G over the SME you had before. You seem to be suggesting that it was down to a question of the sound of the belt turntable vs.the sound of a direct drive. I wonder though whether there were other factors. Like the pleasure of a turntable’s physical useablity? I ask this because I am finding myself drawn more and more to the idea a traditional simple plinth-based turntable ( belt or direct drive) over my current direct-drive Brinkman Bardo. I find myself not wanting to play records on the Brinkmann , no matter how good I think it is, sonically. I suspect this is because I do not enjoy the form of the Brinkmann and how that affects its ease of use. Any thoughts, please?
6:52 Oh Steve, you're really missing out on something! I've put an SME V on my 1200G and it's WONDERFUL!
It's the best of both worlds! 👍
Cool. But most folks don’t hot rod their equipment.
@@Staybrown11 Hot rod? It's not a car lol
Finally Technics!!!!
Hi Steve, among all the video reviews, yours is the one I liked the most; however, after your conclusions, I think that perhaps it would have been appropriate to make a comparison with the 1200 GR as well. Greetings from Italy.
They better bury me with my 1200G 😮 I scored a open box.
I do like of the New look. 😊
I bought the SL 1210 GAE when it was released. I'm with Steve, it is a truly enjoyable experience listening to records. Only music nothing more nothing less. Its a perfect piece of engineering. The slide is of no use to me. But I dont mind it be there. That is how a classic Technics SL 12** look like.
Right, Steve! The Stones! Like no others!!!
I replaced a Project belt drive with the SL-1200GR and love the way DD just seems to keep the sound even and powerful. The weakspot(ish), however, has always been the tonearm. That they built this table without making the magnesium arm available is a crime. Are they paying attention, at all, to consumer (audiophile) opinion?
When the SL1200 GAE/G was introduced I was disappointed they didn't also update the styling. In spite of that I bought a 1200G and I love it.
Regarding the "DJ features" I've actually found the pitch control to be useful. A couple of LPs sounded a bit doggy, so simply upping the speed +2 restored natural tone. So it can be worthwhile.
BTW I continue to be amused by the label "DJ table" for the SL1200. Look at the Technics history, it was designed for home audio. Then after years in production it was the DJs who kept it in their line up with demand for its rugged versatility. Now today several good to great tables at various price points.
The stones had Brian Jones back then . He was the most talented instrumentalist in the band period.
I have the 1200G and I agree that it doesn’t have an elegant look. It looks a bit goofy but I’m glad I have it!
Can we have a review of the 1000 R at 18.999 GBP?
Hi Steve! I have a question. Aren’t you curious about the gear that is cutting the original for future vinyl masters? I am curious how you would explore this matter as I had noticed before that you are into mics technology. You questioned that at least once before, right? So, what do you really think about the accuracy of the cutting gear? Like, everybody takes it for granted that it is accurate always and represents a standard to which everything else has to compare. But is it the standard?
I recently went back to direct drive with the Denon DP-3000NE and have to say I agree that I likely won't go back to belt drive. The Pro Ject I had was good but the Denon is just easier and better.
It sounds like you are getting your money's worth from Technics. But the 1300g is much, much nicer looking in my eyes.
You know I'd ask Steve to get Herb to electrically match any cartridge under test to the input of the amplifier used for the audition. One size does not fit all. These are very difficult, time-consuming efforts of an electronics tech and young audiophiles have the energy but older people just ... need service techs to do it. It's not 'Technics' or the '1300g' but the electrical demands of your choices of turntable that won't suit just any amplifier so that we HAVE TO use matching devices. The QUAD 44 used to be used but these weren't very long-lived and not going to be very popular buys today.
I personally like the strobe light, pop up light, and pitch slider even tho im not a dj and just use it as a home listing hi-fi device. The light make it look a lot cooler to me which makes me enjoy it more. But to each their own. I have a black 1200Mk5 right now and will get other a GR2 or the G in a bit or see if they make a G2 as the G has been out for 7 yeas now
"Raw" is pretty much the last descriptive I would choose for "Talk Is Cheap." Nearly everything about it is slick.
This comment will stick out like a sore thumb .. lol. I don’t have a turntable and sold
all my vinyl. These days I listen to mostly rock and prog but one occasion jazz.
Thanks for mentioning ‘Out of the Cool’ by Gil Evans, so vastly underrated and with
some of the best jazz musicians of the period, I can only find one word to describe
some of the tracks and that is ‘sublime’.
Thanks Robert, digital only people are certainly welcome here on the channel!
In my opinion, I have owned Technics audio for over 35 years and you just can't beat the quality and the sound from Technics. A very underrated brand
I’ve had plenty of SL1200’s and they are excellent TT’s but they can easily be beat sonically, by a Linn or similar TT. The Technics are perfect for their role tho 🎶
Don't forget the feet on the sl-1300g are in a plastic housing, as opposed to the feet on the sl-1200g, which are in a housing made from zinc and are truly heavy affairs.
