 "It does everything it should." | 2009-10-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3RGXMOOP1EG1P |
As the title says, the Technics SL-1210MK5 does all the things it should, and does them well. The tone arm shows no evidence of play and yet is free enough to move lightly yet precisely throughout it's entire range of movements. The rear of the tone arm has a threaded hole for addition of an included auxiliary weight, a feature worth knowing about if it is ever needed. An auxiliary head shell weight is also included. A Technics brand head shell is provided without a cartridge. Once the choice of a cartridge is made, the included overhang gauge makes cartridge setup simple and quick. The right front of the plinth has a smooth-operating slider which controls platter speed unless the "reset button" next to the slider is pressed which causes the slider to be ignored, regardless of it's position, while internal circuitry keeps platter speed precisely on the selected speed of either 33 or 45 rpm. The turntable remembers whether the reset button or the slider was in control of platter speed from the last time of usage. The front "center" of the plinth has a pop-up stylus light which provides a bare minimum of help in positioning the stylus over the record in a dark room. The power button in the tower, the platter start/stop button, and the speed selector buttons at the left front are self explanatory. Under the platter, after removing the mat for access, on the right side is a small screwdriver adjustment point for how quickly the electronic brake stops the spinning platter. If you decide to try changing the factory setting be aware that if you take the adjustment too far the platter will spin backward when you stop it. Use small adjustments. The turntable is provided with screw in/out feet for leveling. It seems to be a well dampened unit. Neither moderate taps to the plinth, moving controls, pushing buttons, nor popping the light up or down seem to make it into the music signal.
The only incompatibility issue I have discovered was an anticipated hum from my Grado Blue cartridge. With records recorded at a low sound level it is necessary to compensate with increased volume to achieve a comfortable listening level, and this brings all background noise which includes record groove noise and cartridge hum (if present) into increased prominence. The hum is audible only in very quiet passages and in the relative "silence" between tracks.
And now, on to playing a record. But first, we look at cleaning. I use a carbon fiber brush before playing each side to eliminate static and coax off any stray dust, and using the brush entails a tiny bit of pressure on the bristles. With the other turntable I now use in another system (the Audio Technica look-alike) applying the carbon fiber brush results in a slight drop in platter speed - I can see the strobe dots moving backward. However the Technics turntable compensates for this small increase in drag from the brush and keeps the platter speed spot on.
As for what the SL-1210MK5 does for playback, what I hear is smooth, and sustained sounds are free of wow and flutter (providing the record grooves are centered and the record is not warped). This is the most capable turntable I have owned for tracking warped records (fortunately I have only a few of those). Given a properly made relatively flat record to play it just seems to do it's job and then get out of the way so the installed cartridge can showcase what it's got. The Technics 1200 series is worth a serious look if you're in the market for a new turntable. |
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 "BEWARE - This model does not have a hinged dust cover!" | 2009-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHEWRRG0370EV |
I purchased this unit from J&R music, and I love the turntable, but the product description does not mention the unit does not have hinges on the dust cover. The discription says "detachable" dust cover. It is not attached at all, you must take it off and set it down somewhere. This is stupid...if a DJ wants to take off the cover, another model of the same turntable still allows the cover to be removed, hinges and all. I'm afraid such a little thing means this product is going back.
I will exchange for the same product from J&R that does have hinges. I love the turntable.
Update.......
I now take back my original opinion of a one and give a four, since I was able to find a hinge kit at KAB electro acoustics for $25. I found the info on a review given for a similar technics tt offered here amazon. I'm glad I was able to find this review and didn't have to go through all the trouble the other reviewer did to by trying to contact Panasonic. FYI Panasonic does not carry hinge kits, but this turntable is compatable for hinges. Apparently they just leave blanks where hinges should go on this model.
I'm giving a rating of four for this product for lack of a proper discription, and for making me shell out an extra $25 to buy hinges that should have been included. I'm just glad I don't have to sent it back, I love it!
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| "Professional" | 2009-01-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: AAR8MJL6EJ9Y8 |
| This turntable is undoubtedly the best I've ever owned. If precision is what you want, then you've found it. I've owned a Technics before but, this one is a piece of art in comparison. I've coupled it with an Ortofon Gold DJ Kit stylus system for incredible sound quality. All in all, I would rate this turntable an 11 on a 0-10 scale. The only improvement that i could think of is an auto-return feature at the end of play. You would think quality on this scale could not be bought for merely hundreds of dollars. It's a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| "no-brainer" | 2008-02-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A30DTEG10K9F95 |
a DJ turntable for hi-fi? yes! powerful, stable, weighty, easy to set up and use.
i always wondered why my belt-drive turntables wouldn't spin with the cleaning brush applied to a record...the price to pay for better isloated/quieter system? cleaning a record on this table is not going to stop the platter and i was pleasantly surprised that the sound quality exceeded my thorens td-160 (which sounded better than my B&O, luxman, AR and entry-level rega).
all of my previous turntables are eclipsed by the 1210, if you're on the fence (looking for a sub-$2K unit) go for it. if you're thinking of a USB 'table... :-P |
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| "Holy [..]" | 2007-02-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2IFT8RDBN3P35 |
Absolutely blow away. Precise tracking, skate, balance controls. Unwavering drive speed, extremely low rumble and is also a very well isolated unit.
Fantastic for audiophile enthusiasts or archiving to digital. Highly recommended unit. Also beautiul to look at, a bonus.
Oh, apparently you can DJ with this thing too...
Mated with a low noise pre-amp, and audiophile quality needle/cartridge (not included) delivers amazing sound. Literally makes the need for replacing your LP's with new CD's unecessary unless heavy wear present.
Very pleased and the 1210's available in black, 1200's in silver will match most home set-up schemes.
Definetly to be considered a high-end unit. |
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| "The De Facto Turntable" | 2006-08-20 |
| - Reviewed By thompson_jay |
| I am a DJ/Beatmaker from Brooklyn N.Y. and have grown up with hip-hop. The 1200's are the de facto standard for DJ's and studio work. There is a reason why they are found in every club and studio on the planet! They have solid build, very stable and realiable....will last a lifetime! I had an older pair that went "missing" during a move and so I had to replace them with these. I brought two and highly recommend them to all turntablist and beatmakers...........keeping it hot in East New York......Supreme. |
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