[undertow]

They are simply re-marketing it as something new. Its the same direct drive they developed and sold millions of for all the 1200 models including this one. As for fixing any variation in the "Synchronization" the KAB solution on the link above already will do that, and add a Strobe chip, along with much better power supply!

And actually the funny thing is they still kept the 1975 pitch slider! No DJ's are buying this thing, so its more or less useless, so why even include it adding to cost? There is next to zero R&D in this, its all going to the new marketing campaign, and coming out of your pocket trust me!

[Bear]

Click on the spindle button:

http://www.technics.com/us/introduction/hifi-direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200gae/


Coreless Direct Drive Motor

Conventional analogue turntables have problems with degradation in sound quality caused by factors such as minute speed vibration during rotation and rotation irregularity called "cogging." In the SL-1200GAE, the use of a newly developed coreless direct-drive motor with no iron core eliminates cogging. Also, the twin-rotor construction reduces the bearing load while maintaining high torque, and also reduces minute vibration during rotation. These factors enable reproduction of the warm, exquisitely detailed sound etched on analogue records.
High-Precision Motor Control Technology

The application of motor control technology developed for Blu-ray devices, and switching the drive mode depending on the operational status of the motor achieve a high starting torque and high speed stability.

    Rotor magnets Hybrid Encoder for rotational speed detection

    Stator windings (coils) Hall elements for rotor position detection

    Shaft and self-lubricating (lubricant-impregnated metal) Stator frame

[undertow]

Every 1200 motor is a Corless / brushless dc motor non-cogging. It just means it has no GEARS... They all have the magnetic drive, and I am sorta skeptical that any variation of this motor will net huge sonic results. The motor was always fine on the 1200 anyway, and arguably to this day still a far advanced design compared to most gear driven or pulley turntables.

That was their whole claim to fame, and why DJ's like them. You had no gears to strip, and going backwards it was a floating platform inside the doughnut so no physical touching parts. You can beat the crap out of the motor and never damage it, and it will return back to perfect speed everytime because it has ZERO MOVING parts unlike most direct drives, or belt driven. 

They may have updated the drive controller, but thats a 2.00 dollar chip whether used in a blu ray player or not, you can buy aftermarket once again from KAB and do better than even they are on the new model.

My suggestion is you guys go grab them up on Ebay before all the 300 dollar ones disappear and people realize a new one is $4000.00 cranking the used prices up to $1500 bucks.

By the way you don't have to oil these things because there really is not even a bearing like most tables, it spins via magnetic field. Don't worry your not missing anything buying a model from 1975 or 1995 with aftermarket upgrades installed compared to this one.

[RDavidson]

Making assumptions then giving others advice based on assumptions is bad practice. Fact of the matter, until people have these in hand and have taken a true look at what Technics has done, or unless you work for Technics, what you say has no more merit than anyone else. My assumption is that this new 1200 will be a true upgrade over the old design, based on the recent revival of the Technics name along with a product lineup that is clearly high end AND likely better than anything else they've ever made. Stereophile had a lot of good things to say about the new Technics monitor speakers. When was the last time that happened, if ever?

[werd]

I notice the Pioneer Plx 1000 lines the tone arm with rubber ( they appear to be proud of it) . Is this common in DJ Direct drive TTs? 

[undertow]

Sorry I fail to see what assumptions were made? I only pointed out all these issues are solved with KAB kits as it stands. Hell at $4000 I would agree IF they at least dumped the weakest point on this table in the first place.

What is that weak point? The "S" arm. Not saying the S arms are bad, but If they went to somebody like Graham engineering or something, and had an updated much better arm that would be worth $2000.00 at least on its own.

Problem with the original S arms like this is they really only perform best with higher compliance cartridges for the most part. And you really gotta be careful with the weight of the cartridge, anything going above 9 maybe 10 grams starts to max out what is necessary to get the optimized performance out of it.

[dmckean]

By that logic, the SP10 and SP15 was the same design too and should not carry a premium over the lowliest of Technics DD turntables.

[simoon]

Not only is $4K ridiculous for the special edition, anything over is $1K for a standard version is overpriced.

When I think about all the great tables I could get for 4K, the Technics wouldn't make the list.

[*Scotty*]

undertow, if take you look at the Technics SL2000 service manual you will see that while the description of both motor assemblies is applicable, the two motors are very different animals. The nod goes to the new SL 2000 motor design hands down.
Pay particular attention to the exploded view, items No.6 and 7 which show the drive coil assembly and the FG coil assembly.
http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/docs_manuals/technics_sl-1200mk2_sl-1210mk2_service_manual_b.pdf
Scotty

[twitch54]

Not only is $4K ridiculous for the special edition, anything over is $1K for a standard version is overpriced.

and you know this to be, how ??

