Technics SL P1200

[tommy6206]

After picking one up just over a week ago of the bay for cheap money as it was faulty.I have stripped and repaired the door hinge and got it playing in a fashion,You have to spin the disc by hand first then shut the door and press play.It will only play a few of my cdr's but bought ones no problem.I must say it does sound very good very very good infact.So I have now bought a second one in superb condition and fully working with no issues,should be with me early next week.Any body else got one and whats your thoughts on them.I must say I like the idea of a CD version of the techy 1210mk11.
Also got a Nakamichi MR-1 on the way again for little money..

[DSJR]

Don't tell everybody, but that one was probably one of the very best players twenty or so years ago. Designed for broadcast more than domestic use I think, but I'm told it sounded amazing in stock form. Any chance of some pics of the mech (lid up) etc?

There has been talk of some of these older lasers not actually failing, just dust on the underside of the lens and above the laser element itself. Try Googling and possibly looking on the Lampizator site, since I think? the reference and some pics were there...

[DSJR]

P.S. Check the platter for lubrication and free running. I was very kindly given a Denon DCD 1015 player (still good and excellent when new at £300 or so) and in a cold room, it wouldn't spin up at all. A few minutes next to a room heater and it played perfectly and continues to do so now. Maybe the faulty unit hasn't been used for ages... It can't be something really difficult or expensive, surely?

Service manuals I think, are available on HiFi Engine to download once you've registered...

They sure don't seem to make them like that any more :(

[tommy6206]

Hi Dave
Thanks for the reply. Ive cleaned the lens but not checked under it.It did skip and play silly buggers when i got it but now plays fine though out the whole no skipping.The spindle seems fine with no binding but will not spin up on its own when a disc is put in though it Doe's try at times.
I will sort my camera out and take some pics but not a lot to see without removing top cover.So will try and remember to take some next time I strip it down again as it will piss me off and i'll have to have another go at sorting it lol.

[tommy6206]

Here are some pics of the second one coming next week


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp12002smpic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp1200smpic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp1200cdplayer.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp12005.jpg

[Tarzan]

Wow! Thats looks very sexy:)

[DSJR]

Don't know the mech and even if the laser is down a bit, a proper setup may restore it. Is there a micro-switch or two when the lid closes? On my stupidly complex CD94 based machine, there are two flipper switches that sense when the drawer is fully open or just closing, then another when the drawer shuts, plus three more on a cam for when the clamp raises and lowers in a separate operation........

Is this machine a 14 bit or 16 bit issue? I bet this one could benefit from clock refinements, although I suspect the power supplies and audio output side should be pretty good as they are :)

[tommy6206]

Hi
Its 16 bit Dave.Just had another go at it and its 98% right now.I adjusted the spindle and a little lube.spins up 50% of the time on its own and getting better all the time.also reading cdr's now..

[DSJR]

There ya go :LOL:

Just stick in the longest playing CD you've got and run it on repeat for a few hours. That should sort it I reckon :)


As an aside.. I bought a Denon DCD1520 a couple of years back from that lovely chap at Greenhome Electronics. Similar mech to the classic Sony's I'm told with lightning fast track access and impossible to get lasers (although I believe there's a good replacement Sony do which will fit). On first use, it sounded spacially flat as a pancake - paper thin image depth. The analogue output is the ever familiar 5532 pairing per channel and some large 330uF output caps (audio grade in fairness). Knowing the op-amps are basically ok in this role and seeing the power supplies "seem" pretty good in this one, I used it as a transport, putting many hours under its belt. Imagine my surprise when connecting the analogue outputs up again, as much of the flatness had gone, the lively sound starting to breathe properly. Imagination, or maybe oversized caps reforming after some years of disuse? Whatever, in the office system and with my ton-up X10-D adding a dash of flavour, it sounds fantastic and the twin-supplied QED now deals with FLACs and WAVs from the computer up there...

[Beobloke]

Love the SL-P1200. I've had a couple and still keep looking longingly at ones that come up for sale.

