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Considering Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable

post #1 of 29
4/21/08 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 
I found a "Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable w/ Shure M44G needle" on craigslist (for $225). I'm considering this as my first turntable (to go with a mid-fi system).

First of all, does this look like a reasonable price (assuming it's in decent shape)?

Second, if I were to get it, can you recommend a cartridge to order for it?

Thanks!

--asdf
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post #2 of 29
4/21/08 at 10:43pm
i like the 1200.

i would try to haggle for a bit better of a price, but even $225 is not bad.

get a "standard" 1/2" mount headshell, and a hi-fi cart.

sorry about your wallet.
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post #3 of 29
4/22/08 at 2:32am
Not a bad price for a 1200. My vinyl nut cousin (bless him) has a 1200 and it sounds pretty good. I think a 1200 would be a good place to start. Some stick with the 1200, too.

I think the best two value cartridges are the Grado Black and the Shure M97XE.

What are you planning to use as a phono stage?
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post #4 of 29
4/22/08 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdf View Post
I found a "Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable w/ Shure M44G needle" on craigslist (for $225). I'm considering this as my first turntable (to go with a mid-fi system).

First of all, does this look like a reasonable price (assuming it's in decent shape)?

Second, if I were to get it, can you recommend a cartridge to order for it?

Thanks!

--asdf
Used condition is very important when you can get a new Technics delivered to your house for $399 without a cartridge.The best budget cartridge I know of is the Audio Technica AT120E/T which you can get at Garage 'A Records for $69.95.It has more detail and punch than the Shure M97xE and will take about 50 hours to break in.
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post #5 of 29
4/22/08 at 8:36am
Technics 1200 with a decent arm and Denon DL103 MC cartridge can wipe the floor clean of many "high-end" competitor. It has one of the best isolating platform ever developed as well, which in turn can produce far better deep but accurate bass. If you stuck the same arm/cart combination on even a VPI, the Technics would murder it in a blind AB test. You could pick up a Rega for about the same price, but the Rega is below the level of the Technics if fitted with the same arm/cart combi.
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post #6 of 29
4/22/08 at 10:21am
I love my Technics SL1210 with the Denon 160 cartridge.

$225 isn't bad for a used one as long as it's in excellent condition and comes with everything such as the cover. But if it doesn't meet these requirements, my opinion is to spend a little more and just get a brand new 1210. I guess I really prefer the black turntable over the silver.
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post #7 of 29
4/22/08 at 10:32am
Thread Starter 
For phono stage, I was going to pretty much shoot in the dark. I saw one review of the 1200 where it was paired with a Creek OBH-18 (which is available on TTVJ). I've heard that the NAD and Rotel are nice values (no surprise as this seems to apply everything they make). Any special recommendations, here?

What is a "decent" tonearm for the 1200? I did a little poking around and saw the RB-250 and RB-300 for less than $300. This is a little more than I want to spend at the moment. If I'm able to locate a large number of LPs that are in good shape, I'll be more willing to put more of my budget into the turntable (at the moment I only have a handful of records from when I was a kid . . . and a new Elvis Costello album that arrives today).

Are there tonearm upgrades for less than the RB-250? The ones on audiogon that were cheaper seemed to be geared to specific tables (I don't know if this matters). Given that my whole system (including speaker set-up) is less than $5K, I don't want to get carried-away (a laughable sentiment on this site).

Final question for now: If I get a decent cartridge right now, will I need to replace it if I upgrade the tonearm in six months?

Thanks all!

--asdf
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post #8 of 29
4/22/08 at 11:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdf View Post
For phono stage, I was going to pretty much shoot in the dark. I saw one review of the 1200 where it was paired with a Creek OBH-18 (which is available on TTVJ). I've heard that the NAD and Rotel are nice values (no surprise as this seems to apply everything they make). Any special recommendations, here?

What is a "decent" tonearm for the 1200? I did a little poking around and saw the RB-250 and RB-300 for less than $300. This is a little more than I want to spend at the moment. If I'm able to locate a large number of LPs that are in good shape, I'll be more willing to put more of my budget into the turntable (at the moment I only have a handful of records from when I was a kid . . . and a new Elvis Costello album that arrives today).

Are there tonearm upgrades for less than the RB-250? The ones on audiogon that were cheaper seemed to be geared to specific tables (I don't know if this matters). Given that my whole system (including speaker set-up) is less than $5K, I don't want to get carried-away (a laughable sentiment on this site).

Final question for now: If I get a decent cartridge right now, will I need to replace it if I upgrade the tonearm in six months?

Thanks all!

