[JP78]

Hey guys,

Finally got a stock MK5 table, and I was wondering where I should start with cost-effective / easy to implement mods? I'm not prepared to open this guy up yet, so please keep recommendations to things that don't involve messing with the innards. I'm looking for bang for the buck here, since I don't have a big budget. Maybe $100 or less to start?

Best,

[Miney]

In case you haven't yet been, the Technics board @ Vinyl Engine is a lively source for info on 1200 optimization. 

IMO, the under $100 threshold is challenging, assuming you're not a hands-on tweaker, and already have the fundamentals covered e.g., TT setting on very level & stable surface with a decent cartridge that's properly mounted.

Personally... the only <$100 performance change I've made was the Herbie's mat.  The KAB fluid damper seems to be considered is a gotta-have, but that's $149.00 - mine came with one so can't offer insight on the difference it made.  The second most common recommendation seems to be tonearm rewire, but that's prolly $200... but some folks would say ANY arm investment is throwing good $ after bad and the arm s/b replaced altogether, which would prolly be at least $500 depending on what you get and craftiness.  There's the power supply, but that's prolly at least $300 and also bearings, rings, and so on...

And finally there are some in these parts that say not to throw anything at a 1200 and that your money's better invested in _____ .  In other words, "cost-effective" is quite a subjective term... .

In any event, enjoy the ride....  and good luck.

[Wayner]

Get rid of the stock mat. That is a must. If I had a spare one, I'd send it to you. It's made from sponge EPDM and takes out all the platter noise and darkness.

Next, I have found that a small dot of plasticlay, about 2" down from the pivots, on the arm tube seems to help take some arm resonance out, without killing the cartridge.

Do not let the 45 RPM adaptor sit in the well.

I also always run about a 2° rake angle on the stylus, so raise your tonearm so it leans forward a bit.

If it's a new(er) SL1200, like since about 2008, there is a known capacitance problem with the stock interconnects. If you go visit Kevin at www.KABUSA.com, there is some good reading on some of the tweaks.

Wayner

[TONEPUB]

I'd agree, if you've only got $100 to spend the mat is the way to roll.

You can take the 1200 as far as you want to go with it.  You can spend a hundred bucks or you can spend ten grand on it.

The main factor to consider if you go crazy with your 1200 is that you should really love it and be prepared to keep it.  Highly modified anything usually doesn't retain much of its value on the secondary market. 

[JP78]

The TT is a MK5, so later version.

Thanks for all the advice guys. This is my first TT so I figure I'll start slow and just spend a lot of time enjoying some vinyl first. Picked up some of the usual suspects of my favorite "oldies" (re-release Rumours, Kind of Blue, Bowie Ziggy, etc)...most of my audio money is going to go into vinyl for the near (and far) future!

Which one will have a bigger improvement, the KAB fluid damper or the Herbie's mat? Figure I may as well get one for Christmas, and have something to look forward to in a couple months.

Will get started on reading some forums as well. Thanks again!

[LM]

JP78,

I have both items and each makes a really worthwhile difference but the mat is more fundamental (and a bit cheaper ) as a first present to oneself.  Make sure you order the correct size though.  The Techy has a slightly raised lip on the edge of the platter so get the slightly smaller 285mm recommended size.  Thickness is not quite so critical but I got the 3.7mm thick mat and it suits the VTA range OK though you could go as thick as the original mat if you like which from memory (it's packed away somewhere so can't check) is about 6mm thick.

[LeeH]

The TT is a MK5, so later version.

Thanks for all the advice guys. This is my first TT so I figure I'll start slow and just spend a lot of time enjoying some vinyl first. Picked up some of the usual suspects of my favorite "oldies" (re-release Rumours, Kind of Blue, Bowie Ziggy, etc)...most of my audio money is going to go into vinyl for the near (and far) future!

Which one will have a bigger improvement, the KAB fluid damper or the Herbie's mat? Figure I may as well get one for Christmas, and have something to look forward to in a couple months.

Will get started on reading some forums as well. Thanks again!

I tried a Herbies mat on my SL1210 and it killed the music, currently trying an Achromat. Have you tried turning the stock mat upside down, worked ok for me

Lee