In a kind of “you had to be there” moment, you literally had to be at NAMM 2017 to find out the rather exciting news that firstly Stanton is back, and secondly that they’ve reworked their stellar ST.150 and STR8.150 turntables.
Now… because of the nature of just slipping them out under the radar, there isn’t actually any press material, so our Sean Pappalardo aka DJ Pegasus was on hand to take pictures of marketing materials. Yeah go figure. But here’s Stanton’s new range of turntables:
And in a little more detail:
WHAT’S NEW WITH THE ST.150 M2 and STR8.150 M2?
Quite a bit actually. It looks like the basic Hanpin unit is still there to some degree, but a lot is different to the super OEM and the old Stanton decks too. Cosmetically, the old Stanton easily chippable blue painted chassis has been replaced with a much sleeker black brushed metal case. It’s quite a bit lighter too (from 19kg to 10kg), which is a good thing as they were the heaviest turntables to lug up and down stairs. This lighter body is achieved through a new aluminium chassis.
Most interesting for me is the revised layout, where the plethora of controls have been moved, rationalised, or done away with completely. One start/stop button has gone, and in its place is a 45 adaptor. As a right-handed scratcher, I will miss the power button under my thumb, but for Dicer owners, this is a great move.
The power column has gone (good riddance), and has been replaced by a new light, with the removable light still where it was. Seems like one light too many to me now.
One change is with pitch range. The old models had ranges of 8, 16, and 50%. But this has been changed to 8, 25, and 50%. A small change for some, but possibly a deal breaker for others.
UPDATE: I checked a retailer site and got wrong info — it is 8, 25, and 50% . And I only ever have mine on 50% anyway. Sorry for the confusion.
The speed buttons have been rationalised down to one, reverse is now a secondary function on the start/stop button. It also looks like the start speed control has gone, and the remaining brake control has moved to the rear panel. No great loss there.
Stanton has definitely done a lot to pull these away from the standard Hanpin unit. And I love the look of these new streamlined models. In a scene where bells and whistles are routinely shoehorned in and pushed as a must-have, it’s refreshing to see Stanton rethink the turntable, and make it a simpler affair, but still retaining the majority of what made the logical Technics successor. It’s certainly a looker, and possibly giving the new Denon DJ VL12 a run for its money. The STR8.150 has definitely caught my eye. Rumoured price is $599.
One thing to note — Stanton is bundling a full copy of their Deckadance with all of these decks. It’s a very capable piece of software, and this way a good number of people may well give it a try. And from the pictures it looks like there are a pair of new headphones and a new cartridge too. More on all this stuff when we have it.
Gallery
These look really good! Coming from someone who still regularly carries STR8-150s about, the weight reduction is certainly welcomed! I’m not so sure about the lack of a motor-off switch (especially with the brake speed being tucked away on the back) and the combo 33/45/78rpm button though… not something that really bothers me, but I can imagine these being deal breakers for some. I don’t think start speed control and key lock will be missed by anyone!
It’s interesting that they decided to remove the second start/stop button. I’m a right handed scratcher too, but I’ve never used it… hit it by mistake a few times though! I guess muscle memory from tables without it means most naturally go for the start/stop button in the standard position.
I see there’s no pitch on/off or reset button now either, is there any indication of when you’re at 0% pitch? I hope they haven’t put a click in the pitch fader! Also, on the subject of pitch, I’m 99% sure my STR8-150s have 8, 25 and 50% pitch ranges, and not the 16% range you mention the previous model having. (I don’t have them to hand right now so can’t check, apologies if I’m wrong!)
There is indeed a center 0% detent so you can feel it when you’re not looking.
New stanton carts?!
I’ve been in the Concorde camp since i transitioned to turntables, but i’m tired of going through cartridges and i’d love to try a set of stantons.
I’d buy a pair of 890’s, but the don’t seem to sell them in the US anymore.
Not sure if I like certain “features” – probably not.
No separate 33/45 buttons. That’s less convenient.
No motor off. I sometimes like to use that one.
Reverse as a secondary function might lead to unexpected behavior…
Biggest issue could be the reduced weight. How does it feedback now?
Like the Pioneer turntable?
