When a 15 euro turntable leaves a Rega for dead

[admin_exported]

Just invested the abovementioned sum in a Technics SL 1500 turntable, partly because it was cheap and partly to see whether the whole direct drive thing is for me.

Let me start with the negatives. This is a 30 year old turntable, and the speed pots need replacing. I've cleaned them, but it still takes a good 5 minutes for the speed to settle down. This isn't the quartz speed locked model, so the odd tweak is needed every now again between records. Lastly, when compared to the Rega P2, the SL 1500 is more sensitive to surface noise on the vinyl, and to static also.

However, it sounds so good, even with an inferior cartridge. The sound has snap, dynamics, and that quality peculiar to expensive gear, the ability to place notes with precision, and leave a sense of space between them. Even piano, the achilles heel of vinyl, sounds as good as the media permits it to get. To be truthful, not since I bought the Sonus Fabers have I heard such a difference in my system, and such a musical difference, to boot. This is with a turntable whose arm is basic, and whose market quickly turned away from the world of HiFi to that of the DJ.

Would I recommend this turntable? No. It's far too old, and anyone buying one should expect to have to do a lot of work on the circuit board. However, it does whet the appetite for the SL 1200 or SL 1210, which, judging from my experience with, the SL 1500, should comfortably better the established favourites like the Regas, the more expensive Pro-jects, Clearaudio Emotions and so forth. It's certainly made the SL 12xx series top of my list for future upgrades. My P2 is awaiting the highest bidder.

 

[chebby]

I would love one of those SL-1210 mk5 G versions.

Gloss/metallic black, blue LEDs, improved arm wiring etc etc. Yum.

Pure and utter bling...

But I am that shallow.

 

[basshead]

i love my 1210's... but then i am a dj...

 

[gregory]

The 1210 is a great deck, i had one for a while but it went wrong, took it back to the shop for an exchange but they had ran out of stock, the shop owner gave me a refund so off i went in search of another one, none of the shops on TCR had any so off i went to Garhams for a Rega P2 and have not looked back but i still want another one.

 

[the record spot]

A bit of info on the 1500 from the Vinyl Engine website (there's a manual on there too if you need one):-

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1500.shtml

The following is the text from the above link:-

Description

The Technics SL-1500 comprises of an ingenious reworking of physical geometry in the basic direct-drive design concept which has greatly simplified mechanical construction without any sacrifice in performance specifications.

The result is a turntable that retains full DD performance capability, concentrates it in a sleekly styled, low silhouette compact and makes it available at an affordable price.

We think of it as the direct-drive turntable for people who can't afford direct-drive.

In earlier Technics configurations, the platter rested in the motor.

In the SL-1500, the rotor is integrated directly into the platter and together they form the only moving part in this ingeniously uncomplicated system.

Greater precision and simpler construction are simultaneously achieved internally.

Additionally, the motor rotor is countersunk into the handsome aluminium diecast baseplate and control panel surface to create a good-looking, low profile effect.

Specifications

Type: manual turntable

Drive method: direct drive

Motor: ultra low speed brushless DC motor

Control type: servo control (mk1), quartz locked (mk2)

Platter: 330mm, 2.5kg, aluminium alloy diecast

Speeds: 33 and 45rpm

Pitch control: 10% (mk1), 20% (mk2)

Wow and flutter: 0.03% WRMS (mk1), 0.025% WRMS (mk2)

Rumble: -70dB (mk1), -73dB (mk2)

Tonearm: universal, s-shaped, tubular

Effective length: 230mm

Overhang: 15mm

Offset angle: 21.5 degrees

Dimensions: 139 x 366 x 453mm (mk1), 145 x 384 x 453mm (mk2)

Weight: 7.8kg (mk1), 11.5kg (mk2)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I saw that on vinylengine after I'd bought the turntable. Apparently the Mk II was better, as the speed was Quartz locked.

Do you still have a turntable? I see that you signature doesn't show one.ÿ

ÿ

 

[the record spot]

Yes, still have my P3/AT440MLa, but with the children currently at the "active and investigating" stage of life (they're just over 18 months old now), it's currently on top of the best isolation platform I've seen to date; the wardrobe where it should be safe for a few years yet!

Joking aside, I'm thinking of selling it on with a view to buying another one in time to come. Actually, there's a fair bit of kit about to go on sale from Spot Towers as Mrs. R_S wants a clear-out of "the junk". The nerve!

 

[Anonymous]

Going through a bit of a compulsory selling phase myself, albeit for different reasons (job market still a disaster here), which is why the 15 euro turntable is such a blessing. Still, it's only HiFi and there are far more important things in life, so I'm told.