Advice for new Technics SL-1200 Mk2 Owner

[gazcarts]

Hi all,

Despite resisting the urge to upgrade my hi-fi equipment for several years now (in fact, I nearly sold it all 6 months ago), I have once again been bitten by the bug.

I have owned the same Rega Planar 2 TT since 1993, and in all that time have only upgraded the Bias cartridge to an Elys. Most of my upgrades have been related to the CD player/amp/speakers. Unfortunately, I have recently made the mistake of watching Ebay and after much forum reading decided to buy a Technics SL-1200 Mk2, owned from new by a hi-fi enthusiast and already fitted with an unmodified Origin Live OL1 tonearm and Dynavector 10x5 cartridge. This mint, 2 year old deck , complete with modifications (but minus the original arm) cost me about the same price as a new SL-1210 with no cartridge, so seemed a good deal.

It is clear the Technics needs a few additional tweaks to sound at its best, but I don't wish to spend a fortune making all the available modifications. I've already ordered the basic stuff like a turntable mat and clamp, but need advice on what to do with the tonearm. Do I spend money getting the current tonearm upgraded with better end mod, cabling, etc, or should I replace the arm with a Jelco 750D, which can be bought for under £400 including the straight arm cable?

How will the Dynavector sound on the Jelco? I currently have a modest Phono Box, which I'd like to upgrade at some point, possibly to a used Tag Mclaren PPA20 to match the rest of my system. Incidentally, I realise the 10x5 is a high output MC cartrdige; is it better to leave the Phono Box set to MM input or change it to an MC setup?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Gary

[DSJR]

Welcome! System pics and a proper introduction please in the relevant threads

I personally don't believe the Rega derived arms are suitable for the Techie - my opinion only - and feel you'd be better advised to sell the arm you have and go for a Jelco. Use the Planar 2 as a sort of reference, although I personally find the cheaper Rega cartridges a bit overly warm, soft and squidgey for my tastes (I have an Elys 1 but understand the later version is a bit "tauter" in feel?).

The 10XV should go straight into the MM input and gives a very civilised sound on the whole, but some people like the sound of a high-output MC going into the more sensitive MC input, so you could try it and see.

Have a look at the Timestep (Dave Cawley) site. Dave has outlined on here the order for doing the various mods and IMO, the best way to severely lift your Techie from it's "Rega standard" roots is to follow his suggestions as it's been done by many and is foolproof..

The 10XV in the Jelco shouldn't be a problem at all. In fact, I'd suggest it may work better in the Jelco from a mechanical POV...

[gazcarts]

Thanks Dave,

I'll post some photos of my system soon, although I'm not sure why anyone would want to see a stack of Tag Mclarens. All very clinical and not very anologuey :-)

After posting I tried changing the jumper settings in the Phono Box to make it MC compatible. It was dreadful, merely amplifying all the clicks and crackles on the LP. Much better sound setup as MM.

I've looked at Dave's site; not sure what order he advises to do the mods in? Is that on his site or did he post it on the forum here?

Does anybody have experience of a fully modded Rega arm, and a Jelco arm on the Technics? If so, which do you prefer?

Thanks again
Gary

[DSJR]

The correct upgrade "order" was posted here and I did suggest it was put in the reference section.

Search through "Dave Cawley's" posts and you should find it. I'll do the same...


From the "Timestep Bearing" thread -

So what does this tell us? My recommendation for modifying the SL-1200 series in chorological order is :-

1. Change the mat

2. Change the PSU (one designed specifically for future upgrades)

3. Change the arm

4. Change the bearing

[gazcarts]

Thanks Dave.

The mat should arrive any day. I'd really like to get the arm sorted before thinking about the PSU. I'm not looking for a stella deck in all honesty; I don't have a huge vinyl collection, and no audiophile pressings at all, although some are in the post.

I don't know whether to just buy the Michell Technoweight for now to see how that improves things. I've also ordered some sorbothane feet. Just need to check the VTA and cartridge setup too.