Steve, I would love a comparison of similarly priced belt vs. direct drive turntables and why you are now a direct drive fan. I have an old Rega Planar 2 from the late 80's with the Grado Platinum cartridge you recommend and I love the sound. But am thinking of upgrading the turntable and wonder should I be considering direct drive. Good DD also seems more costly. For you Steve, is it mainly the ability to easily change cartridges? Thanks. As always love your programs.
Technics SL 1200 series tables start around $1000. It's not just about removable head shells, as I mentioned in the review I stopped playing my $20,000 SME turntable when I started living with the 1200 G. I enjoyed Music more
Really interesting comparison. Would also be interesting to see you compare them to the SL-1000R.
I will still love and and enjoy my sl-1210 M5G grandmaster
Excellent review! Thanks! But doesn't the 1300G feature more advanced rotational technologies? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Yes, improve power supply and speed control. Absolutely.
In the late 70s, we all had these direct drive turntables. Then we were sold on belt drive turntables, the Linn, VPI, Sota Sapphire, Oracle, etc. I was kind of shocked you sold your SME and went to direct drive. Is the Technics arm comparable to the SME? Then you have the folks going really old school with rim drive Garrard 401s. Things come full circle, I suppose.
What I'm saying is, I am enjoying Music more with the SL 1200 G and I did with the SME turntable. As for the tone arm difference, I cannot evaluate them separately from the turntables they were used with.
I have a CEC TL-5 CD transport....with a Belt Drive. Love it!
I love my 1998 Technics sl 1200 MK5 purchased in 2016 for $450. Does not sound hollow when I tap it on top. THUD. Would love to do a/b sound comparison between my turntable and a new one.
Fine tables indeed, especially if you are into often swapping cartridges. Personally, I'll keep my VPI Aries.
I found and bought an SL-1600 from a thrift store for $25.00. For me it sounds excellent so I'm curious how much better are these SL-1200 and SL-1300 TTs. Any thoughts?
That’s all that matters. The excellent sound for you. I appreciate audiophile providing details… I don’t think it was this complex back in the day
Would love to hear any thought's on these turntables with different tonearm's?
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on interconnect cables - buy quality cables that will work at any level of system you have. Using a percentage of what you spent on your system/component towards cables ignores the actual quality of said cables - buy them on their own merits.
I have a SL-1210GR made in japan and i'm never thought of upgrade it to any of those new models.
Spend more on records!
Cool. Buy more records!
Same, and love it...
😅.same. my is from 1986. No Problems. A new lamplight. Better spend the money in a new System.👍🇩🇪
I wish they made the 1200GR 2 minus the dj speed controller. I never liked the dj table look.
@@vinylrules4838 Wouldn't that be the SL1500C?
So is the difference due to the arm or the turntable?
Get yourself the SL-1000R and put your suffers to rest. No more compromises and no more wondering if the table is up to the task. That being said a 1200G without the DJ stuff would be a killer product.
Here’s the thing that i don’t get….I have an SL 1200 and the SL1210 in black.
Both still in perfect working order.
So what has improved since its inception that would entice me to either invest in one of these or sell my trusted turntables..?
If your turntable is made after 2016 and it is a 1200 G, then nothing has changed. But I'm guessing your turntable is not a 1200 G. Compared to the older models the G has a different motor, heavier platter, 2 mm brass top, new power supply and a much different construction of the base. Does your turntable weigh 40 pounds?
So, 20,000 for the British SME Tt an u find u like the SL1200 better? Seems like a very expensive lesson.
I picked up a Toshiba,SR-A200 w a Stanton 681EEE cart.stylus back in 80 and the system w an sx950 w CV SL-15 sounds great.
How would the 1300g compare to the Denon 3000ne?
I get where you're coming from Steve but it really doesn't matter what a TT looks like, it just matters what it sounds like.....but the 1300G *does* look clean and very nice.
Can't believe ya didn't sell the SME and use the cash to get the SL-1000R
It's a shame Technics did not add different finishes to the redesign. Would love to see it in Gloss black w/ anodized brass tonearm or a Brushed Champange.
Strobe light is actually quite handy. I had some wow/flutter problems on one of my turntables and using app wasn't so convenient. I'd rather have this function in the tt than depend on my dropped smartphone's accelerometer.
Hi Steve, I m own a Thorens TD124 mk2 modified with a Ortofon SPU GME mk2 cart. How do you think this compares with the 1200G. I love my TD124 but to use it (big dustcover) is a bit of a thing.
