Technics 1210GR Turntable Review

I talk about the Technics SL-1210GR Turntable and if its worth the price.

[charlesludwig]

I have enjoyed my SL-1210GR mostly with a Shure V15 type III cartridge fitted with a JICO SAS-B stylus. The TT is connected to a Parasound 2.1 P6 Preamplifier and thus I enjoy full frequency sound. Only thing that may sound as lifelike is Apple Music High Resolution recordings. At any rate, the Technics SL-1210GR satisfies and seems to be a great value too.

[rufdymond]

I believe only the SL-1200G and the SL-1000R are still made in Japan but they cost £4000 and £19, 000 respective here in the U.K. so you’re paying a premium for that hand finished attention to detail.

With regards to longevity I still have an SL-1210Mk2 which I purchased from new - 36 years old and it’s still running perfectly. Only ever maintenance has been changing the phono leads, and having it serviced a few times…..brilliant piece of equipment.

[dunkkusaarinen]

Totally worth it! I bought my 1200GR back in 2018 and its made in Japan cos i think its from the first set they made....and its been great! I had 1500C too as a secondary turntable in my work place and while its good its not even close. I have cork/rubber matt but been thinking about the achromat....cheers😎
P.S my platter doesn`t wobble

[doodahdavesrecords]

Nice review strongly considering Technics as I want one for long term

[NickP]

I could of course be incorrect, but the tiny amount of wobble of the platter could possibly be related to the thrust plate the bearing sits on. KAB sells a delrin one that spins as long as a sapphire bearing. It only takes about 15 min to install it. It’s also designed so a small amount of oil sits in a very shallow reservoir to keep the bearing lubricated unlike the standard metal plate which comes standard. I picked one up for my SL1200 along with many other modifications and upgrades KAB offers. The owner, Kevin is also a great guy and has always been extremely helpful to me throughout the years.

[scratchback]

This turntable is a part of folk lore. I got to use them at a club I was a punter at in 1979 and I love them for their ability to work in a club or as an audiophile deck at home. I got a carpenter to install brackets on my wall as I have a brick house and the isolation from the floor now is non existant. It took a rotating laser to show true level after the work was done. I bought a slab of marble and with a few turns of the feet it is dead level and quiet. I'm using an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge and the sound quality is phenomenol. Isolation is critical here but you can go overboard. I love it when guys with too much money who use computers to display waveforms to show the differences between turntables is ridiculous and way outside the range of human hearing. The money that is wasted on cleaning fluids etc is a joke. I bought mine brand new and after all the adjustments like Verticle Tracking Angle and Protractors etc, It sounds gorgeous. I use a carbon fibre brush and a small brush to clean the stylus and that's it. This turntable will outlast me. Cheers from Australia, Andrew.

[itsjim]

I really wanted and was planning to get one of these (or a "G") until I found out they're now made in Malaysia. I'll wait until a good used "made in Japan" shows up on eBay.

[Trojan]

Real nice but I wanted automatic so got a 1600mk2 from Japan & serviced by experienced US Technics seller. He even put US transformer in.

[Lee.Higginbotham]

I got the 1200GR several years ago and it was made in Japan. Have a Ortofon bronze cartridge and it's never going on ebay.

[TheHammerofDissidence]

About the platter, have you tried resetting it a few times? I've found that mine had a sweet spot. Take it off, turn it a quarter of the way, and reset it to see if it makes a difference.

[mattharwood]

Technics turntable videos are popping up on my Youtube because I want one! I have a Rega RP6 that I have upgraded within an inch of its life. The Funk Firm mat was one of the first noticeable improvements I made. Its a keeper. The Technics and the Rega-stein (What it really is now!) sound so different. I think the Technics sounds a bit darker. Bass is punchier and its warmer but the upper delicate details are not as pronounced. I love my Rega-stein's upper detail. Its breath taking. Did you find that the Funk Firm mat improve the Technic's upper detail? If not, how does it change the Technics' sound? Thanks - Matt in L.A.

[Rhyme]

Hi, what was the problems whit the 1500c? I was planning to buy 100c. Thank you

[deanusahardtail]

Glad to see you posted a review of this turntable. Are you also running your Nagaoka MP-300 on this deck? I've been using the
SL-1200GR for a year. I agree, keep forever table. I also use the achromat with a Hana EH, Sumiko Wellfleet and Moonstone cartridge. Been considering a Nagaoka MP-200 or MP-300 and was curious as to your thoughts. Do you plan to replace your phono cable? Sorry about so many Questions. I'm using the Darlington Labs MP-7 preamp with such excellent results that I have no thoughts to upgrade unless to invest in the SU7 setup transformer for MC cartridges. Thanks. Keep posting!!

[ptg]

Whoa.. 1200GR / 1210GR comes with two auxiliary weights ???

[Roman_x]

"it is not blinky"
it is literally a stroboscope 😂

[deadandburied]

Achromat seems hard so might scratch a vinyl record.

[Hiprascal]

It is ridiculous that your platter should wobble at all. Get a replacement from them. This issue may get worse over time with premature wear. All the blah blah about speed accuracy goes out the window. Sound quality degrades. Don't sell yourself short on this. I have a 1200GR. Problems right away.
1) the mat not fitting, seating itself around the platter's perimeter. Records do not lay flat.
2) The included headshell's azimuth is off perpendicular. Unable to adjust to proper position. Stylus sits angled in groove.
3) Included cartridge alignment tool for overhang is not accurate enough
4) Arm height adjustment range is poorly set. Cannot level shorter cartridges like Shure.
5) No auto shut-off. All those buttons and knobs doing what?
Right on about Achromat. It fits perfectly, improves sound quality across the whole record and, being 6mm vs. 3mm, it fixes the arm height adjustment range issue.
I got AT headshell and wires, Good stuff.
Finally, I got a Little Fwend to provide arm lift at record's end.
I too like the arm, bearings. Zero play and very light and responsive. I was lucky that my platter does not wobble. Others have this issue as well.
Overall I am not impressed and would only recommend this product factoring in extra costs involved and the possibility of needing to get a replacement. For Technics DD, consider cheaper models or more expensive 1200G. Oh, good video, hope to see more of you.

[vinylsound]

I wish you would have put a link for the acromat because I looked it up and there's different ones different prices by far.