On the subject of the Technoweight, has anyone any experience of the Inspire Rega arm mod listed on Ebay? It seems good quality and a bit cheaper than others. I'm just not sure the O-ring system is secure enough There doesn't seem to be a grub screw to secure it).

Thanks again
Gary

[DSJR]

Regarding Rega arms and siblings/cousins on the Techie. My impression is that the arm couples too tightly to the metal arm-plates and I read somewhere that it's better with the fixing nut barely finger tight (or the screws barely nipped up on latest versions).

Ivor T suggested in conversation that the reason the Ittok (and now Ekos) has the horizontal pivots anchored at one side only was intentional, to assist in resonance transmission/dissipation. Apparently, the Syrinx PU2 had one side of the bearings decoupled with rubber for the same reason on Linns recommendation (ancient memories but that's how I remember it said). The RB arms have everything TIGHTLY bolted together.......

Reproduced music needs to flow effortlessly and this is what some of the inapropriate turntable systems just don't do (and a well fettled Linn LP12 system does - with colouration in past incarnations)..

A good turntable helps bad pressings to transcend their limitations and that's one reason why I love NAS decks so much and THEY love Rega arms...

[chris@panteg]

Why not try it ' as is for a while ' and tell us what you think

[gazcarts]

Hi Chris,

I plan to see how the sound improves once the isolation mat and feet are fitted. I also need to adjust the tonearm VTA, as the arm tilts upwards when used with the Technics mat. I'm currently using the felt Rega mat because it is thinner and the arm is more level (and it sounds better). I will also check that the cartridge is aligned and the overhang is correct (I've already adjusted this as it was less than the recommended 17mm).

At the moment there is an improvement over the Planar 2, but it isn't much of an improvment, bearing in mind the difference I would expect to hear between the Dynavector and Elys. I'm hoping the tweaks above will improve the sound and if I'm reasonably happy will probably settle for the Michell Technoarm end mod. I'm just trying to avoid spending lots of money tweaking the OL1 arm, only to find that it still isn't quite right, so having to buy the Jelco anyway.

If someone else has already tried this but ended up buying a Jelco I'd be interested to hear their opinion.

Thanks again
Gary

[DSJR]

Here we fo again...

The Rega arm pipe is tapered and will always look slightly down at the back, even when it isn't.. Rega don't finish the headshell either, so exact levelling of the cartridge is a matter of suck-it-and-see unless you have the Techno-arm which has this attended to.

The techno weight should offer little in the way of sonic gain I suspect, but its wide rather than deep or circular form may improve things in terms of clearance.

I've said for ages that a more-or-less bog-standard Techie is sort-of Rega standard and that's why I sugested the upgrades as sugested in order by Dave Cawley. You'll find a mat such as Dave sells (discount for AOS members I understand) should give the correct platter damping and record support without jacking the arm too high...

[gazcarts]

Well the isolation mat arrived today. I didn't go for Dave Cawley's as it seemed very expensive. I didn't realise members of this forum could get a discount.

Anyway, I went for the SRM-Tech silicon version, which is much cheaper. I know it doesn't account for the platter lip, but it has made a difference. Still waiting on the sorbothane feet.

Today I also received a few items for checking the arm/cartridge: Avid Mirrored Protractor for Rega arms, a Rega VTA adjuster, (which I don't think I'll need now as the SRM mat is much thinner than the Technics one), the Hi-Fi News test record and a few brand new 180 gram LPs (one of which I will have to return as it was scratched and warped).

When I listen to the Technics on its own it sounds very nice. It's only when I directly compare it to my CD transport that I notice a difference. The Tag is brighter and picks out more detail I think. It makes the Technics sound a bit "muffled". Not a great description, but I'm no hi-fi reviewer

That said, when I listen to the Technics without switching to the CD, it produces a nice sound.

DSJR:-

The techno weight should offer little in the way of sonic gain I suspect, but its wide rather than deep or circular form may improve things in terms of clearance

This is interesting as most reviewers think they do improve the sound of the arm, mainly because the standard Rega end bit is so pants.

Still undecided over that Jelco arm though

Regards
Gary