Of course,the one I really, really, really want is its predecesor, the SL-P50 - it's all about the VU meters, you know!

http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SL-P50.html

Sadly I'm beginning to think these are actually just a myth as I can't find anyone who's ever even seen one, let alone found one for sale.

[tommy6206]

Hi Adam
Yes very sexy indeed with vu meters , rare in their day and ultra rare now.I think if one did come up for sale you would have to sell a kidney or two..

[Marco]

Awesome stuff, Gary! I've always loved the SL-P1200, as it ticks all the right boxes for me.

Congrats on landing one of the best CDPs ever made, and with a few judicious tweaks, a la Audiocom, would likely become one of the finest sounding on the planet! :)

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT ever sell it!! :nono:

Marco.

[tommy6206]

Hi Marco
I don't intend too mate I have another one in full working order and almost mint condition winging its way to me as I type.Now if I could just find a remote that works with it..

[tommy6206]

The nice man in his van is on his way with my other SL P1200 should be here soon...:cool:

[Marco]

Lurvely... Let us know how it goes :)

Marco.

[tommy6206]

Well the nice man in the van turned up at 7.20pm "I was starting to panic".He looked red faced and flustered carrying it up the stairs to my flat :lol:After fighting to get it out of the shredded paper cocoon I connected it up and fired it up,All light light up so far so good.Put a disc in and nothing :eek: "FOOK it I thought"Then remembered I hadn't unlocked the transport :rolleyes: On doing so I tried again disc spun up and the sound of Dave Bowie came out of the speakers yay I thought.I then put a cdr in and it just span around and around "Fook it and sh!t I thought":doh: so I looked at the laser and it looked a little dusty so gave it a clean.Popped cdr back in Nora Jones bye the way and her sweet voice came forth out the speakers.Result :eyebrows: And I must say it sounds awesome..:cool::cool: all round..

[Marco]

Awesome, dude. I can almost feel your excitement! Enjoy :D

Marco.

[lento]

Hello there

After googling my Technics CD player I came across this thread and wondered if any of you could offer any advice why mine isn't currently playing any discs.

I have the 1200B model purchased directly from BBC Broadcasting House many years ago and the last time it was used (approx 5 years ago) it was fine.
Since then, a house move and storage, it has remained unplayed until yesterday when I turned it on only to find it powers on and spins but does not go into play mode !
Spins for around a minute, stops for a second or two and then repeats this sequence until I power off. Looks to me as though the laser is not reading any of the discs I put in, so I cleaned the lens (isopropyl/cotton bud) but still no joy !

Any ideas ?
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q384/grenham7651/Technics%20SLP1200/DSCF3433.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q384/grenham7651/Technics%20SLP1200/DSCF3435.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q384/grenham7651/Technics%20SLP1200/DSCF3438.jpg

[tommy6206]

I would start with cleaning the laser and door contacts.Does the laser on yours have a little rubber cover over it if so remove then clean lens.Also leave switch on to warm up for a while may help..

[lento]

Thanks for your speedy reply :)

I did leave it on yesterday for a couple of hours to warm up.

Regarding the laser, do you mean the rubber surrounding the "eye" ? I cleaned the eye thinking that that would do it ....
Would I simply pull off the rubber surround to get to it ?

http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q384/grenham7651/Technics%20SLP1200/DSCF3439.jpg

[Marco]

Hi Lewis,

Welcome to AoS :)

Before going any further, please pop into the Welcome area and introduce yourself, outlining what system you use and what music you like, as this a prerequisite for membership to our community.

You were asked to do this in the email confirmation your received after registering.

Cheers! :cool:

Marco.

[tommy6206]

yes but all your lens is showing so should be ok.Another thing to try is gently slide the lens up to the top pop a disc in and see if it returns to the same position its in now if not the rails will need cleaning up.

[lento]

Have moved the lens to the other edge and it does return. I presume this is the click sound that occurs after it spins for a minute, then pauses for a second.
Hmmm, can the laser just simply fail ?

