Shuggie's SL-1210 Blog Revived

[SteveW]

Group hug...Group hug.

[DSJR]

Well, on a certain other site there are two Naim tweakers who each have loyal but friendly followings (one keeps the Naim character but attempts to improve on it and the other attempts to make the Naim circuits the stable, neutral and competent designs they could (and should?) have been.. I hope this can possibly be followed here.

A real shame that noone here likes the idea of little active speakers with custom designed amps and digital inputs. I've seen Ashley James banned for less than I've read above. He may not have repeatedly stated how this particular speaker spec's out, but there's enough info on them out there for the basic performance to be ascertained. I suppose it's because the Techie is so well loved by those that know which makes things different in this case...

[NRG]

!?! no, no surely your not comparing the underhand viral marketing that AJ dishes out at every opportunity to this thread. The two bare no resemblance at all!

[DSJR]

I'm really not trying to stir things any further, but what was Ash's viral marketing in actual fact? Saying that all component audio is "Legacy" compared to this model of speaker? Not so far away from stating that all springy belt drives are dreadful and lo-fi compared to the tweaked SL1200 and that little 1970's pro amps with impressive spec sound truly dire and terrible when compared to a frighteningly expensive copper-clad valve amp made with expensive boutique internal bits that only a handful of people have ever heard, let alone own (yes, I'm green with envy, but I can live with it ).

Anyway, I'll get off me soap-box and eagerly await the time when I finally succomb to an SL1200 of my own (again )

[Marco]

LOL, Dave!

I suppose it's because the Techie is so well loved by those that know which makes things different in this case...

No, it's because Ashley was a total fanny.

Anyway, with regard to the 'Dave & Paul show', I see it's a case of all's well that ends well - nice one, guys!

Marco.

[DSJR]

Ash may be a lot of things, but "fanny" isn't one of them

The point is that Technics make a deck that in standard trim is similar to, if opposite to, a Rega 3 - the Rega having a good and profitable arm on a just acceptable platform, the Techie having a decent and potentially great drive platform with a surprisingly lightweight arm that isn't best suited to the fussier cartridges out there it seems. It's good for the modders that Technics don't see any real mileage in top end vinyl reproduction.

Will the bearing update fit the SL150? The basic "motor" assembly looks very similar to me, even if the control circuit is totally different.

[Marco]

The point is that Technics make a deck that in standard trim is similar to, if opposite to, a Rega 3 - the Rega having a good and profitable arm on a just acceptable platform...

Not quite, Dave... The Rega is more like a Fisher Price toy compared to the Technics

Tonearm aside, in terms of engineering, it's like comparing a Dansette to an EMT!

I don't even particularly rate the tonearm and think that in standard form the RB250 or 300 is one of the most overrated, over-hyped items ever to enter the hi-fi market. It's 'ok' when used with one of Rega's so-so MM cartridges, but with anything else it sounds grey, bland, and rather boring.

The likes of a Jelco SA-250T (used by Martin T) or any high quality 'S-shaped' Japanese arm, past or present, pisses all over it in my experience. And the myriad of 'tweaked' versions don't compare to the likes of a Jelco SA-750D or an SME M2 or 309 (sorry Shuggs!) The M2, in particular, is as underrated as the Rega is overrated.

In my opinion, people have been brainwashed by the hi-fi press and dealers nearly as much with Rega tonearms (and their T/Ts to an extent) as they have with LP12s and the whole bloody belt-drive tune-playing 'superiority' bollocks!!

There; that should get some people going

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

My personal take:

The problem is that most standard arms are damaged by hard use. If they are damaged it makes sense to replace it with a better one.

A standard arm in good or new condition is as good, or bad as a Rega. So using a Rega is a bit of a waste of time, and to give you a idea they are only £60 trade............ If you rewire or refurb the standard arm, in the end you still have a standard arm.

The Jelco 250 is a great arm for the OC9.

The Jelco 750 is a great all round arm and has an interchangeable headshell, useful for some.

The SME M2 is a retro throwback and I don't recommend it.

The SME 309 is the bargain of the decade.

SME IV and V are for the wealthy but ultimately worth it, but only if you spend a shed load of money on a cartridge that will do them justice.

I have a new Hadcock unipivot, anyone want me to try it?

Regards

Dave

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

The SME M2 is a retro throwback and I don't recommend it.

We'll have to disagree there, mate! I've heard it and it's a bloody good arm - and you know that I know a good sound when I hear it

How is the M2 a "retro throwback" anymore than a Jelco 750 is? One could say that the 750 is a "retro throwback" of a Sumiko...

Agreed on the SME 309 - yep, a great arm for the price. The IV is too, although I don't think the V is worth the extra money over the IV. My personal choice at that exalted level would be an Ikeda – a truly superb tonearm on every level.

Totally agree about the Hadcock - in my experience it outperforms any modified Rega-based arm, providing you can put up with the achingly fiddly set-up.

When it comes to tonearms, more people should think outside of the box and move away from the 'usual suspects', which have been impregnated into people's minds largely through ignorance of what else is out there away from the front of their nose.

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

The difference is the M2 is a throwback but a nice throwback, whereas the Jelco 750 is a proper new design, in my opinion. But I'm happy to sell the M2's all day long if people want and like them! It certainly is an outstanding bargain, especially for those outside of the EU when it could be as low as £543 or about $800 USD !

Regards

Dave