Technics SL1200M3D Turntable

Rating:
Summary: Superb Technics Crafstmanship
Review: Having owned several plastic cheap turntables over the years ( all of them are in turntable heaven now)this was the last one I purchased.I have had it for almost 2 years and enjoy listening to it almost everyday like it was the first day I bought it ! In fact I sometimes prefer to listen to the old warm analog sound of my vinyl collection versus the new cold digital age of music.What will immediately set this 'table apart from other imitations or knock offs is the rugged and heavy duty plinth (what the actual wheel of steel sits on) and its impeccable or uncanny way of tracking even some older somewhat warped lps (if counter-weight and anti tracking are adjusted just so). This is not only the working dj's table but also for the guy or gal with the valuable record collection. Though it is totally manual, the sacrifice of having to get up (off my lazy ...)and stop it at the end of an lp side is well worth it in exchange for the high calibre of performance.Also, from my past experiences with full automatic turntables I would often pay a high price for owning them because the automatic mechanisms were always the first part to breakdown on any of my tables.This one is a no frills manual without the worry of an automatic mechanism failing (dropping the needle on the outside of the record or rejecting before the actual time of side a or b was up GRRRR !). Rotational speed accuracy is incredible (practically almost no wow and flutter).Start up from a dead stop is fast!You can even gently run your fingertips in the opposite direction the platter is playing and feel how tight and tough the motor fights you to maintain a constant correct speed.This is a great table for archiving your valuable lp's onto a cd recorder due to the smooth start and stop feature.It is also an attractive looking piece of audio equipment that would look like the crowning component jewel to any a/v system;it would make your friends do a double take(either because its an aesthetically nice looking piece or the puzzlement of why anybody still listens to records)It will definitely make young kids and some teens say, "what the heck is that ???). Fitted with an excellent cartridge it will give hours of enjoyment for a party as well as probably outlive the family cat !

Rating:
Summary: The best Turntable just got better
Review: Having previously owned the SL1200 MKII, I needed to upgrade and it was about time that Technics came out with an improved version of their classic Indusry Standard. Appearance wise it is almost exactly the same as the SL1200 MKII but the boys have been busy in making noticable changes. The Torque motor moving the turntable platter on this new Deck is nothing short of amazing. For mixing it is the best turntable i have come across and it will last for a good 20 years, maybe more. Having said that it is probably the cheapest turntable to buy in the long run if you are to take quality and reliability into account. The Dust Cover comes off a lot smoother then previously I might add (owners of the SL1200 MK2 will know what Im talking about). So if you are planning on buying a new set of Decks or want to have some serious set of Equipment at your disposal this is what you should be looking at. Do not be fooled by the flashy little buttons and effects that can be found on other turntable brands.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful workhorse.
Review: The Technics SL1200M3D is one of the absolute most reliable, and sturdiest tables out there. It is without a doubt, the most popular turntable for DJs in the world.

However for home use it is far from delivering the best in quality sound in its price range. 90% of all high end quality tables use belt drives. The reason is that direct drive motors cause vibrations that move up through motor, through the platter, to the record you are playing, and then to the needle and out the speakers. A large source of distortion.

A Music Hall MMF-5 comes in around $$$, the MMF-2.1 at $$$.
Both of these turntable will out preform the Technics in qaulity.

The best bet would be for a Rega Planar 2 table at $$$. This is a truly wonderful table. I own this table, along with 2 Technics 1200s (M3D & MK2)and a Rega Planar 3.

The Regas are some of the finest tables in the world for home audio use. But not if you are a DJ.

Rating:
Summary: Aspiring DJ or want a solid turntable for your old records?
Review: This is top of the line folks. No and, ifs or buts about it. The 1200M3D is the best turntable you can get for your money. Direct Drive, 33 and 45 rpm buttons, zero-pitch reset button, needle light, and a recessed power switch makes this the only table of choice for all DJs. Even if you are looking to get a solid turntable that will be working 20 years from now to play your old 12" or LPs, this is the best table there is. The only thing is that you will need to buy a stylus for it to play records ...