Unusual 1980s linear-tracking turntable (Fix & Demo)

A while back I picked up a National SL-N25.
It has a feature that makes it stand out from the other models in the National Panasonic Technics range of linear-tracking turntables. It's time to test it out.

00:00 National SL-N25 Sound Player
04:00 Disassembly
06:30 Background info
09:08 The fix
09:55 Playing a record
11:45 Aux in
12:32 Speakers corner
16:05 W&F Tests
17:31 Direct Feed
18:44 Summary
20:13 Patreon Credits

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Regularly asked question
Q) Why are there comments from days ago when this video has just gone live today?

[roscozone]

I can think of quite a few edge and corner use cases where a unit like this would be ideal:
- Student wanting to play something in their on-campus residential room where noise limits apply
- Vinyl-based sound library where quick access to sound effects is desirable for selection
- Sight-impaired users wanting to listen to spoken-word recordings
- Performers wanting to learn their lines for a stage performance
- Someone on a tight budget wanting a starter turntable and intending to integrate into a larger system at a later date (via the line out)
- Someone with a tight space restriction wanting to listen to something while they work (eg. in a home office)

[robertlandrum]

My dad had a linear tracking turntable back in the ‘80s (I don’t remember the make or model number). But I do remember he loved 🥰 it and was very proud of his turntable. He had a pair of Bose 601 Series 2 speakers and a Sansui receiver that was hooked to it (I remember those makes). Those records sounded great when dad played them on his stereo. I miss him. He passed away in 2017.

[FatNorthernBigot]

Every episode of Techmoan is like Scooby Doo... A mystery needs solving. In this case, how to remove a turntable, and what are those sockets for? The only thing missing is a rubber mask. Zoinks!

[hegedusuk]

Your videos are great. Most ‘Youtubers’ speak really fast, in an effort to keep the viewers’ already severely diminished attention span active. But you somehow manage to keep people interested for 20, 30 or more minutes by just making what would normally be boring, interesting. I for one am engrossed!

[musicnerd]

Yep, they sold the Panasonic version here in the U.S. I remember seeing them in stores. I had the SL-N5 which was a compact non-linear tracking, but the tone arm was mounted in the left rear of the unit with controls on the front. That turntable worked flawlessly for me up until the early 2000's.

[markm]

My dad and I bought one at a yard sale back in the mid-'90s....the Panasonic SL-N25, since we're in USA...and it was brand new in the box. I used it extensively as the turntable in my bedroom. It was compact and had a built-in pre-amp -- I could connect it right to my computer and record records to MP3 files! I recently brought it back into use -- I had to replace the turntable belt, but also the tone arm drive belt. However, we used it so much back then that the plastic hinge pins in the back cover broke! They are practically "unobtanium" now! I have a couple of wire ties holding the cover on. It's not pretty, but it works!

[markpirateuk]

I do love Panasonic/Technics gear from this era, I have a similar Panasonic system with a linear tracking turntable with matching cassieiver,
It also needed a replacement belt to get it running, very impressive sound quality for such a compact system, if only modern gear was built to the level of quality available back in the 80's.

[jonathanangel]

I had an SL-N15 purchased in London in 1983. It was Panasonic-branded.

[stuartburgess]

So cool, I still have my SL-H350 Panasonic/Technics linear tracking turntable atop the mini stacking system which I purchased in 1983 when I was posted to my first RAF Station, I have changed the turntable belt & its still working well 40 years later with some AR speakers which still shake my fillings, great to see this tech still turning heads, been with you since the GW1 dashcam video which is still going strong four cars later😂🎉😂🎉😂🎉

[blahorgaslisk]

I got me a HiFi system back some time between 88 or 90 I specifically went for a linear tracking turntable because I'm a klutz who not once in his life has managed to set the needle to a record without scratching, dropping or just missing the exact place I wanted to put the needle. The linear tracking with the buttons to move the stylus left an right and just a keystroke to gently lower or lift it was just so convenient.

Today it seems ludicrous but I payed something like the equivalent of $6000 today for that system, and the speakersnot all that great. Some cheapish Yamaha speakers. The rest of the system was from Sharp and served me for many many years. I still have it, but after I last moved I haven't put it back together. After all these years the volume dial has started to glitch, but other than that, when I last used it everything still worked fine. I would never even dream of paying that kind of money for a sound system today.

[SimonWallwork]

I had an SL-QL1 back in the day- but now keep a SL-QL15. No complaints.

[HandyAndyTechTips]

It's great that high quality turntables are still being made (unlike cassette decks). But honestly, the new ones are a bit boring in comparison to feature laden models like this.

[jimechols]

I had an aiwa v-700 shelf system that had this type of record player back in 1985. It basically worked like a cd player. You could also use the buttons on the front to manually move the stylus and to lower it wherever you wanted. Great little system.

[henrypile]

I owned a Technics SL-L3 linear turntable that worked flawlessly for a long time. It had superb features like optical record size and track sensing, 10-track preselection memory and random track play, all with LED-indication. Loved it! Replaced it only recently with a Technics SL-1210MK7 - wanted to see the record spin and the tone arm movement again. Just vintage!

[iang]

I had a similar deck to this back in the mid to late 80’s. It was a Panasonic SL-H350 and was part of a midi system made up of separate components: amp SU-350, tape deck RS-350 and tuner ST-350L. It was a really nice little system.

[plonchyvideos]

Matt...I never fail to be amazed at the supremely high professional quality of your programming. The camera work, editing, sound, script as well as the presentation.
If this was being produced by the BBC, there would probably be a team of 50 behind the scenes, camera man, someone to push the cameras around (dolly grip?), director, producer, video editor, sound engineer, team of script writers, lighting engineer, tea lady (Ok, maybe that's your wife), not to mention all the people in the offices.
If you ran the BBC, our TV license would probably cost 2/- again.
One complaint back the puppets :)

[christianninsananda]

I have aTechnics SL-Q6 Linear Tracking Turntable and love it... the fact that it can fit into a 13 x 13 inch (33 x 33 cm) cube on my shelves makes it the perfect bookshelf turntable and the one I listen to the most.

[NatureOkie]

My friend had a similar JVC close n play linear tracking turntable, that matched my boombox/mini-component system.
I bought mine in Italy Navy Exchange, she bought hers in Guam, we met back up in Norfolk Va😂 with matching components!

[chrisg]

At 05:09, you can see a mod (or a repair). One of the large electrolytic capacitors is soldered to the legs of the other and not to the PCB.

[shiva_MMIV]

Probably the specs are very reasonable (and in fact it sounds good) because the mechanism is taken straight up from more upscale Technics turntables, the magic of shared resources 😂. BTW, to me if you want a turntable is way better to buy an old one well serviced than a modern one, usually featureless and too expensive for what it is.