Calling all Technics SL1500C owners - Cue lever

[TK421]

Hi all,
Just acquired a Technics SL1500C and I'm very happy with it...except for the cue lever. Seems very unresponsive and cheap.
It seems strange that Technics woud have included such a dinky plasticy cue lever when the rest is a good quality build.
Anybody else have this issue?

 

[Al ears]

Hi all,
Just acquired a Technics SL1500C and I'm very happy with it...except for the cue lever. Seems very unresponsive and cheap.
It seems strange that Technics woud have included such a dinky plasticy cue lever when the rest is a good quality build.
Anybody else have this issue?

If it does it's job I cannot understand why you are complaining assuming you auditioned it before buying,, it isn't exactly top of the line stuff.

 

[daytona600]

Bring back the art of Hand Cueing

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7LpKGSKGh6g

 

[TK421]

If it does it's job I cannot understand why you are complaining assuming you auditioned it before buying,, it isn't exactly top of the line stuff.

I didn’t audition it as I don’t have a shop near me to do so. I went off online reviews, YouTube vids and forums. Happy with my choice but I do find the cue lever to be flimsy and I was wondering if it was just my TT.

 

[RoA]

Its a much quoted/documented short coming of the new Technics decks, all the way up to the top models. They are all the same, feeling feeble and imprecise.

I agree, it lets an otherwise well built TT down. Even the Rega P3 I had felt much nicer to cue with a better, more solid lever mechanism but in all fairness, the Technics one works and probably will for the next hundred years.

I knew that before buying mine so it didn't come as a surprise but still, Technics, get a grip on this. Even a basic Project one feels better.

Was your old 1210 better?

 

[TK421]

Its a much quoted/documented short coming of the new Technics decks, all the way up to the top models. They are all the same, feeling feeble and imprecise.

I agree, it lets an otherwise well built TT down. Even the Rega P3 I had felt much nicer to cue with a better, more solid lever mechanism but in all fairness, the Technics one works and probably will for the next hundred years.

I knew that before buying mine so it didn't come as a surprise but still, Technics, get a grip on this. Even a basic Project one feels better.

Was your old 1210 better?

Yes the 1210 was much better in that respect. The cue lever was sturdy and reponsive. Tonearm was heavier as well.
I can live with it though as the rest of the deck is very nice.

 

[RoA]

The lighter tonearm is probably a good thing and a response to more modern cartridges/non DJ cartridges. Technics have white papers on their tonearms. A lot of research has apparently been done. Very little friction. Just the lever lets it down. I am surprised no one has developed an after market replacement. Even the latest 1300 is the same. Not sure about the top 1200G. It looks the same but may not be.

 

[TK421]

The lighter tonearm is probably a good thing and a response to more modern cartridges/non DJ cartridges. Technics have white papers on their tonearms. A lot of research has apparently been done. Just the lever lets it down. I am surprised no one has developed an after market replacement.

The 1210 lever was made of metal and felt heavier and more precise. A flimsy cue lever isn't a deal breaker and ultimately it works..

 

[RoA]

According to another forum, Technics now use lighter silicone damping fluid which alters the feel of operation. Makes sense as there is a piston in the fluid cylinder. The effect of this could well be a less heavy feel.

Changing the fluid to a heavier one could well go some way towards making it more stable in feel. My hunch is that the lever is metal/alu on the new ones and only the 'handling bit' is plastic.

This whole thing is a bit like remote controls. Most do the job but don't feel very good to operate. A part that needs constantly interacting with should be well made.

 

[nopiano]

Its a much quoted/documented short coming of the new Technics decks, all the way up to the top models. They are all the same, feeling feeble and imprecise.

I agree, it lets an otherwise well built TT down. Even the Rega P3 I had felt much nicer to cue with a better, more solid lever mechanism but in all fairness, the Technics one works and probably will for the next hundred years.

I knew that before buying mine so it didn't come as a surprise but still, Technics, get a grip on this. Even a basic Project one feels better.

Was your old 1210 better?

Yes, I wrote about it here when I got mine too. And the design could be changed so that you can fasten it in the raised position, rather than not. Definitely a weak element of an otherwise bomb proof design!

 

[RoA]

Have to add something my partner said yesterday; She thinks our modified Rega P3 (late) was nicer to use and operate (and look at). I think, basically she is saying she does not like the Technics 😊 although she thinks it sounds 'a little better' though whether she only added that to please me ... I do not know.

I agree on all points but do like it for it's industrial look just as I liked the Rega for it's minimalistic one though the metal sub platter, Rega P8 feet and Michell Technoweight did add a nice contrast.

Have to say though that a belt drive seems archaic compared to Technics's solution.

