Turntable Reviews

In the blink of a vinyl resurgence Technics went from retiring in 2010 the venerable SL-1200 turntable to resurrecting it six years later with two all new “Grand Class” 1200s aimed not at the DJ market as was the original 1200, but at audiophiles.

The limited to 1200 units SL-1200GAE quickly sold out. In 2017 we reviewed the SL-1200G, which other than having a different magnesium tone arm finish and minus a plaque was identical to the limited edition SL-1200GAE.

To celebrate the company’s 55th anniversary, Technics just introduced a new, limited to 1000 units worldwide, SL-1210GAE, with an American list price of $3999.99 not including a cartridge.

The differences between the new turntable and the original SL-1200GAE are for the most part cosmetic, though the footers have been changed to incorporate the silicon gel used in the 'flagship' SL-1000R. The SL-1210GAE’s top plate is a dramatic-looking anodized black brushed hairline finish. The operating buttons and the magnesium tone arm are also black-finished. Affixed to the top plate is a numbered 55th anniversary plaque.

The one new operating feature is the ability to extinguish the in some situations distracting strobe light. Some listeners claim that the strobe light’s operation produces noise so being able to extinguish it should make it possible to test that claim (I didn’t), Otherwise the new turntable’s statistics and features appear identical to the original’s and equally impressive but rather than repeat them here, click on the above hyperlink and read the 1200G review. Here are the new ‘table’s Platterspeed measurements, which theoretically should have been nearly identical to the 1200G’s extremely good ones and were:

Other Facts

Technics has changed its spec sheet to reflect that the “effective length” is the pivot to spindle distance (here, 215mm) plus the overhang (15mm), which is how most arm designers describe it. Previously Technics listed the pivot to spindle distance as the “effective length” and that produced confusion for some (like me!). That’s a worthwhile change.

Technics does not provide the arm’s effective mass but describes it as “lightweight” and gives the head shell mass as “approximately 7.6grams”. Generally speaking, a “low mass” arm would weigh 10 grams or less, a “medium mass” arm, 11-25 grams and an arm above 20 or 25 grams as a “high mass” arm.

So, if the Technics arm’s effective mass is, say, 8 grams plus 7.6 for the head shell that’s close to 15 grams, making the arm “medium mass”.

A Day’s Listen

I set up the SL-1210GAE for a single day’s listen just to refresh my memory using the high output (4 mV) version of Grado Labs’s new Timbre Series Opus3 moving iron cartridge ($275) driving the $999 Channel Island Audio < a href=https://www.analogplanet.com/content/ciaudios-punchy-pleasing-peq-mkii-dual-mono-mmmc-phono-preamplifier> PEQ MKII Dual Mono Phono Preamplifier also reviewed back in 2017, this time using the optional ($299) AC-15 MkII outboard power supply.

(I chose to do the set-up using Technics’ “not my idea of an accurate overhang” gauge and setting the VTF using the arm’s built in system. I also chose to use the standard mat: in other words, the “out of the box”, no accessories experience).

This brings the total cost to approximately $5573. I’m not here to tell you that’s “cheap”, but since you are reading this you know how high the price of a front end rig can go.

The Grado weighs 8 grams and compliance is 20µm/mN, so add 8 grams to the approximately 15 gram effective mass arm and the total is 23 grams. Based on the graph I have of effective mass versus compliance, that would put the arm/cartridge’s resonant frequency at around 7 or 8Hz—on the low end of acceptability or actually just outside the ideal 8-12Hz range. When I measured using the Hi-Fi News & Record Review Test Record (HFN001) I found the horizontal resonant frequency at 11Hz and the vertical at 9, both of which are acceptable. That means either the arm’s mass is lower than my estimate or the cartridge’s compliance is lower, or both. I’d bet on the arm’s mass being somewhat lower. In any case, the Grado Labs cartridge worked well and sounded really sweet and well-detailed. Have a listen to a minute of Ferit Odman’s all-analog Dameronia With Strings, which I hope is still in print! (EMLP0002).

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Conclusion

The SL-1210GAE is a limited edition with most going to Europe so if you want one, grab it while it’s available. When I think of what else is available at the price point, there is some good competition, but none built to this quality level. Built well, sounds and measures well and looks smart. Pair with an appropriate cartridge and you’re good to go.