To me it seems like they excluded a lot of features / buttons in favor of cosmetic “improvement”.
Regarding feedback, DJ Spark said she set this new unit on top of her Cerwin-Vega subwoofer and rocked out with no difference compared to the old ST(R8)-150.
The old st150 was shit. Poor isolation and I had 8 of them. I do not believe that test. Just another shitty super oem unless they’ve really done some great work on isolation. Even then, give me wow/flutter specs. I’ve got more hope for the new Denon.
According to the DENON demonstrator – turntables now have a HI and LOW KG torque, do these have such a feature?
Not as far as I’m aware. I can’t see a control for it.
This is a really good looking deck.
I’d take this over the new Denon decks in a heartbeat.
I love the traditional look & feel of dots on the platter.
I see that there’s no longer a digital output (not that I’ve ever used it).
I def prefer the tone-arm weight. Looks more like the SL’s weight.
On my str8-150’s the pitch range is 8, 25 & 50%
so not too sure that there’s any change there.
Overall I think It’s a very nice update to great turntable.
Also including the 45 adapter for a place for dicers is most welcome.
I never used the 2nd start/stop button – even when in battle style.
Assuming you have not used the new Stanton and the new Denon deck side by side, I can’t find a good reason why you would prefer the Stanton. Must be the looks. Feature-wise, I’d go for the Denon.
the tonearm on the Denon is low budget, on the Stanton its better quality
the best way to check is to release the tonearm on the arm rest.. the more it bounces the better the cymbal.. on cheap arms it will bounce 2 or 3 times.. on technics its probaly 50 or more.
The Denon tone arm is high quality all brass with sound isolation. It’s plated black for a high quality asthetic.
So you have done your “bounce test” on both units? And you had the chance to mix on both for an extended period of time? And you were able to compare the sound quality of both?
@disqus_ORNUkiK3xA:disqus hearsay and speculation – you have no way of knowing either manufacturer’s precise tonearm specs. your “bounce test” is also complete bullshit. try harder next time.
If you where to float the arm, then add a little more weight to the needle (so the front is slightly heavier). Then drop the arm onto the armrest, the ‘bounce test’ will apply. A crap tone arm will come to a stop much quicker than a quality one. But you’re right that we really don’t know the specs yet. You gotta admit though, the Denon arm looks VERY much like Gemini. And now that they’re a part of InMusic…… almost makes sense.
You’re 100% right.
I based my judgement on the looks.
It looks like the VL12 has the same tone arm as a Gemini PT-2000
http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/gemini-dj-pt-2000-iii-177066.jpg
https://d3qk4yk8nq0n55.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/NAMM-2016_denon-dj-turntable-9.jpg
It’s the same cheap tone-arm!! I honestly don’t care about multicolour led’s under the platter. What other features does the denon offer?
I have to admit the tone arm base looks VERY similar.
I assume the Gemini turntables were manufactured by Yahorng, too. Maybe they kept some of the old tooling and (hopefully) upgraded materials and internal components.
We’ll know more, soon.
Mark, have you already booked your review unit?
oh snap…they thought it had been long enough that we would forget….
Seems like these were made for a more DVS mindset as opposed to standalone. Hence the reason many of the take-aways. Kinda smart actually …
I dunno man, loosing simple break control access/motor off…. thats a key feature I use with DVS = repeating hotcue’s while winding the platter down.
Yeah good point now that you mention it. It’s also a higher cost over the original with all that take-away which I find odd.
Interesting paint jobs aside I really rated the the original st8150 and these certainly look pretty but….. tucking the break control out the way paired with loosing motor off, ditching dedicated reverse control, no quartz lock…. boooo! All these are things I regularly use. Ditching flexibility/features for seemingly cosmetics, how very un-Stanton like. Its great to see them back but on the surface its seems like a change of brand direction.
Things are definitely better than the bleak times of 4+ years back when no one was producing new turntables but man it’s like every time a new deck gets put out it serves as a depressing reminder that we don’t have Vestax around any more, maybe the more out n out nerdy turntablist market isn’t worth the investment.
