Technics serial numbers + which one to upgrade?

[rchinn]

I've got two 1210's. Which one should I upgrade?

A
GE0LX001111
SL-1210mk2-A
RGN0930-K1

or

B
GE2EY001350
SL-1210mk2
RGN0930-K2


I bought A in 2008, I'm guessing it is October 2000.
I bought B in 2010, so May 2002.

I haven't seen anything with the 1210MK2-A what's that about?
At least they were both before the high capacitance era.

Finally, I've bought a 21V linear power supply. Can someone post a picture of how they've connected theirs to the deck? Have you put a DC input plate, or done something with a cord? Any tips on someone that could do that in London would be greatly appreciated.

R

[Macca]

What's the 'high capacitance era'?

[Michielius]

At some point Technics started using high capacitance audio leads for the external phono cable. Don't know which year that was (I think around 2008), but these cables were vastly inferior to the ones they used before, which had a far lower capacitance. Especially when using MC cartridges this is noticeable.

Edit: apparently it was since 2009: http://www.kabusa.com/production_rpt.htm (see article New Interconnect Cable Has High Electrical Capacitance). Plugs are also different, although the 'older model' plugs shown differ from the ones sold in Europe. I remember, because in 2001 I bought my first 1210 which had these older cables and plugs. I sold this table when I bought a Thorens TD-160 (most stupid thing I ever did, selling the 1210 that is). The one I have now is one of the latest models (summer 2010 production) which has the inferior high capacitance cable. These cables and plugs are the same as shown in the KAB article.

[Amdan]

I've got two 1210's. Which one should I upgrade?

A
GE0LX001111
SL-1210mk2-A
RGN0930-K1

or

B
GE2EY001350
SL-1210mk2
RGN0930-K2


I bought A in 2008, I'm guessing it is October 2000.
I bought B in 2010, so May 2002.

I haven't seen anything with the 1210MK2-A what's that about?
At least they were both before the high capacitance era.

Finally, I've bought a 21V linear power supply. Can someone post a picture of how they've connected theirs to the deck? Have you put a DC input plate, or done something with a cord? Any tips on someone that could do that in London would be greatly appreciated.

R

Hi. I have got two as well and am intending to upgrade one and keep the other as a 'control' for comparison. Is that your intention?

[rchinn]

Hopefully it should be a pretty sharp comparison.

One will have an audiomods arm, external PSU, AT150mlx, achromat.
The other is standard arm, standard power, Ortofon archiv, felt mat.

The only advantage of the second deck is you can queue records on it.

R

[eu_73]

Hello Richard,

My SL 1210 has got an external psu and an Audiomods arm (that in the next week will be moved in another TT), and I think it is a great turntable.

I don'know electronic matter, but have installed succesfully my external psu following this excellent tutorial:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?8118-How-to-Connect-an-External-Dc-Supply-to-the-SL-1200-1210

It is quite easy, the first time it took me about an hour, but I'm quite sure that now I could do the job in about 15 minutes.
Just be very very careful with the polarity, check it twice before connecting the cables.

[Lynster]

Re dating your two Techies, again KAB info is useful: https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/m1200.htm then see '1200 dating' under 'Turntables' on the left (sorry, can't seem to link directly to that page:doh:)

[Amdan]

Hopefully it should be a pretty sharp comparison.

One will have an audiomods arm, external PSU, AT150mlx, achromat.
The other is standard arm, standard power, Ortofon archiv, felt mat.

The only advantage of the second deck is you can queue records on it.

R

The advantage oh the second deck for me is to have a comparison. I think too often we upgrade our equipment and forget what made us choose it in the first place. There is a danger the upgrades will eventually take me backwards in terms of musical enjoyment. So I am keeping a stock version to show me where I started.

[Mike_New]

Hi Amdan,
You also should fit my Precision Bearing, if you really want to evaluate any comparison
between upgraded and standard issue SL1200s.
I went through this exercise with two MK2s about 5 years ago when I first designed the Bearing.
I externalised the PS with a KAB unit and fitted my Bearing to one of the TTs
The results were very discernable in both depth and presence of the music.
The other upgrades of course improve things even more.
If you live in Sydney I am happy to help with the electrics.
PS: I did actually feed the DC directly into the unregulated line input (across C1) rather than across the two AC input terminals
as described by the instructions.
As I believe this is a more elegant approach as it bi pass's the rather low value bridge rectifier which then has to conduct current on
only 2 of the 4 diodes.