Jeff,
As I think you know....I have the full KAB motor and strobe disabler on my Technics Mk. II...along with an Origin Live Illustrious III arm (my stock arm was mashed, so no comparo was able). That's $4000 of table, arm, armboard and motor mods (new prices)
I shifted out feet for brass toes and a maple block (very helpful) and the stock mat, too. I played the deck for months...and came to the conclusion that my (ebay purchased $100...+ $40 of plasticlay) JVC DD table sounds better, as does the fully set-up VPI HW-19 Mk. III/AQ PT-6 now.
I'm
completely agnostic on drive mechanisms and even features or build specs....I focus only on which table plays better.
The Technics sounds kinda' dark and dead to me...something that has been said about the unit by others in passing. It's definitely fine and certainly well made, but it lacks that last vestige of something standing in it's way.
Dave Cawley of Sound HiFi in the UK believes it's the stock regulator - which is left in the KAB mods. His mods eliminate and update it with a much beefier power supply.
http://www.soundhifi.com/sl1200/index.htmLotsa' neat stuff on his page...I know him only in reading, but a comparison to his modded version a Technics SL-1200 might be highly illuminating to you and your readers.
Regards, John