From a turntablist point of view Mixars LTA is the best of the Hanpin pic IMO, make the break control less fiddly and add ultra pitch range POT and hey presto, a worthy replacement of a PDX.
vestax PDX were plastic boxes.. had lots of issues why reminiscing over bad quality.
these new Stantons seem fine to me for the price
Yup, Vestax build quality – very questionable and there hollow plastic construction made for terrible isolation, no arguments there. But it’s these two points is exactly why I’m so keen to see newly released decks that combines the best of a PDX 3000 and the original ST8-150.
Regarding my original point about missing Vestax… in there later years dodgy build fo sure but they were the one firm that really considered what a turntablist would want in a deck rather than jus re invent the 1210. I totally understand that for the most part people jus want a turntable to look pretty and to be bomb proof, but in terms of flexibility/controls manufacturers seem to be going backwards. For the most part the main thing that divides the choice of all the turntables released in the past 4 years is appearance, how god dam boring!
What makes the Mixars LTA better than the STR8-150?
Tbf it’s more personal taste thing rather than claiming ones better than the other, ultimately there virtually the same deck but as alluded to in my comment I like having dedicated reverse, access to break control and motor off. but with the new st8 streamlining these features the Mixars deck suits my own requirements better.
Turntables, Jog-Wheels, and that style of dejaying is so dead I thought?
Not getting tired of this?
Nope
Funny how those guys are silent now when before they were so vocal. LOL!!!
You might wanna consider getting over it.
There’s so many great things to read here and plenty of discussions on an educated level. I’m sure you could add something positive.
At the end it was just an opinion.
It was a dumb opinion that needs to be called out at every opportunity.
Imagine a DJ, who plays the same track over and over. It’s the only track they ever play, and despite nobody dancing to it the first time, that DJ keeps on playing it repeatedly, in the hope that someone might just dance if they play it enough.
But they never will. That DJ really needs to find another tune to play, ideally a wide and diverse range of tunes, because right now, that DJ has lost the crowd completely.
Don’t be that DJ.
Guess who gave me that track? You.
Isn’t that like a DJ blaming a record shop for the record not making people dance?
I guess…. The record shop gave me a wack track.. I trusted the record shop to give me a track that everyone could dance to, but instead they gave me a bogus track. The record shop tried to push out a track that was beyond horrible. I should have known better than to trust that record shop.
I’m starting to dig that record metaphor :)
In your case I’d say it’s not only the wrong record you’re playing. Also the needle seems to skip back to the start all the time. Get yourself some new records!
The needle is skipping because that record shop sold me a broken record :)
Back at the age of 16 when I started to dj I had a few broken records, too (my fault, though). I used to decorate my walls with them so I was constantly beeing reminded that there are faulty ones. But I never played them again :D
do you mean D-train “Music”?
i always liked that one
It might be the silence before the storm.
You thought wrong I guess.
Me along with the brain-trust that resides here.
I don’t see many folks around here in article comments claiming that style of DJing is dead.
They are quiet now. About 6 months ago they were vocal as heck. Now they are eating crow.
Like:
– improved aesthetics
– lower weight, assuming no isolation worsening
– 45 adapter slot for dicers
Dislike:
– reverse and start stop buttons merging, walking on the edge here
– no motor off button = no wind down stop
– break adjustment on the back, so no handy compensation for the above
– no start adjustment
– no 16 pitch
Q: Is there 0 pitch lock detent or it is on until pitch is activated by the range button?
Could have added optional hinges/lid and torque adj. as Relop7000 + second line output as the Mixars which solves the dvs/trad. vinyl switching.
Couldn’t the wind down be achieved by adjusting the break then stopping the platter?
Albeit the adjustment is on the back and you would have to live with that break level the whole time and not be able to do fast breaking. Weird inclusion if you ask me.
I guess the motor button off weighed 9kg? :/
I’m not quite certain what to think of this news…. It definitely doesn’t have my hastily reaching for my wallet to order a pair of the v2’s since my current ones I’m more than happy with….
Losing that second start/stop button does have me somewhat worried, doubly so now that reverse is mixed in with it…. But then again, I mainly liked the dual start/stop because then I had controls for both decks right near my mixer.
Glad to hear Stanton is back though. ^_^
“The power column has gone (good riddance), and has been replaced by a new light, with the removable light still where it was. Seems like one light too many to me now.”
