Technics - SL-1210GAE vs SL-1300G

[Entrigo]

Little poll, for anyone who has had the chance to compare the two.

How does the 1200GAE compare to the 1300G, purely in terms of SQ?

1. The 1200GAE is significantly better

2. The GAE is touch better than the 1300G

3. Hardly any difference



I have recently bought the SL-1300G as an upgrade from the SL1500C and while it is a fine sounding deck, I can't help but feel the upgrade wasn't as much as I thought - considering the jump in price.

I am now eyeing a GAE but not sure if it's worth the extra cost - the GAE has the better arm and plinth but the 1300G has the newer drive...
But then the deck is on a thick, solid shelf mounted on a brick wall on two sides.

What does people think?

Should I stay or should I go (deeper in debt 😆)?

 

[nopiano]

Does playing LPs make up the majority of your listening? If so, it might be worth it for the better arm and swisher finish. But your 1300 is pretty much state of the art in many respects, though we both know there are hundreds of “flavours” of record player out there.

Can you actually buy the 1200 G Anniversary Edition, or are you considering the regular G version? Or I see there’s a Master Edition too, the GME! And what about the new Michell Revolv, with your choice of arm? 🤔🤣

 

[Entrigo]

Does playing LPs make up the majority of your listening? If so, it might be worth it for the better arm and swisher finish. But your 1300 is pretty much state of the art in many respects, though we both know there are hundreds of “flavours” of record player out there.

Can you actually buy the 1200 G Anniversary Edition, or are you considering the regular G version? Or I see there’s a Master Edition too, the GME! And what about the new Michell Revolv, with your choice of arm? 🤔🤣

Yes, in the last year vinyl playback has shot up to being around 90% of my hi-fi listening - relegating streaming to listening at my work desk and while on the move - and CD to the occasional guilt play (i.e. when I remember I upgraded CD player to a pretty decent one in the spring and it is sitting there gathering dust 🙄)

There is a GAE I am looking at if the price is right - nearly pulled the trigger last week but had last minute second thoughts. I will most likely not pull the trigger this time either but it might come down to last minute impulse again - as opinions on the various fora seem to be as disparate as to leave me in the exact same point as where I started haha

The GME is really not for me. I am already not a fan of the DJ looks - I can make an exception for the GAE also as it has that "limited edition" shine to it and it allows you to switch the strobe off - but the gold arm... yuck (sorry not sorry 🤣)

Michell - I am not sure. I really considered an Orbe se at the beginning of the year as there was a used one for a very good price but - I am not 100% sure of the looks (it will sit almost pride of place in our living room so aesthetics will play a small part) and anyway, at £4k without arm, it's out of my league...

 

[DougK1]

Like everything I've found in this hobby the more you spend the smaller the gains actually are. What you need to find is a level of reproduction which suits your ears and taste and try to leave the upgraditis bug behind you. I've finally settled with what I currently have, I'm not prepared to chase minor gains anymore 🙂

 

[Gray]

Should I stay or should I go (deeper in debt 😆)?

If I'd had your experience between decks so far - as impractical as this may be, I'd want a dealer to setup a blind demo between the 1300G and the GAE.

In fact, if there were more genuinely blind demos, there'd be far fewer sales of every component I'm sure.
(Especially as people opened their eyes to see the prices).

 

[Entrigo]

Like everything I've found in this hobby the more you spend the smaller the gains actually are. What you need to find is a level of reproduction which suits your ears and taste and try to leave the upgraditis bug behind you. I've finally settled with what I currently have, I'm not prepared to chase minor gains anymore 🙂

Very wise and really pleased for you - you do have a pretty good setup!

Sadly it is quite hard to leave the bug behind for me - It's more about the dopamine hit ( the research, the purchase and the novelty of a new component) than the actual sound quality - I'd say 70/30.

Then as soon as the novelty wears off, the bug starts creeping back out and off spinning on the wheel we go again.

That said, I have had the speakers for nearly three years (the longest surviving component of my current setup) and never really had the itch to upgrade. I know I'd probably get more with higher end speakers and I have indeed started looking but it's casual. So maybe it's more like 50/50 dopamine/SQ... 😆

Though in this case, it's also not just about SQ - it's owning a unique piece. This was meant to be my 50th birthday present to myself, and I was meant to buy it from around now (my birthday is the 5th of March). So if I hadn't given in to a sudden impulse because of an offer, and if I were to consider
A - a mint-ish GAE for £3kish
vs
B - A new 1300G for £2.5k

I'd go A without hesitation, me not loving the DJ looks nowithstanding...

But then I have LONG been interested to really understand what difference might there be between each of these models (1200G, 1200GAE, 1300G etc) and cannot get a unanimous opinion - though the majority of those who genuinely have listened to both sa the 1200s are better.

Time will tell.

 

[Entrigo]

If I'd had your experience between decks so far - as impractical as this may be, I'd want a dealer to setup a blind demo between the 1300G and the GAE.

In fact, if there were more genuinely blind demos, there'd be far fewer sales of every component I'm sure.
(Especially as people opened their eyes to see the prices).

Without a doubt! But as I was saying above, now that I dissected it and admitted it to myself, this is not just about sound quality in the end.

Anyway a case of damned if I do (more money and having to sell one off) and damned if I don't (as I'll regret it) haha

But equally, happy if I do and happy if I don't.I have a new cart on the horizon which I hope to finance almost entirely by selling off two of my existing ones - and ifnI don't buy the GAE I'll have more money for records.
Win=win.

 

[RoA]

Stay off forums and enjoy what you have and which is very nice. There is no perfection, especially with turntables. Flawed media, beginning to end.

If anything I am grateful to you for your costly experimentations and which confirms what I know already which is that all of the new Technics decks, even the bottom ones, are very good.

 

[Entrigo]

Haha I wish I could - one day hopefully I will be just content with my setup and spend all my time - and money - hunting down and buying records like I used to (and then cleaning and listening to them).

Anyway yes, hats off to Technics. I am sure a golden eared listener would find enough differences to fill a whole book but the fact remains that even their entry level deck is pretty good. By the way, I was actually "reprimanded" for my A/B technique: I used a Ortofon Red, thinking using a basic cartridge would be a good way to see what the deck itself would bring to the table (pun semi-intended), but it seems a better cartridge would have put the differences in starker contrast - oh well!

 

[Entrigo]

Anyway, couldn't go through in the end. Had the bid ready, nobody else bidding but something held me back. Maybe the extra cost maybe the DJ looks which I really am not sure about. Well if anything this, hopefully, puts this to bed - until, hopefully, Technics brings out a plain looking deck with brushed metal plinth and better arm haha.

Just in that case there'll be no hesitation, no doubts whatsoever...

 

[daytona600]

Have both SL1300G & SL1200G and both are fantastic TTs , but the real technics magic happens with the a Simply Awesome SP10R/SL1000R

 

[Entrigo]

Have both SL1300G & SL1200G and both are fantastic TTs , but the real technics magic happens with the a Simply Awesome SP10R/SL1000R

Yeah can imagine, but that is sadly wildly out of budget...

Although - is it real magic or are we in diminishing returns territory as well? Had someone arguing that (referring to theSL1000R) on another forum.

 

[daytona600]

SP10s on fleabay for £600
Home made plinth , Rega Arm , AT/Ortofon & sorted for £1,000
Sky is the limit with a SP10 $50,000 +

 

[daytona600]