--asdf
The Cambridge Audio 640P and Hagerman Bugle are both excellent Phono Preamps if you don't have a receiver with a Phono stage.The Rega 250 is the best budget tonearm going.If this is too much to spent for now,you are better off to use the stock tonearm on the Technics.Tonearms on at least the newer ones really do work OK.You will not have to replace the cartridge in 6 months if you choose wisely.The Audio Technica AT120E/T I recommended earlier is perhaps a giant killer in many ways. No cartridge anywhere can really stomp on it and the Audio Technica AT-OC9ML/II I am running now is really only slightly better and some actually think not as good.You will probably buy more cartridges down the road anyway and look back at the AT120E as one of your better investments as I am now.
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post #9 of 29
4/22/08 at 12:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ssportclay View Post
The Cambridge Audio 640P and Hagerman Bugle are both excellent Phono Preamps if you don't have a receiver with a Phono stage.The Rega 250 is the best budget tonearm going.If this is too much to spent for now,you are better off to use the stock tonearm on the Technics.Tonearms on at least the newer ones really do work OK.You will not have to replace the cartridge in 6 months if you choose wisely.The Audio Technica AT120E/T I recommended earlier is perhaps a giant killer in many ways. No cartridge anywhere can really stomp on it and the Audio Technica AT-OC9ML/II I am running now is really only slightly better and some actually think not as good.You will probably buy more cartridges down the road anyway and look back at the AT120E as one of your better investments as I am now.
I also found a Rega Planar 2 with glass platter and RB-250 for $250. Would it be worthwhile to buy this, keep the tonearm, and unload the turntable (with no tonearm) on ebay? I will definitely check out the AT120E/T. If I do locate an RB-250, is this still a good choice?
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post #10 of 29
4/22/08 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdf View Post
I also found a Rega Planar 2 with glass platter and RB-250 for $250. Would it be worthwhile to buy this, keep the tonearm, and unload the turntable (with no tonearm) on ebay? I will definitely check out the AT120E/T. If I do locate an RB-250, is this still a good choice?
A new tonearm will cost about this so I can't see how you can get hurt.
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post #11 of 29
4/22/08 at 12:45pm
The bashing of the Technics tonearm is highly overdone. The 1200 has a fine tone arm that can be made great for far less than a replacement. I just rewired my 1210 with Cardas cable from head shell to RCA's (which I installed) for $65. This plus a fluid dampener from KABUSA.com ($150) and you have a table that easily competes with a Rega or Project at 2-4 times the price. I have owned a Rega p3 with R300 tonearm. I would rank the Technics tonearm once modded to be equal to the Rega.

OK I have my flame retardant underwear on so Rega tone arm lovers FLAME ON.
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post #12 of 29
4/22/08 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by randyruiz View Post
The bashing of the Technics tonearm is highly overdone. The 1200 has a fine tone arm that can be made great for far less than a replacement. I just rewired my 1210 with Cardas cable from head shell to RCA's (which I installed) for $65. This plus a fluid dampener from KABUSA.com ($150) and you have a table that easily competes with a Rega or Project at 2-4 times the price. I have owned a Rega p3 with R300 tonearm. I would rank the Technics tonearm once modded to be equal to the Rega.

OK I have my flame retardant underwear on so Rega tone arm lovers FLAME ON.
The reviewer on audiogon did have good things to say about the stock tonearm. I think it is premature for me to consider upgrading without hearing how it sounds as is. I do like to tinker, so maybe I'll do a series of small mods and try a rega tonearm later (if dissatisfied . . . or even if not). The kabusa web site has a lot of interesting tweaks for the 1200 (which appeals to me). Thanks for your input.

--asdf
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post #13 of 29
4/22/08 at 2:12pm
NO NO NO, get the rega. The technics is a modified DJ table and the hum and flutter is awful. For a few extra dollars (not much) you could have a much better source.
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post #14 of 29
4/22/08 at 2:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeMark View Post
NO NO NO, get the rega. The technics is a modified DJ table and the hum and flutter is awful. For a few extra dollars (not much) you could have a much better source.
Heh. I should have known there'd be sharp disagreement--it always seems to be the case at head-fi (part of the reason I love it). Maybe I'll get both and unload the one I don't like as much. If they are at all comparable, though, I'm more likely to keep the one with an upgrade path. On the other hand, maybe I'll lowball both and see which is the better deal.

Just out of curiosity, have any of you heard both on the same system (with significant listening time)?
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post #15 of 29
4/22/08 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by randyruiz View Post
I would rank the Technics tonearm once modded to be equal to the Rega.
I haven't heard the rega, but the 1200 fitted with either the Micro Seiki MA-505 MKI or MK3 is a deadly combination. I used to own the gold coloured version of the 1210 with the brass coloured MA-505 MK3. Bling it looked, but it had high-end performance by the bucket load.
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