When I think about all the great tables I could get for 4K

name some please ………….

[neobop]

You guys are living in yesteryear.  Just because it looks like the old 1200 doesn't mean it can't outperform a $4K table.  What's the best table for $4K, VPI Prime?  VPI needs a $1K speed box to compete, so VPI Classic is $3K + $1K SDS.  What's the Classic got, a $25 motor and a 20lb platter?  It might look better than the new 1200, but how do you know it sounds better?

The old 1200 had a BRUSHLESS motor, not CORELESS.  It's not the same.  What's the problem with a pitch control, it looks like the old one?  The JVC TT101, TT81 had pitch controls.  Many of the TOTL DDs had pitch controls, now it's passé ?  It is assumed the electronics are virtually the same.  Although we don't know that, what if it is?  The electronics were developed by Technics and they're probably tweaked for the motor and platter.  Having more rotational mass than a SP10 MK2 is impressive.  So is the aluminum top plate.

Look at the belt drives for $3-4K and you get back to the same old belt vs. direct.  DDs are more expensive to build unless they're made in China?  Brinkman Bardo is $8K w/o arm.  Right now it's the least expensive audiofool DD table.  Why did Technics stop making 1200s in the first place?  It wasn't economically feasible. 

Some people talk like they've already heard it and opened it up.  Give it a chance.
neo

[Charles Calkins]

 
     Hi Guys:

         I'm not into listening to tunes on a turntable. I have heard LP's played on a very expensive turntable system. I was IMPRESSED!!! needless to say.
         But thanks to Wayner  I have a Rega TT with Wayner's Grado gold longhorn cartridge set up. Sounds okay to me.

          Call me goofy if you like but I have a small collection of LP's from the 50's and 60's All analogue recording's.
          I have bought some LP's that have been remastered by a digital process. The few digital remastered LP's I bought I have the original done in
          analogue.
          To my ears the original analogue recordings sound a wee bit better and smoother than the remastered ones done by digital

           SO!!! will somebody tell me if I'm GOOFY!!! or maybe I might be right?

                                                            Cheers
                                                           Charlie
         

[undertow]

Charlie,

9 out of 10 times any already excellent analog master pressed back in the day in excellent shape you will find can sound better than new digital mastered re-presses. Generally though it can be difficult to find the best gems of original pressings so in fact some times newer pressings are fine substitutes, but not necessarily better. In the the past few years many new re-released rock albums in specific have gotten much better, and some of the truly terrible originals of those bands are just terrible no matter what so in this case the new versions can easily be more enjoyable to listen to, so no you're only half goofy!

[Bear]

undertow, if take you look at the Technics SL2000 service manual you will see that while the description of both motor assemblies is applicable, the two motors are very different animals. The nod goes to the new SL 2000 motor design hands down.
Pay particular attention to the exploded view, items No.6 and 7 which show the drive coil assembly and the FG coil assembly.
http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/docs_manuals/technics_sl-1200mk2_sl-1210mk2_service_manual_b.pdf
Scotty

Exactly.  Why I posted the link, click on the spindle then mouse over the buttons on the right.

http://www.technics.com/us/introduction/hifi-direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200gae/

vs.

[wushuliu]

The real takeaway is that the big companies are taking turntables seriously. We've got the TEAC, the Pioneer, the Technics, a Sony model coming, as well as the popular indie Orbit by U-Turn. This is a major sea change in just a few years. And I'm sure more are on the way.

Hopefully this means the vintage prices will settle down as well.

[jsaliga]

For me the takeaway is that Technics is in the process of re-inventing itself as a luxury/audiophile brand, and in order to do that it has to distance itself from the DJ market that it has been closely associated with for so long.  Perhaps it took them a while to figure out how gullible audiophiles truly are.    Maybe there will be a matching $2,500 Technics phono preamp and $800 phono cable to complete the package.

All kidding aside, it will be interesting to see reviews and owner comments.

I might have missed it because I have not been following this news that closely, but are there plans to bring back a table similar to the SL-1200MKII at a less than a $1,000 price point?

--Jerome

 

[Wayner]

I doubt the 1K price point will be in the mix. I am curious how a big company can entertain a low volume assembly line (because of the high price), as these concepts do not work in a mass-market high volume environment. Some one posted that they thought the regular version would be at the same price as the SE, but that doesn't make any sense.

I suspect that the "Technics" division of the company is not going to have "thousands" of employees, more like "tens", or Matsushita is not going to be involved in the build process at all. Farmed out product perhaps........

'ner