New Technics SL-1500C

[RobbieGong]

Looks to be a nice deck and option at £1K.....https://www.analogplanet.com/content/sl-1500c-technics-cuts-price-not-sound-quality

[RobbieGong]

Not one single comment on this new Technics offering - oh how things have changed :scratch:

[Audio Al]

I already own a 1200 silver / 1210 silver and black and a 1200 G silver and black , Can't see me ever needing one or doing any comparisons

It's in my opinion a good mid range DD TT

[Jimbo]

Rob, I clocked this I think in a Freer review. t looks a perfect solution for someone wanting the a DD Jap turntable which include myself. I have seriously looked at this as it seems to give plenty of bang for bucks.

I wonder how it stacks up against older stuff and newer models in the range. Would be interesting to see a bake off done with the whole new Technics range including the SP10!

[Bigman80]

Rob, I clocked this I think in a Freer review. t looks a perfect solution for someone wanting the a DD Jap turntable which include myself. I have seriously looked at this as it seems to give plenty of bang for bucks.

I wonder how it stacks up against older stuff and newer models in the range. Would be interesting to see a bake off done with the whole new Technics range including the SP10!


TBF, I think this is a tidy little unit. It'll be top quality build by technics and will certainly sound good.

For under £1k new, it's not bad but as said, I'd go and get a used SP10 MK2 for not that much more

[Idlewithnodrive]

I'd go and get a used SP10 MK2 for not that much more

Exactly this !

[Audio Al]

TBF, I think this is a tidy little unit. It'll be top quality build by technics and will certainly sound good.

For under £1k new, it's not bad but as said, I'd go and get a used SP10 MK2 for not that much more


If you can find one ;) It's not a salution if 100 people want one

[Bigman80]

[/U][/I][/B]

If you can find one ;) It's not a saution if 100 people want oneI can find one [emoji6]

[Audio Al]

I can find one [emoji6]

Exactly 1 ;)

[Bigman80]

Exactly 1 ;)Lol,

Tbf, they aren't few and far between. A search on HiFiShark usually brings a few up

[Audio Al]

My point is if 100 people want a SP10 and you can find maybe 10 what happens to the other 90 people ?

The new model should cover these requirements ,
I am more than happy with my 1200G and no I would not rather have a old SP10 :)

[Hopeful]

Also when was the last time you saw a nice looking SP10 up for sale ? . Most of them seem to suffer some kind of surface corrosion .

[Shovel_Knight]

The new Techie is a complete plug and play solution, with an SP10 you're looking at refinishing it (if it's particularly nasty), buying or building a plinth, getting a tonearm etc. In the end an SP10 would be much more expensive even if the motor unit itself can be found quite cheap.

[Bigman80]

Suppose it's down to whether the "look" is as important to you as the performance.

Personally, I ain't bothered about imperfect surfaces. It's here to do vinyl replay, not win vanity competitions!

[karma67]

if i was spending £800+ on a turntable i would not want scratches or oxidation on it however good it is.

[Shovel_Knight]

I have an SP10 mind you, mine is just slightly beat up and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. But some look like they came from a scrap heap, with clear epoxy finish completely rotten and aluminium covered in huge black lesions.

Also I have to add that tinkering with it made me appreciate plug and play solutions like never before :D

[RobbieGong]

I think this deck looks hard to beat in every way, looks great aesthetically too IMO

And that lovely technics on the fly vta...

Stick a 2M Black on it or a good mc and it's gonna be one sweet vinyl spinner/player, forget messing and fettling - no need.

Brand new here £899 with Best Offer option and free postage - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SL-1500C-Direct-Drive-Turntable-Silver/264548254131?hash=item3d984e01b3:g:FR8AAOSwh4tdmIk 3 - SILVER

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SL-1500C-Direct-Drive-Turntable-Black/264548254262?hash=item3d984e0236:g:IEoAAOSwRBFdoMF p - BLACK

[Audio Al]

+1 :)

[Jimbo]

+2

[Wegamus]

I had one of these for exactly one night. It was a major disappointment. The start-stop button was nothing like the SL-1200GR version which I tried in the shop, it felt exactly like the on-off switch on a cheap DVD player. Very poor and plasticky feeling with a sharp click sound.

The tonearm lever was surprisingly the poorest I’ve ever encountered. Lots of play in it and very little range of movement, it didn’t feel like it was connected to the arm somehow. Just very cheap feeling again, and not robust at all.

Mine came fitted with a 2M Red cart (which I’ve owned before) so expected a decent enough sound. I was again surprised to find the SL-1500C lacking. It was just lacklustre and dull. Returned the whole thing the next morning. Don’t assume this is a high-end deck for middling money, or you’ll be disappointed - and I don’t usually find reason to bash kit. I bought a Pro-Ject X1 straight after this and it’s been very nice indeed, so much better than the Technics.

[KeithL]

I got my used SL1500C on an ebay "buy it now" for a hefty reduction. It's in pristine condition, the only problem was the headshell which was off axis. The adjusting grubscrew had indented the soft alloy collar making it impossible to correct. It kept returning to the indent. An inexpensive replacement AT headshell is pefectly true.
Having read much about the cueing I was expecting it to be dreadful. In fact it's ok, just takes a little getting used to. When auto lift off is defeated, there's even a little damping to the lowering action. And back to the auto lift, it works most of the time. I've had a couple of premature lift offs. It's easy enough to defeat if needed.
The internal MM phono stage is fine and as previously written, compares favourably with a dedicated £250 stage. I prefer my Luxman's internal stage, but there's little between them.
The 2M Red compliments the arm well. It tracks well at 1.9g. I like the Ortofon sound; I find it slightly brighter and more detailed than my trusty VSM20E/11. The VSM also sounds great fitted to the SL1500C. I tried my AT33PGT/11 and found it tracked well but was a little behind in resolution compared to when fitted to my Jelco 750D. When the warranty runs out on my SL1500C I'll be looking to fitting the Jelco. That's if the Technics' auto lift arm doesn't win me over.

It's a fantastic package.

[KeithL]

I need to correct what I wrote about the cueing. I said there was damped lowering when the auto lift was switched off. It's fine even with auto lift activated. In fact I've got used to the cueing within a week and find it absolutely fine and very accurate. The arm lowers smoothly and accurately without drift.

[RobbieGong]

Glad you're enjoying your Techie and yes, I too found the Ortofons to sound great on a Techie :)

[KeithL]

I don't think I'll bother fitting my Jelco SA750d.
The standard tonearm is very good.

https://i.imgur.com/ITXXdFp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dcKsCb3.jpg