Other Technics alternatives to 1200/1210

[pure sound]

There always seems to be a supply of Mk1 SP10's being sold in the US. Far fewer here although I've seen the odd one for sale. The Mk3 is very rare, particularly in the UK. A different beast to the Mk2, much more powerful motor & heavier platter too.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/TECHNI...3/SP10MK3.html

[Peter Stockwell]

There was an SP-10 Mk1 on ebay just a few days ago, don't know if it sold.

This, about the SP10 Mk1, taken from http://de.geocities.com/bc1a69/technics_eng.html

"The motor was controlled by reading fluctuations of speed of the platter by a tachometer and comparing that signal to an electronic reference signal. So the speed has to drift a little before it is regulated again."

Which is probably the root of the Direct Drive turntables always hunting for the right speed thing.

Since I'm not a turntable collector, I wouldn't punt on a SP10 mk1.

cheers

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Marco, yes and no. Nothing is ever black and white in the analogue world. A well designed DD will improve with a well designed crystal PLL. That's all I can say.

Regards

Dave

[Marco]

Understood, Dave. All this hypothesising is fine but the bottom line is a good SP10 or modified SL-1210 pisses over about 95% of what's made today, and at often much lower cost

As such, the world of Technics D/D ownership is a most happy one

Peter (and also Dave),

"The motor was controlled by reading fluctuations of speed of the platter by a tachometer and comparing that signal to an electronic reference signal. So the speed has to drift a little before it is regulated again."

Which is probably the root of the Direct Drive turntables always hunting for the right speed thing.

Indeed, but Quartz locking solves this problem, no? I don't think the SP10 or SL1200/1210 suffer from any such "hunting" issues, particularly when used with high quality PSUs such as the KAB or Time Step.

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Indeed, but Quartz locking solves this problem, no? Not really, it's in the design, re-read my post about PLL's ?

Dave

[Marco]

Too technical for me! You'll need to explain it in layman's terms. Do the SL-1200/1210 or SP-10 suffer from "hunting" issues or not? That's really all I'm interested in knowing.

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Marco, it's not that simple. There is hunting and hunting. Does a belt drive suffer from hunting? to a degree yes.

Does the SL-1200 - SP-10MKII? not much really, but the SL-1200 is improved by our mod as you can see at www.SL-1200-MK2.com

If life was simple, we could say definitive that model X turntable is the best, but it isn't like that.

I can't explain in layman's terms what has taken me years to understand. You need to read some articles about motion feedback and PLL's in general.

Regards

Dave

[Marco]

I can't explain in layman's terms what has taken me years to understand. You need to read some articles about motion feedback and PLL's in general.

And so what's taken you years to understand I'm likely to grasp in a few hours by reading some books? I don't think so!

Fair enough though, Dave. I'll stay content in the knowledge that my ears and extensive experience of using turntables for over 25 years tell me that the modified SL-1210, whatever degree of "hunting" issues there is present or not, is a fabulous sounding turntable and able to compete with the best there is available.

Filling one's head with other 'nonsense' without having a full grasp of the technicalities involved is not really awfully productive

Theories (or even some facts) are all good and well but the proof of the pudding with hi-fi is always in the listening...

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

Look at it this way. The world's most popular rubber band turntables slow down under dynamic load, they have low torque motors, and rely on the platter inertia to keep them going under dynamic load. The Nottingham analogue turntables have delibertely low torque motors to avoid transmitting motor vibrations to the Turntable platter.

A Technics DD (SL1200 or SP10 mkII) for example, will increase torque under load to maintain rotational speed.

Either will work if well implemented.

You pays yer money and your choice.

[Dave Cawley]

Peter/Marco

Exactly! There isn't a clear answer. But a little reading is always pleasurable!

Dave