Are you new? One is for the strobe and one if for a target light. I’m shocked a “vinyl” DJ doesn’t know basic (and essential) parts of a turntable.
My Numark TTXs (like all Vestax PDXs too I think) have a combined target/strobe light, and it’s been absolutely fine for a decade and a half for me. Now you know why I say “one light too many”.
You haven’t been around too long have you? Mark is well versed in turntables and vinyl
sorry, really like the clean looks, but i can’t help myself to say that user experience of this turntable is not very TURNTABLIST friendly.
How so, my dude Vekked gets wicked on a set of Str8 150’s
Personally I like the new look and an addition to a look for the consumer market in sales….
Ok, perhaps this is my OCD kicking in or perhaps I just missed it but did they do away with the zero pitch light indicator??
I’m sold, going to get a pair this week, Str8 150’s. I like the looks but really like the recessed platter, something the other oem decks don’t offer but for the over priced plx1000
I had a pair of the St 150 M2 and here are my thoughts ( I sent them back in exchange for the STR8 version)
1) I like the new look, the blue strobe is nice and ramped instead of a tower which is a blessing and a curse. No wind down, unless you adjust the break on the rear of the deck and leave it.
2) There is no zero pitch indication light, but it does have a dentent which you’ll be sure to feel letting you know you’re at zero
3) 8,25 and 50 % pitch ranges (Still don’t know why Stanton didn’t use the 16% like everyone else). Quartz lock is engaged by pressing and holding the pitch selection button.
4) start/stop button is solid, blue LED and double tap engages the reverse function for the platter.
5) the counterweight is too light, SL1200 has a 99 gram weight, Stantons is 94 grams……what does this mean? Well for me it meant I could not properly set the tracking force because I ran out of realestate on the tone arm and couldn’t get my tone arm to float paralel with the platter. I spoke to Rich at Gibson about this and he confirmed the weight difference of the counter weight and said he would bring it to the attention of the R&D crew. Hopefully Stanton will correct this.
6) the brushed aluminum is nice, but it’s prone to finger prints, but that’s just being picky.
7) The tone arm is solid with no play at all and has all the usual suspects, height adjust, a tone arm lift lever and anti skate. If you go with the Str8 150’s you need not worry about the anti skate as it is useless with a straight arm
8) Slopped strobe light is good, a little dim on the top row of dots but nothing that should cause alarm
9) motor is solid and 4.5kg start up and is smooth as butter.
10) I love the recessed platter, much needed IMO.
11) sound is good, no feedback or hum, there is no need for a grounding wire so you can select phono or line out.
12) power and break adjustments are on the rear of the deck and the RCA’s are recessed which is awesome for that battle mode or if you plan on putting these in cases
13) Comes with a head shell (no head shell weight ??). No dust covers and has right angled power and RCA, and a slip mat
14) hands on it performs well, no issues to speak of. I had to dial in my counterweight all the way to keep the Shure M44-7 performing well. Of course if stanton corrects the counterweight issue this will not be needed.
15) It weighs in at 22 lbs, much lighter than previous versions and your back will thank you.
16) Removable target light with super white LED, very nice
17) Pitch slider is decent, not as smooth as a 1200 or a Numark TTX but it does the job fine.
18) has 33 , 45 and 78 RPM. You select the desired speed by toggling through the selections. Hold down the speed button and it turns off the strobe
19) Isolation feet, filled with some kind of noise dampening, they are well done and there’s no wobble
20) The platter is nice, has great isolation under it and there was no wobble
All in all I think this will be a good option for both the home and club/mobile DJ. The price is right and you can usually find them cheaper if you can barter with your choice of vendor. The new look is great, the tables perform very well and the sound is good. It’s a hanpin yes, but Stanton made some nice improvements over the previous model which are sure to bring a smile to your face.
You could be nit picky on some of these changes, however I think overall these are a solid choice.
btw anyone want a FREE pair of numark ttxs hit me up on facebook. within thew EU only. i cant deal with the platter and its mind of its own crazy speeds. would work well for dvs. but the rest is all wonky as far as what goes on in the blue bubble. got stantons instead.
number 4. the start button aka sometimes the reverse button is doing my head in