1210 leaves me cold

[Audio Al]

I don't get this thing with changing power supplies for turntables. I mean, does it go round? Is the speed stable? Does it produce enough torque? If it complies, what's the need for an expensive power supply change of possibly dubious worth?

Hi Geoff
I had big problems with the internal power supply on my 1210 / AT120e cart , I could lift the arm from the rest and as I moved it towards the power supply a hum would start and get louder the nearer it got , Purchased a external supply , No more hum

[walpurgis]

That's strange Al. I've owned Techies and not had hum issues, even using Deccas and Grados, which can be sensitive to hum.

[RickeyM]

The Technics power supply transformer has a slight hum that can be heard. Just mute the volume when playing a record without lifting the tonearm. Once the record stops spinning, turn the volume up gradually and you should be able to hear the transformer hum. With an outboard PS you won't hear this hum. With music playing, the absence of this manifests itself with a quieter background and more low level detail previously obscured by the stock onboard mounted PS. I did the DIY external PS mod on my deck and noticed a benefit from it. From what I've gathered, an aftermarket PS has better power supply and regulation in addition to getting rid of the hum. For now I'll keep using my DIY solution as long as I don't get the "bug" by hearing a better one

[Mikeandvan]

The Technics power supply transformer has a slight hum that can be heard. Just mute the volume when playing a record without lifting the tonearm. Once the record stops spinning, turn the volume up gradually and you should be able to hear the transformer hum. With an outboard PS you won't hear this hum. With music playing, the absence of this manifests itself with a quieter background and more low level detail previously obscured by the stock onboard mounted PS. I did the DIY external PS mod on my deck and noticed a benefit from it. From what I've gathered, an aftermarket PS has better power supply and regulation in addition to getting rid of the hum. For now I'll keep using my DIY solution as long as I don't get the "bug" by hearing a better one

Just did this, couldn't hear a thing.

[YNWaN]

There's no magic or questionable 'snake oil' to turntable power supplies - the improvements brought to speed stability and motor vibration are easily heard and measured. In the case of the Technics things are a bit less clear cut as the turntable already contains a power supply and feedback circuit. Moving the transformer outboard should be worth it though.

[RickeyM]

Just did this, couldn't hear a thing.

Interesting You turned the volume up with the needle resting on a stationary record and didn't hear anything? I wasn't there so I'll accept your word.

[Mikeandvan]

Interesting You turned the volume up with the needle resting on a stationary record and didn't hear anything? I wasn't there so I'll accept your word.

Yessir, not a thing.

[RickeyM]

Yessir, not a thing.

More money for other mods

[Packgrog]

FWIW, I've been doing an experiment trying to get the Technics to sound as good as my Michell TecnoDec. Several hundred dollars into the experiment, and money has dried up, while also not yet succeeding. Audio samples can be found here: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.p...2#post-9991512

[Macca]

FWIW, I've been doing an experiment trying to get the Technics to sound as good as my Michell TecnoDec. Several hundred dollars into the experiment, and money has dried up, while also not yet succeeding. Audio samples can be found here: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.p...2#post-9991512

An SL1200 will never sound like a TecnoDec no matter what you do to it. Whether it sounds 'as good' or not is down to individual taste and so is entirely subjective.