Turntable...decisions oh decisions.

[julesd68]

IMHO I'd say avoid, looks like it has had very heavy use. Arm base looks very manky, same by stop/start.

Good advice me thinks - you could do much better for your money ...

I personally prefer the PL-71 as a deck but very difficult to find a good one. You might well prefer the presentation of the 1210 and they aren't difficult to find in good condition. For example there is a mint looking one here with the bonus of an oak plinth for £250 ...

http://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/morein...chnics&offset=

You could then take your time choosing a better arm and external PSU.

I've just noticed this is an old ad so prob not available any more but gives you an idea!

[Soulman]

I'm about to list a fairly mint sl-1210mk2 on ebay, all original with a stanton cartridge, only been used for messing around in the house.

[Tarzan]

Any Techie that a Mike New bearing will fit..........

[Oldpinkman]

God - this place is an introspective Techie shrine . Stock - it's OK. Very useable - a real ergonomic delight, and well built and competent. But definitely low-fi. Possibly the full hot-rod versions are as exciting as everyone says but you start to run into big bucks and need a fair bit of savvy relative to your average punter buying a gramophone from the local shop. Hot-rodded fully they are probably £2000 for the deck before an arm upgrade, and the arm is pretty ordinary (good ordinary, but ordinary). But don't let me spoil the love-in

[Audio Al]

God - this place is an introspective Techie shrine . Stock - it's OK. Very useable - a real ergonomic delight, and well built and competent. But definitely low-fi. Possibly the full hot-rod versions are as exciting as everyone says but you start to run into big bucks and need a fair bit of savvy relative to your average punter buying a gramophone from the local shop. Hot-rodded fully they are probably £2000 for the deck before an arm upgrade, and the arm is pretty ordinary (good ordinary, but ordinary). But don't let me spoil the love-in

[Ammonite Audio]

God - this place is an introspective Techie shrine . Stock - it's OK. Very useable - a real ergonomic delight, and well built and competent. But definitely low-fi. Possibly the full hot-rod versions are as exciting as everyone says but you start to run into big bucks and need a fair bit of savvy relative to your average punter buying a gramophone from the local shop. Hot-rodded fully they are probably £2000 for the deck before an arm upgrade, and the arm is pretty ordinary (good ordinary, but ordinary). But don't let me spoil the love-in

I would not go quite as far as "low-fi" but Technics ownership can easily become a slippery slope of upgrades and tweakery that can get very expensive indeed (I've been there).

I've only heard one PL-71 (Richard Dunn's on two occasions) but that's where my money would go, assuming that one was for sale - servicing and recapping are cheap enough, and the arm's way better than it looks.

[shane]

IMHO I'd say avoid, looks like it has had very heavy use. Arm base looks very manky, same by stop/start.

Having now looked a bit closer, you're probably right. Scrub my original recommendation...

[Oldpinkman]

I would not go quite as far as "low-fi" but Technics ownership can easily become a slippery slope of upgrades and tweakery that can get very expensive indeed (I've been there).

I've only heard one PL-71 (Richard Dunn's on two occasions) but that's where my money would go, assuming that one was for sale - servicing and recapping are cheap enough, and the arm's way better than it looks.

I should qualify "low-fi" before I am mobbed. I didn't mean rubbish. I just meant like a very good ordinary record player. By that I mean friends, family, and recently a wife who say "I know what records sound like - never as good as CD" and then listen to "HiFi" and go "oh my God - I just never thought records could sound that good". The Techie is OK - but sounded like any number of Sony or Pioneer or Micro Seiki or other good japanese decks (and even some "hifi" from my earlier era (dual 505, Pioneer PL12d etc) which were good - but not "oh wow". That sort of low-fi. I would say as in nothing like a PT anni with a Helius Orion arm, or heaven forbid, an LP12 and all the trimmings, but how about , as in not like a Techie, with mike new bearing and PSU, fancy feet, funk platter, Dynavector DV-507 and god knows what else pimping. That sort of low-fi.

Phew

[Clive197]

I should qualify "low-fi" before I am mobbed. I didn't mean rubbish. I just meant like a very good ordinary record player. By that I mean friends, family, and recently a wife who say "I know what records sound like - never as good as CD" and then listen to "HiFi" and go "oh my God - I just never thought records could sound that good". The Techie is OK - but sounded like any number of Sony or Pioneer or Micro Seiki or other good japanese decks (and even some "hifi" from my earlier era (dual 505, Pioneer PL12d etc) which were good - but not "oh wow". That sort of low-fi. I would say as in nothing like a PT anni with a Helius Orion arm, or heaven forbid, an LP12 and all the trimmings, but how about , as in not like a Techie, with mike new bearing and PSU, fancy feet, funk platter, Dynavector DV-507 and god knows what else pimping. That sort of low-fi.

Phew

Richard, I think your digging a deeper hole for yourself. Most people on this forum who are Techie owners have to a greater or lesser extent fettled their TT's and may take your comments in a negative light.

[selby]

All really interesting...

I don't want to buy something and then be forever spending money upgrading it. So based on that would a Thorens or Rega maybe be better suited?