[tommy6206]

Its possible but from what I have read they rarely fail on these, more likely to be the caps or laser diode.Let us know how you get on.

[pjberr]

Fail they do, out of the four I have two had laser failures. They are the same unit used on some of their better consumer models. A quick look showed that there is a UK source for new lasers. I picked one up off e-bay from Taiwan. Even had a Technics logo on it.
Your BBC version of the SL-P1200 seems to have some BBC specific mods like the 0 to infinity slider and the pitch knob on the display. The remote has a sticker with model number SH-R42 and molded into the plastic is EUR-64103. The unfortunate part for that BBC machine is the remote sensor was right where the pitch knob now is...
Good find - I love the sound of mine and the time to play from selection is faster than anything else I've seen :)

[lento]

As that machine has now found a new home, I hope some of this useful info you've provided will help the new owner to get her up and running again ...:thumbsup:

[RochaCullen]

Hi Marco
I don't intend too mate I have another one in full working order and almost mint condition winging its way to me as I type.Now if I could just find a remote that works with it..

Hey Gary,

Not sure if you have had any luck finding a remote. I received my slp1200 a week or so ago and it came with a remote. The remote looked familiar. I had a root through my stash of odds and ends and I found an almost identical Panasonic remote, which is made from same plastic housing, just has a different button config. It works perfectly with the SLP1200. Let me know if you are interested in it.

Nathan

[tommy6206]

Hi Nathan
yes I'm interested in the remote, does it do all the functions..I have 1 that does a few of them but not the volume.

[RochaCullen]

Hi Nathan
yes I'm interested in the remote, does it do all the functions..I have 1 that does a few of them but not the volume.

I wasnt aware that the SLP1200 had a volume control, other than the headamp part, so I assume you are using this with a technics amp, which I can confirm from your sig. Let me take a pic of the remote when I get home and you will see what functions it has.

[tommy6206]

Well When I say volume I mean the output of the SLP1200 as it's variable so can in effect use it as a volume control.The model number of remote I'm using is EU64788A not the correct one but works the basic functions..

[RochaCullen]

Well When I say volume I mean the output of the SLP1200 as it's variable so can in effect use it as a volume control.The model number of remote I'm using is EU64788A not the correct one but works the basic functions..

Hey Gary,

The following are pics of the remote, you can see it sitting beside the actual SLP1200 remote:

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz230/rochaCullen/SLP1200%20Remote/DSC_1091.jpg

And the back of the remotes looks as follows:

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz230/rochaCullen/SLP1200%20Remote/DSC_1094.jpg

This Panasonic remote will provide the basic functions, which isnt really more than you have already.

[RochaCullen]

This is one phenomenal CD Player. Serious foot tapping stuff with a massive sound stage. The separation of channels is something I've not heard so pronounce from any other CD player I've encountered. Up until this point I've only been getting such soundstage from my vinyl. Onwards and upwards. :cool:

500 posts, woo-hoo.

[tommy6206]

This is one phenomenal CD Player. Serious foot tapping stuff with a massive sound stage. The separation of channels is something I've not heard so pronounce from any other CD player I've encountered. Up until this point I've only been getting such soundstage from my vinyl. Onwards and upwards. :cool:

500 posts, woo-hoo.

I agree I like them so much I have 2 well 3 if you count the one for spares/repair

[Marco]

Here are some pics of the second one coming next week


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp12002smpic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp1200smpic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp1200cdplayer.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/tommy6206/Temp/technicsslp12005.jpg

Awesome - now *THAT* is what you call a digital front end!! They just don't make 'em like they used to...

:exactly:

Marco.

[Macca]

Awesome - now *THAT* is what you call a digital front end!! They just don't make 'em like they used to...

:exactly:

Marco.

The Bentley Continental of CD players :)

[RochaCullen]

My one has a set of XLR connectors at the back as well as the RCAs, so mine must be the X version.