Two months ago I bought the U-turn Theroy turntable. At $999.00, you can't find a better turntable! I dare you to try. It's sound is outstanding on so many levels. I'm enjoying music again.
I own the Technics sl1210gr and a Rega P3. Both have a Grado Gold 8mz stylus Rothwell Simplex for both. The Rega is noticeably better. The Technics is good the Rega is great. The difference isn’t subtle.
Steve, I just saw another review on this deck, and they said it was hand assembled in Japan. AFAIK the 1200G's are now assembled in Taiwan or similar? Love you to quickly mention in next vid. ✌
They do that if the demand is very high. But you know Taiwan ... Japan ... a bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush. Made in Japan and a waiting list of 4 years? Or made in Taiwan and you can buy it today?
Hey Steve. Would you upgrade the SL1300G's power supply to an after market linear power supply?
Could you not just afford the G?
Hi, How does the new Technics 1300g compare to the Denon DP-3000NE?
I wish I could tell you but I don't have that superpower that allows me to remember the sound of a product that I only spent a couple of weeks with months ago. Sorry I cannot do that.
But is it substantially better than the previous gen of SL1200s?
Steve .You mentioned that you never use the dust cover on turntables. Why?
Gets in the way
I rent out a small room, so I always use the dust cover surface for my kettle and also a cutting board haha 🤣
Steve makes a great point: if a piece of equipment changes your behavior, you're experiencing a real difference. Those people crying "you need a blind ABX comparative test" are simply not worth listening to.
you need a blind ABX comparative test
@@colauxbenoit4303 What's that? I couldn't hear you 😛
My guess is that the difference is tone arm and maybe cables.
The same cables, Cardas, were used on both turntables.
I have the SL-1500 and the tonearm lift completely pisses me off. It feels like a .99 cheap toy. How can Technics screw something up that the user touches every time they play a record? It's simply not acceptable. If the SL-1300 has a cheap-feeling tonearm lift, it's a no-go for me.
Cool. Don’t buy it.
How about replacing the arm? There are arm-boards made for Rega arms for example. I'm guessing a current Rega would seriously improve on any of the Technics arms.
It’s acceptable to a lot of people. Replace the arm. Simple
For how long have you owned the turntable? For whatever reason the lif mechanism now works better than when I bought it...the strengest thing
I think this 1300G is more like a 1200GR2 with some premium components of the 1200G added, but with the "DJ features" removed.
If the arm was too high, was the height adjustment out of range?
Based on Steve, the height adjustment didn't go far enough to support the cartridge he was using.
@@bocrux Never had that before, but I have seen some really big cartridges.
I guess Technics overlooked that part.
The 1200mk2 is best vintage.. turntables dont control the imaging..the cartridge and its alignment does somewhat..of course the recording.
I don't know which Technics turntable to buy anymore...🥴🥴🥴
There are too many choices !!
So, I might get a Pioneer PLX 1000 turntable...
Didn't the "DJ look" originate with the SL1200? Technics didn't design it to look like a DJ turntable. If so, it's probably more accurate to say the "the SL1200 look" or "early 80s look". It reminds me of minivans being eschewed by "soccer moms". Chrysler didn't design the Caravan for that "soccer mom look". Meanwhile soccer moms all drive SUVs now. Anyway-- interesting and thorough review!
Did you review the SL-1200GR"?
Yes I did, but not the GR2
Does 1200G have the magnesium tonearm
Yes
My audiophile friend from Japan complained that the 1300g was too expensive.
My wish would be a 1200G without the DJ look, with an outboard power supply and possibility of an extra arm.
Strange that you’re an old school salesman who has just now realized the beauty of a direct drive-
I sold from 72 to 78 and went with a direct drive in 73? When the TECHNICS 1100 came out-i put a SME 309 arm on it - I have 3 dd tables today
Dual 606
Pioneer pl 518
Technics fully automatic dd
😳😁
almost as if technics saw the denon dp3000ne and said lets listen to steve and do exactly that - an audiphile grade 1200 that doesnt look like a DJ table
That's what I thought!
I can buy a lot of records saving that $1K.
Or save $3500 and buy a Fluance...
Do it.
@@outbackwack368no
How do you ensure the TT speed without a strobe?
Modern turntables use electronics to control the speed of the motor, unlike the older ones, which used synchronous motors, locked to the mains frequency.
@@parsaeye Well, that depends on how you define "modern." My Philips had electronic speed control in 1977. I believe VPI still prefers AC synchro motors, which should be very stable unless the belt starts to slip (based on a true story) 🙄
@@parsaeye So Im hearing trust.
@patbarr1351 Turntable was technically obsolete in 1982, when the first CD went on sale. As a young electronics engineer maintaining audio and video equipment in the late 70s, my reference to modern turntable makes sense to me, but not necessarily to younger people!