Technics SL-3200

_anonymus_

Active member
Oct 5, 2021
18
6
25
Visit site
I own a perfectly good Thorens TD160.
Today I stumbled upon a Technics SL-3200 for sale, and although I have no idea why I would need two turntables, I bought it.
I'm curious how this one will be different in sound from my beloved TD160 (with Ortofon Red cartidge).

Asking price was € 150 for the Technics, but with some negotiating (and also because I bought some of the seller's old vinyl records) I managed to get the price down to € 80.

Any thoughts about or experiences with an SL-3200 here?

The rest of my system:
Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator Phono Preamp
Pioneer VSX-521 amplifier
B&W 606 speakers
 

Attachments

  • 275658478_4869771079808911_2156807165342614357_n.jpg
    275658478_4869771079808911_2156807165342614357_n.jpg
    76.4 KB · Views: 19
  • 275784673_5610291918987780_6187219725754610665_n.jpg
    275784673_5610291918987780_6187219725754610665_n.jpg
    70.8 KB · Views: 21
  • 275660768_4910420329075534_5407025054424486154_n.jpg
    275660768_4910420329075534_5407025054424486154_n.jpg
    62.3 KB · Views: 19
  • 275725555_7175389502533457_2272834678569472576_n.jpg
    275725555_7175389502533457_2272834678569472576_n.jpg
    67 KB · Views: 23
  • 276140970_4388481631252134_1706302825069894657_n.png
    276140970_4388481631252134_1706302825069894657_n.png
    898.7 KB · Views: 21

_anonymus_

Active member
Oct 5, 2021
18
6
25
Visit site
Finally found some time to actually listen to it yesterday.
All functions of the TT still work as they should.
I didn't replace the cartridge but still kept the original one installed.
Did some back to back listening and my first impression was that the Technics sounded more dull.
But after some listening I started to appreciate this. The sound is more mellow than my Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. On some records, this is good thing, as the 2M can become quite tiresome to listen to with all the detail it reveals. The 2M sometimes is too sharp in sound to my ears.
Did some research about the Technics cartridge, and the reviews at vinylengine seem to confirm my impressions:
 
Finally found some time to actually listen to it yesterday.
All functions of the TT still work as they should.
I didn't replace the cartridge but still kept the original one installed.
Did some back to back listening and my first impression was that the Technics sounded more dull.
But after some listening I started to appreciate this. The sound is more mellow than my Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. On some records, this is good thing, as the 2M can become quite tiresome to listen to with all the detail it reveals. The 2M sometimes is too sharp in sound to my ears.
Did some research about the Technics cartridge, and the reviews at vinylengine seem to confirm my impressions:
good to hear you think the same about the 2M Red as I do. Couldn't stand that cartridge.
 
  • Like
Reactions: plastic penguin

_anonymus_

Active member
Oct 5, 2021
18
6
25
Visit site
I have mixed feelings about the 2M Red. I don't completely hate it, but with some music it can indeed be annoying and tiresome.
I'm thinking of selling it and replacing it with a Nagaoka MP-150.
On the Technics, I'm keeping the 270C-cartridge for the moment. I like it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Al ears

camcroft

Well-known member
I have mixed feelings about the 2M Red. I don't completely hate it, but with some music it can indeed be annoying and tiresome.
I'm thinking of selling it and replacing it with a Nagaoka MP-150.
On the Technics, I'm keeping the 270C-cartridge for the moment. I like it.
You can get a lot more cartridge than the Nagaoka MP-150 and not for silly money like the ATVM95ML and there is a full range of stylus's that can be used with the body from the 95 C right through to the 95 SH . The price of Nagaoka stylus's is totally ridiculous some costing more than the complete ATVM95ML cartridge. I have a Nagaoka cartridge an old MP11 which is now a MP110 so I am not running down their cartridges but they are losing pace with the cost of their products in the market place.
 
You can get a lot more cartridge than the Nagaoka MP-150 and not for silly money like the ATVM95ML and there is a full range of stylus's that can be used with the body from the 95 C right through to the 95 SH . The price of Nagaoka stylus's is totally ridiculous some costing more than the complete ATVM95ML cartridge. I have a Nagaoka cartridge an old MP11 which is now a MP110 so I am not running down their cartridges but they are losing pace with the cost of their products in the market place.
it is true that they are not the bargains that they were years ago, however even for the current cost they are still excellent cartridges and I think you would have to go higher up the ladder than the VM95 to beat the MP150
 
I have mixed feelings about the 2M Red. I don't completely hate it, but with some music it can indeed be annoying and tiresome.
I'm thinking of selling it and replacing it with a Nagaoka MP-150.
On the Technics, I'm keeping the 270C-cartridge for the moment. I like it.
I'm not a big fan of any budget Ortofons. I owned the 2 Red. The equivalent priced Goldrings are better IMHO.
 

Rui

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2021
215
48
1,820
Visit site
I own a perfectly good Thorens TD160.
Today I stumbled upon a Technics SL-3200 for sale, and although I have no idea why I would need two turntables, I bought it.
I'm curious how this one will be different in sound from my beloved TD160 (with Ortofon Red cartidge).

Asking price was € 150 for the Technics, but with some negotiating (and also because I bought some of the seller's old vinyl records) I managed to get the price down to € 80.

Any thoughts about or experiences with an SL-3200 here?

The rest of my system:
Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator Phono Preamp
Pioneer VSX-521 amplifier
B&W 606 speakers
i own a very similar to this even the keys are the same but more functions and today i´m using it more with the same cartridge and stylus are the same ,it´s a SL-3310 (ash colour , the 10 is about it) it never failed only changed the original stylus conical for a eliptical but also a eps-270 ,i have perfect sound because i use a mint sa-608 79 integrated amplifier with a pair of mission speakers from late 80´s the 761 4ohms ,it sounds very clean and good ,of all the things you listed i would try to find a better pioneer integrated amplifier or a hybrid like the one from magnat nothing else, all the rest is perfect and before i had a thorens conected to it but i sold it ,it was a professional thorens from 1970 with shure professional needle ,now it´s this technics that sounds the same as mine if working correctelly ,many will say it´s not good but i´ve tested a lot of turntables and this since 76 doesn´t fail me once
 

_anonymus_

Active member
Oct 5, 2021
18
6
25
Visit site
A 'new' vintage amplifier is high on the wish list, although I have to say the Pioneer certainly does sound ok.
About the Technics: last week the needle broke when I was cleaning it with a needle brush.
Don't know how many hours the previous owner(s) had used the needle, but in any case a good moment for a small upgrade.
I just ordered a Jico elliptical stylus for the EPC270 cartridge:
https://www.pickupnaald.nl/technics-jico-eps270ed-757de-elliptical-stylus.html
 

Rui

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2021
215
48
1,820
Visit site
i did found on a store closed several original technics stylus and had a jico before it was a substitution brand well known where i live ,but the one that i notice having more quality was from the swiss brand huco, but from the 80´s ,i have also a pioneer turntable from 74 and found several stylus there from jico the pn-30 not equal to the pn-50 as it´s said,it damages the cartridge i had to restore mine the best i could but works perfect , the phono in new amplifiers is very bad ,there are exceptions but in veryu expensive amplifiers ,while 70´s amplifiers have a better sound with a less expensive stylus, this pn-30 sounds very bad with new amplifiers but when conected to a 70´s accuphase or technics or pioneer they do deliver detailed sound, in the 90´s i had a sony 690ES and it had perfect sound with this turntable but it was a bit expensive and sold it due to the cds no matter the player always sound much worse than records or even recorded cassettes from the cd, regards
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts