Technics SL-1500c or Vintage non Ultra deck?

[S0und Dragon]

If you you had to choose a non Ultra Deck of yesteryear or a new SL-1500c, which one would you choose and why? I’m talking about the decent Denons, JVC/Victors, Pioneer, Luxman and Micro Seiko vs the New(er) Technics SL-1500c.

I have been wondering if there is any point other that scratching an itch to own something desired previously or some other pull of nostalgia for owning something that was unobtainable when new.

 

[theflattire]

I like how how the older stuff looks.
Almost went MS or Yamaha.

 

[JohnVF]

I would probably get another Yamaha YP-D8 or D10 if we’re talking DD. I’m not as enamored by new things when it comes to turntables. Not that there’s anything wrong with the Technics.

 

[Rudy]

I lean towards the SL-1500C only because it's new, and comes with a warranty. Given how many issues could be lurking in older electronics, I'm thinking that if you just want to play records and have rock-steady speed, and not have to fuss or worry about fixing issues or having it fail, that may be the way to go.

Actually, looking at the specs, I think you may want the SL-100C instead--the 1500C seems to be the same table, but has a built-in phono stage, which you probably don't need (unless you're using it in a specific system).

If it uses the same type of motor as the newer 1200G (which I believe it does--coreless, no cogging in other words), it'll be smoother than the older tables. And the 1500 is fine if you don't care about speed adjustability. I'm not sure what it gives up from the 1200GR or 1200G. The arm looks to be the same, although the 100C/1500C have an auto-lifter at the end of a record side.

@Berkeley has a 100C--maybe he can chime in with how he's liking it so far.

 

[Mr. Bissness]

I will say I appreciate the auto lift feature on the sl100c, they also look pretty sleek without the speed controls.

However I will say that the original sl1200mkii has a better start stop button feel. Both are some of my favorite tables I had demoed.

 

[airdronian]

I had a look at one of the 1500's when they came on sale here. The auto-lift was a bit finicky and didn't inspire much confidence. I would have been more interested if the arm was replaceable, but it's not AFAIK. All depends on what you're looking for.

 

[JohnVF]

The Damping in the auto lift of my YP-D8 had left the building so at the end of the record the arm shot up with a hilarious Kerrrr-Plunk! It always brought a smile.

That Yamaha was not a complicated machine. I miss it.

 

[Rudy]

I would have been more interested if the arm was replaceable, but it's not AFAIK.

I'm almost certain they sell mounting plates to replace the arms on some of those newer Technics TTs--they usually do for the 1200G/1200GR, and I don't see much different mounting-wise between those and the 100C/1500C.

Or you could go with the SP-10RE (current day SP-10), if you have a spare $12K USD (about a bazillion loonies in Canuckbucks) to shell out. Or better yet, the SL-1000RE (the SP-10RE with arm and base) which can support up to two optional armboards...cuz one arm is never enough? 😁

 

[Rudy]

The Damping in the auto lift of my YP-D8 had left the building so at the end of the record the arm shot up with a hilarious Kerrrr-Plunk! It always brought a smile.

That beast the effing Pro-Ject turdtable I dumped, where the lift failed completely, and all I got from the US distributor was a virtual middle finger when I asked that they replace the lift under warranty. 🙄 Was only one of a dozen things wrong with that steaming pile of s**t.

 

[airdronian]

I'm almost certain they sell mounting plates to replace the arms on some of those newer Technics TTs--they usually do for the 1200G/1200GR, and I don't see much different mounting-wise between those and the 100C/1500C.

Or you could go with the SP-10RE (current day SP-10), if you have a spare $12K USD (about a bazillion loonies in Canuckbucks) to shell out. Or better yet, the SL-1000RE (the SP-10RE with arm and base) which can support up to two optional armboards...cuz one arm is never enough? 😁

View attachment 75443

I do see bits for the 1200 series to mod for arms. Had I been thinking more seriously about the 1500c I (hope) I would have figured out that the money for major mods would have been better spent moving up the line.

That beast the effing Pro-Ject turdtable I dumped, where the lift failed completely, and all I got from the US distributor was a virtual middle finger when I asked that they replace the lift under warranty. 🙄 Was only one of a dozen things wrong with that steaming pile of s**t.

The Pro-ject is not alone in lifter issues, although I had no issues with mine. Gold Note had problems. When I had mine the lift damping failed, so no flipping the lever unless you wanted the cartridge to crash on the LP. I reported that to my dealer, and he said "yeah they all do it". Meaning up to the Mediterraneo, which I think was 8 or 9 grand at the time. I would hope they got a fix for that.

 

[Rudy]

The Pro-ject is not alone in lifter issues, although I had no issues with mine.

