Technics SL1210mk2 - Where to start

Hi all (iv'e introduced myself in the newbie section)

Just purchased a 2nd hand SL1210mk2 deck, with the Ortofon cart and stylus.

Now I don't have a massive budget or even a medium sized budget for upgrades, so am looking at something to assist with making the sound reproduction a little better.

Nothing like a tonearm upgrade or an overhall of the direct drive mech, just what tips could I apply at a resonable price initially?

Thank you very much in advance for all of your help!

It's been 12 years away from Vinyl :(

Hi Graeme,

Isonoe feet and an Achromat would be a good start methinks.

will firm up midrange and bass and improve image focus and timing.

Steve

Hi Graeme, Welcome to the place to be in my honest opinion. I've respectfully noted your comments re spend and basically wanting to look at simple ways to improve the sound. So... i found initially that starting with the basic fundamentals did made a good difference from the off ie: proper cartridge set up, ie: ensure you have stylus weight, anti scate and all those things that cost nothing done properly. Also vta. I found the paper protrators for the Techie that you can download for free to be excellent so that the arm tracks across the record properly. Just make sure you print it properly. These cost free preliminaries gave me much improvemnt from the off. Btw which cart do you have ? If you can eventually get hold of some Isonoe feet at around £80.00, they make a subtle difference to sound by absorbing external vibration better than the stock feet and they look a whole lot better too. Also, in time try and add the KAB fluid damper - It is a must imho if you intend on keeping the stock arm as it cuts down resonance from the very light and thin tubular stock arm. I found the sound became more natural and I could here more of the subtle nuances in the recording - around £100.00 ish - a great upgrade. These, coupled with proper set up and your deck should sound very nice indeed. Not bad when you think an upgrade platter and a Mike New bearing together will snatch over £1K no problem.
Have fun, the guys here are always happy to offer up advise and share experiences - Enjoy :)

thanks guys (RobbieGong & worrasf)

worrasf - the feet have been added to my eBay wish list.

RobbieGong - do you possibly have any links I could investigate to obtain the paper protrators?

I am new to the terminology but will learn in time :)

Thanks again.

Graeme

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gmanuk101

thanks guys (RobbieGong & worrasf)

worrasf - the feet have been added to my eBay wish list.

RobbieGong - do you possibly have any links I could investigate to obtain the paper protrators?

I am new to the terminology but will learn in time :)

Thanks again.

Graeme

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Hi Graeme,

Link attached. You'll need to login / register but no fee etc just fill in your details and then select / download Technics Protractor. Carefully use a pin to make little holes around the spindle hole markings on the paper protractor then carefully push that bit out. Be nice and neat with the pin so that you have a nice neat and accurate hole so the protrator will go over your spindle perfectly without play.
http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge...tractors.shtml

Do make sure that when you print it you have printed it to the correct size. You'll be able to tell as there is a line across the top somewhere on the protrator that says it should measure so many millimetres if printed correctly so look out for that. I remember when I first printed one and bein a bit lazy took it to my local hi fi dealer with the Techie. No matter how we all tried we could not get the cartridge /arm /needle to follow arc - One hour later and with us all about to give up the will to live one of the guys sussed I'd printed it to the wrong scale :doh: :lol: :rolleyes: :)

sorry I should have mentioned the cartridge I have is the

Ortofon DJ S. The ebay seller put this on for me.

However I am not going to listen to much dance music, other than Detroit Techno. My tastes range a great deal, however the main driver will be music that is not electronic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobbieGong

Hi Graeme,

Link attached. You'll need to login / register but no fee etc just fill in your details and then select / download Technics Protractor. Carefully use a pin to make little holes around the spindle hole markings on the paper protractor then carefully push that bit out. Be nice and neat with the pin so that you have a nice neat and accurate hole so the protrator will go over your spindle perfectly without play.
http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge...tractors.shtml

Do make sure that when you print it you have printed it to the correct size. You'll be able to tell as there is a line across the top somewhere on the protrator that says it should measure so many millimetres if printed correctly so look out for that. I remember when I first printed one and bein a bit lazy took it to my local hi fi dealer with the Techie. No matter how we all tried we could not get the cartridge /arm /needle to follow arc - One hour later and with us all about to give up the will to live one of the guys sussed I'd printed it to the wrong scale :doh: :lol: :rolleyes: :)

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fantastic! thank you very much for this, appreciate it greatly.

No comment regarding your printout size escapade :) :doh:

Hi Graeme, This is one of the concorde cartridges isn't it. My first ever cart on my MK2 was the Concorde pro S, which I bought cause I loved da concorde look and the black with the red dot looked great on my 1210 (fickle I know lol !!), sounded nice too, but not 'audiophile'. Since getting the MK5g I've had the Ortofon 2M Black and now the flagship 2M black - a stonkingly good cart but not cheap. FYI - The protrator will not work with the Concorde carts as they screw directly into the arm and do not require a headshell. Therefore you cant and dont need to slide or move the cart in the headshell to get it to follow arc properly. Print the Protractor anyway. I would strongly recoomend you get yourself a Ortofon 2M red. They dont cost a lot (Seen these go for as low as £77.00 new) and are very highly regarded for a budget cart, probably seen as more of a 'proper' cart over the dj concorde type (dont mean to sound snobbish - honest :). You will then be able to use a headshell with the 2M red fitted and use the protractor for proper set up. ;)

A free tip - try listening with the turntable lid removed. The sound from the speakers can get picked up as vibration by the lid which can then feed the vibration back into the turntable. Also try to keep the turntable away from the speakers if at all possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gmanuk101

It's been 12 years away from Vinyl :(

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Hi Graeme

Your in the right place here, I'm a newbie to the Techie too (tho a little further up the upgrade path), but this place is a hive of info, some good people here with a total understanding of what can be achieved from this modest deck.