 

[Entrigo]

Hi all,
Just acquired a Technics SL1500C and I'm very happy with it...except for the cue lever. Seems very unresponsive and cheap.
It seems strange that Technics woud have included such a dinky plasticy cue lever when the rest is a good quality build.
Anybody else have this issue?

It is a widely known fact and very common gripe. As an example, before the 1500C I have a £350 Audio Technica LP-5, whose cueing was smooth as butter. When I first got the 1500C I thought I had a defective unit (it was a second hand, spur of the moment purchase without demo), until I started reading about the scores of people complaining about it.

Sadly, not just Technics don't seem interested in fixing it, the higher end models (1210GR and 1300G) also have a similar issue - didn't stop me from buying the 1300G today, but it's not great. You'll eventually get used to it...

 

[Entrigo]

According to another forum, Technics now use lighter silicone damping fluid which alters the feel of operation. Makes sense as there is a piston in the fluid cylinder. The effect of this could well be a less heavy feel.

Changing the fluid to a heavier one could well go some way towards making it more stable in feel. My hunch is that the lever is metal/alu on the new ones and only the 'handling bit' is plastic.

This whole thing is a bit like remote controls. Most do the job but don't feel very good to operate. A part that needs constantly interacting with should be well made.

Well, when I tried the cueing on the 1300G in the shop, it didn't feel that different from the 1500C. But then they didn't have the latter that day to do a proper A/B - it certainly did not feel great.

Well, I have my 1300G coming on the 27th, will do a proper A/B then, before I sell on my 1500.

 

[TK421]

It is a widely known fact and very common gripe. As an example, before the 1500C I have a £350 Audio Technica LP-5, whose cueing was smooth as butter. When I first got the 1500C I thought I had a defective unit (it was a second hand, spur of the moment purchase without demo), until I started reading about the scores of people complaining about it.

Sadly, not just Technics don't seem interested in fixing it, the higher end models (1210GR and 1300G) also have a similar issue - didn't stop me from buying the 1300G today, but it's not great. You'll eventually get used to it...

I thought I had a defective unit too. It's been a few weeks now and I'm getting used to it..You just have to be light fingered.

 

[Entrigo]

I thought I had a defective unit too. It's been a few weeks now and I'm getting used to it..You just have to be light fingered.

Yeah. It kinda never leaves you - the feeling that it could be better and mild annoyance, but you learn to live with it. It's a great turntable for the price, so in a way it balances out.

18 months on, the main concern for me is that if I don't push it cleanly all the way up, the stylus seems to hover too close to the record, but I was reading recently about there apparently being a way to set it to lift a little higher.

 

[TK421]

Yeah. It kinda never leaves you - the feeling that it could be better and mild annoyance, but you learn to live with it. It's a great turntable for the price, so in a way it balances out.

18 months on, the main concern for me is that if I don't push it cleanly all the way up, the stylus seems to hover too close to the record, but I was reading recently about there apparently being a way to set it to lift a little higher.

Any idea what the double click does in the down position?

 

[RoA]

Any idea what the double click does in the down position?

It was developed for people with OCD. They can press twice to make sure.

 

[TK421]

It was developed for people with OCD. They can press twice to make sure.

haha. They must have made it specially for me then..

 

[Entrigo]

Any idea what the double click does in the down position?

Hm not sure mine does it double but I always make sure I "click" it anyway. I'm away from home but will check when back.

 

[nopiano]

Yeah. It kinda never leaves you - the feeling that it could be better and mild annoyance, but you learn to live with it. It's a great turntable for the price, so in a way it balances out.

18 months on, the main concern for me is that if I don't push it cleanly all the way up, the stylus seems to hover too close to the record, but I was reading recently about there apparently being a way to set it to lift a little higher.

If it’s similar to my 1210 there’s a set screw in the arm lifter - the crescent shaped bit that actually does the lifting. Check your handbook.

 

[Entrigo]

If it’s similar to my 1210 there’s a set screw in the arm lifter - the crescent shaped bit that actually does the lifting. Check your handbook.

View attachment 10166

Ah good thanks. Currently have it for sale so already need to restore the auto-lift /stop to factory settings, will tweak that as well while I am at it.

 

[Entrigo]

SL1300G arrived and I can confirm that the cueing is actually much better than the SL1500C.

Still doesn't feel great, as in there's no damping to the actual lever, which runs freely and quickly but luckily the actual tonearm lowering mechanism does, as it descends much more slowly and gently than on the SL1500C.

 

[RoA]

Likely different grade fluid but the deck should be a nice upgrade!

 

[Entrigo]

It was developed for people with OCD. They can press twice to make sure.

Haha well. Mine didn't have a double click as such but the last 20/30% had more damping /resistance which was reassuring for my near OCD so I could press down, feel that and know it was all the way down. The 1300G doesn't have that and I almost miss it!

 

[RoA]

Looking forward to your comparison/impressions