I ended up ripping it apart and seeing what was wrong with it (couldn't really tell), and got it to somewhat work without really doing much of anything but putting it mostly back together. Can't say much more about that overpriced "almost flagship" model except that for the price, the build quality and poor engineering were an insult, and customer service non-existent after the sale.

And yet the lifter on my circa 1983 Grace tonearm still works like new? 🤷‍♂️

I do see bits for the 1200 series to mod for arms. Had I been thinking more seriously about the 1500c I (hope) I would have figured out that the money for major mods would have been better spent moving up the line.

'Tis possible. I'm not sure about the 1200GR, but it is also in the "Grand Class" with the 1200G, and despite them looking like the 1200s of old, they are similar in appearance only. Everything has been re-engineered. It looks as though many of those improvements made it to the "Premium Class" which includes the 100C and 1500C, so chances are the gains are smaller when moving up the line.

Confusingly they still have a single table in the DJ series, the 1200MK7, and I can't really tell what might be shared with the others. It does have a few DJ features (like reverse play), and one thing I'm envious of is the red LED for the strobe. (There is an undocumented switch beneath the platter on the 1200G/GRs that will change the LEDs from blue to red...except for the strobe.) I wonder if someone could order a replacement part to swap that from blue to red...

 

[Punker X]

I had the damping on my Graham 2.2 go out when I moved 10 years ago. Table was sitting in a box for about 6 months before I got the room set up in the new place. Was able to purchase a new one and was told by Bob to always put the queue in the down position when not is use.

 

[Kpatch]

I lean towards the SL-1500C only because it's new, and comes with a warranty. Given how many issues could be lurking in older electronics, I'm thinking that if you just want to play records and have rock-steady speed, and not have to fuss or worry about fixing issues or having it fail, that may be the way to go.

Actually, looking at the specs, I think you may want the SL-100C instead--the 1500C seems to be the same table, but has a built-in phono stage, which you probably don't need (unless you're using it in a specific system).

If it uses the same type of motor as the newer 1200G (which I believe it does--coreless, no cogging in other words), it'll be smoother than the older tables. And the 1500 is fine if you don't care about speed adjustability. I'm not sure what it gives up from the 1200GR or 1200G. The arm looks to be the same, although the 100C/1500C have an auto-lifter at the end of a record side.

@Berkeley has a 100C--maybe he can chime in with how he's liking it so far.

Yes to all of the above. The built-in phono stage on the 1500c is a turn-off for me but I think you can bypass it.

The 1200 GR should be considered as well but does not have the auto-lifter.

 

[JohnVF]

Am I the only person who rarely uses the cueing device or any kind of lifter? I've been hand-cuing since I was a kid, the only table I don't cue manually is my linear tracker. I do appreciate an end-of-record lift but it's never a deciding factor for me. The one on my Empire is rather blunt and comical...a strong magnet on a device attached to the tonearm mechanism that just sucks the arm up and out of the groove and glues the arm to it at the end of the record. It works, but gets out of alignment after several records and the attraction of the magnet is so strong that at the end of the record, if set wrong, you can hear the stylus mistracking from being pulled. I usually just disengage it, but like the YP-D8 Ker-Plunk, it's kind of comical (unless I happen to have an expensive cart on the arm).

 

[Kpatch]

Am I the only person who rarely uses the cueing device or any kind of lifter?

Yes.

 

[JohnVF]

Yes.

I grew up with a hobby of assembling, painting, very small scale ships with extreme fine photo-etched brass details and rigging and still have the steady-hands that gave me. For me, cueing a record after that is nothing.

 

[Kpatch]

Yes to all of the above. The built-in phono stage on the 1500c is a turn-off for me but I think you can bypass it.

The 1200 GR should be considered as well but does not have the auto-lifter.

Havenite Sonance’84 has the 1200GR and is impressed.

 

[prime minister]

I love tables with an end of the side lift. To be honest, I think it’s kinda ridiculous that all tables don’t have it. I’ve spent enough time napping in my chair with the stylus doing laps in the runout groove. Or being called away from listening, and it just keeps running. To me, it’s just the worst of hairshirt audio that it didn’t become expected on all tables 50 years ago. With a well design system, there is literally no downside.

 

[jblnut]

You'll hand cue right up until you snap a cantilever....accidents happen and using the lever is cheap insurance.

 

[J. Frum]

I love tables with an end of the side lift. To be honest, I think it’s kinda ridiculous that all tables don’t have it. I’ve spent enough time napping in my chair with the stylus doing laps in the turnout groove. Or being called away from listening, and it just keeps running. To me, it’s just the worst of hairshirt audio that it didn’t become expected on all tables 50 years ago. With a well design system, there is literally no downside.

This is my attitude as well.

Fortunately, the AT Safety Raiser-based arm lifts work really well. Say hello to my Little Fwend:

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