Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?

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jtsnead

Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« on: 12 Aug 2011, 01:03 pm »
Picked up this table for what I feel is a decent price:

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330595615497&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT[/url

Like new condition except for the dust cover of course.

I have a Grace F9E installed on it now sounds very promising,
was wondering if anyone has tried different mats?
It seems the arm could be lower for better bass out of this cartridge
ie: a taller/thicker tt mat?

Very cool looking tt in person, looking at adding KAB mods later, thoughts
on these?.

Thanks,
JT

Wayner

Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #1 on: 12 Aug 2011, 03:15 pm »
Almost all cartridges track better with a 2 degree VTA, that means the ass end of the tonearm should be sticking up. A thicker mat would go in the wrong direction. The Technics has VTA adjustment on it (the big dial at the base of the tonearm). It will let you move the arm up or down about 6mm.

Wayner

dlaloum

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Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #2 on: 12 Aug 2011, 04:12 pm »
My personal and opinionated subjective opinion...

Arm damping is the most important think lacking on the SL1200 family...

The KAB fluid damper fixes this gap....

Once that is done - all other upgrades get progressively more subtle.

Which is also why I recommend the Shure M97xE - the damping brush does the job on a undamped arm.... and it can be upgraded with a Jico SAS stylus for very good performance indeed.

I am currently running a poll asking people to measure their shure styli - (other thread) - the outcome of which might be to demonstrate whether a V15VxMR stylus will work properly in a M97xE... it the result is positive then there is the potential of combining a basic M97xE, custom loading (low capacitance to compensate for the mid-high inductance) and a Jico V15VxMR stylus to achieve performance potentially close to or on a par with the V15VxMR....

I currently have the N97xE-SAS stylus - which makes the M97 competitive with TOTL MM's such as the AT20ss, etc...

Which brings me back to my point - on an undamped arm, I prefer to run the M97xE-SAS than the AT20ss... on a damped arm, I probably tend towards the AT..... although it does depend on the music .... the Shure has that gorgeous bass....

bye for now

David

Miney

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Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #3 on: 12 Aug 2011, 08:38 pm »
I'd call that a good price if it's as described.

Enjoying mine immensely...



No major mods, just a Herbie's mat, fluid damper, and isonoe footers.  I often ponder the benefits of adding the external power supply, upgrading the bearing, changing the arm...  but right now what little vinyl time I have is spent acquiring and listening.

Very interested in others' perspectives & experiences....  thanks.

dlaloum

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Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #4 on: 13 Aug 2011, 01:41 am »
If I had one (and I seriously considered it a few months back!) - these are exactly the mods I would do - Damper, Mat, Feet.... very nice!  :thumb:

LM

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Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #5 on: 13 Aug 2011, 01:45 am »
Mine is the Mkll, not M5G, but I also have and love the Herbies mat.  As Wayner suggests, have a think about the mat height first though.  I have added a 1.5mm plain rubber mat under mine as I have the 3.7mm Herbies and the extra rubber simply added the extra height to centre my VTA adjustment for my range of cartridges.  Your set up needs may be different.  A thicker Herbies would have done the trick for me if I'd thought it through first.

As to the rest, I agree with dialoum. The standard arm is great (rewired in my case, not needed with the M5G) with the KAB damper and I also swear by a Jico SAS in a Shure cart.  These upgrades to me were huge for a moderate cost and I no longer have any desire to change the arm.  :inlove:

I also fitted a Mike New bearing early on and this was also a big improvement and thoroughly recommended for refining detail and reduced noise.  :thumb: It is relatively expensive however - to me worth every cent as a long term investment but perhaps not to someone on a smaller budget.  Finally, I found that fitting an external power supply gave a further worthwhile improvement but to me it was not as big as I expected so down a bit on the value for money stakes IMHO.

I've done nothing with the plinth or platter and have simply screwed the original feet up tight as I have the luxury of a solid wood encased brick platform underneath so easy to level manually and gives minimal feedback.

jtsnead

Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #6 on: 15 Aug 2011, 04:33 am »
Thanks for the responces, I am going to get a thicker mat, then the
KAB damper.

Also want to get a couple of headshells to try out my older cartridges.

So far sounds pretty good, couple of pics

http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=50007

Grace F9E Looks cool when lit up, it has a flourescent stylus, never knew that
until I put it on this table.

http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=50006

Miney

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Re: Technics SL1210M5G Modifications?
« Reply #7 on: 15 Aug 2011, 12:45 pm »
Looking good  :thumb:

Will be interested to read your impressions with different carts.  I started with the Ortofon 2m blue, then came upon a Soundsmith Boheme and stopped there. 

Saw in your systems link you are/were running a VPI Scout with Trans-Fi T3 ProTonearm... pretty serious kit there IMO ... have you replaced; if not can / will you offer a comparison when things settle in?  Although pleased with what I hear, my mind is always pondering alternatives.