Technics Announces New Reference Class SP-10R Direct Drive Turntable

Technics will be showing at IFA 2017 (Berlin, Sept.1-6) a brand new edition of its legendary SP-10d direct drive turntable. The new SP-10R shown in the above picture is slated to debut in the summer of 2018.

We take this as an indication of the success of Technics's 'turntable re-launch of a few years ago.

Let the slate and other custom plinth makers go to town on this one!

COMMENTS
isaacrivera's picture

All of those denialist trolls claiming it is just a millennial fad can start explaining how it is that the "fad" is making all of these TT manufacturers investments worthwhile. I suppose you could argue that they have not done any market research and just going on trends, but when a decade into the "fad" the big boys are starting to claim a slice of the pie, it appears to me, they have waited prudently, done the research and decided it is a safe bet. And companies like Technics are doubling down on their efforts, which means their initial forays have paid off. Smaller companies that rely exclusively on TT sales are expanding and having a hard time meeting demand. And of course, the bulk of it is entry-level tables, but a good chunk of the pie is tables in the $4-10K range. This is not just millennials. I see the videos of the audio shows in Asia, they are going crazy over high-end turntables and record collecting is serious stuff there. But hey, better keep hating all of those who don't make my preconceptions come true and troll away.

KWD's picture

I have to ask, could you put this table up against yours like you did for the revamped 1200s? I'd love to see that vid. Figures right after I get a NOS SP10 MKII they'd do this......

Ortofan's picture

... SP-10Mk3?
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SP-10MK3.html

Does Technics have any plans to revive the EPA-100 tonearm?
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-EPA-100.html

Will this convince Pioneer to bring back the Exclusive P3?
http://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-Exclusive_P3.html

Given that the SP-10R is supposed to be a drop-in for the earlier models, if Technics doesn't offer their own plinth, then Oswalds Mill should have something suitable.
100 pounds of slate should suffice:
https://oswaldsmillaudio.com/technics

Manimaldoug's picture

Long live the revolution!!!
Even if it ends today, it leaves us with some great toys:)

Martin's picture

Now that's a nice turntable :-)))))

Steelhead's picture

I am a belt drive kind of guy.

BUT, I would definitely cheat with this one. Really looking forward to a review on this gorgeous deck.

gbougard's picture

I have a notion this baby is going to be priced well outside my range.

I'm probably going to draw ire and contempt, but I'm pretty sure these new Technics wouldn't beat my Thorens 124MK2 that has been pimped by Schopper and Swissonor

gbougard's picture

looks pretty, though

Steelhead's picture

After hearing a refurbed 124 through Shindo gear with DeVore speakers you will not draw ire nor contempt from me.

The entire setup was sweet and the vinyl played dead quiet and sublime or grandiose as dictated by the music. The Thorens was killer.

I have a SOTA and love it. I also have a JVC direct drive that is nice and fun and I enjoy using it when I am lazy and do not want to play with tonearm cuiing.

If I had the coin I would LOVE to play with this Technics. Never been in front of one spinning but saw an original version up close and personal and it looked impressively built and dead serious.

Anton D's picture

I love guessing prices...

I will go with 8 kilodollars.

Rudy's picture

...that the SP-10 Mk. III (or was it the Mk. II) used the same motor used by cutting lathes. That's some accurate sheet, mon! I could see bringing back the 1200, but this SP-10R is a total surprise. No doubt it will be at AXPONA. It will be interesting to see which arm they pair it with.

bfrank53's picture

Where does the tonearm go?

dcbingaman's picture

This thing may single-handedly put everything else selling for more than its price on the shelf. Technics and Denon both had standalone DD units that could be combined with custom plinth's and SOTA tonearms back in the day and they were world-class. I am still using a DP-75 with a Mission Mechanic tonearm in a custom plinth, and it is fully competitive with my SOTA Sapphire / MDC-800 The Arm combination.

This thing could but a BUNCH of other hyper-expensive tables to shame. NOBODY (except VPI briefly) has put a better Direct Drive motor than what was in the old SP-10 in the marketplace.

pbnaudio's picture

Surely wish they would reshape the top plate - loose the two back corners - so that 9" arms could be used with this - as it is now - just like its predecessors the SP10 / MK2 / MK3 only 12" arms can be used.

Other than that its a super exciting table, looking forward to working with it

Good Listening

Peter Noerbaek
PBN Audio

M3 lover's picture

Rudy, and others interested in this trivia, the Technics motor utilized in cutting lathes was the SP-02. It was designed and sold for that purpose only, not as a consumer product. But no doubt there was design influence in the development of the SP-10 Mk 2 and Mk 3.

Tony C's picture

Somehow I ended up on the Oswalds Mills Audio website and they bring up the old debate; direct drive and idler drive vs. belt drive. As you can see by this link, https://oswaldsmillaudio.com/turntable they are clearly in the idler/direct drive camp and present a convincing argument. I own belt drive and a direct drive. What's your opinion based on Oswalds?

ferrari275's picture

Helpful information here as well.

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