I remember NAMM 2005 very well. I had reviewed the SL-DZ1200, and gave it a less than glowing recommendation. At the time, Skratchworx was about the only game in town, so getting the cold shoulder and subsequent freeze-out from the brand over that review was kind of a big deal.
Even though the DJ media world has gotten larger, writing this I’m getting flashbacks. When the new DJ-oriented 1200 was announced, I was excited. While expensive, it wasn’t $4k. Even though its only available in one color, they chose the best one (in my opinion). While not adding many new features, the ones they added are smart. On paper, it is in many ways the SL1200mk5g, minus the somewhat weak anti-skip tonearm adjustment. So, why am I so let down?
ABSENCE DOES NOT MAKE THE HEART GROW FONDER
The first big loss is in the material and weight. Beyond pitch stability, one associates the 1200 with incredibly robust build quality. Unlike other pro turntables the 1200mk2-6 had a 3 layer construction, combining a steel top layer, solid rubber bottom and a chewy chocolate center (a solid plastic spacer). This multi-layer construction gave the 1200 industry-leading feedback resistance, almost unmatched.
The new SL1200mk7 however has a plastic bottom piece, which feels somewhat hollow in comparison. While the injection-molded piece provides a really great cable plug-in bay and solid handle grip, I would have taken the permanently attached cables any day. There are a few other little things that bother me as well. The pop-up light snaps instead of rising slowly, and the paint feels cheap compared to the anodized SL1210mk2 or the beautiful scratch magnet powder coating of the SL1200mk5g. Overall, the SL1200mk7 is a let down, if only because of the almost impossibly high standard of the original.
OH LORD PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD
So, I have to hate it, right? No. I think it is a pretty decent turntable. The new motor is awesome. The pitch fader and buttons feel great. The tonearm is classic Technics. If you were to put this in front of me as the Pioneer PLX1000mk2, I would honestly say it was a quality piece of kit. The problem though is that it IS a Technics. Putting out a new 1200 carries with it certain expectations that this doesn’t quite match up to, and unlike the Super OEM turntables out there, the new SL1200mk7 lacks the features of Reloop, the unique looks of Stanton, or the less expensive, but not cheap price of Pioneer. While this isn’t a Super OEM turntable, it is a $1k turntable that feels like one.
The SL1200mk7 will sell a boatload. The people who buy it will like it. Kids who are buying their first good turntable will feel good knowing they are part of a legacy. This isn’t a bad turntable, but it feels like Technics believes their name is worth more than any feature. Color me conflicted.
Guessing Technics won’t be sending us any Christmas cards this year.
GALLERY
“Kids who are buying their first good turntable will feel good knowing they are part of a legacy.” honestly, I’ve seen far more kids checking out the RP-8000MK2s than the Technics at this show. Do you really think Gen Z scratchers will:
1. see spending $1,200 for a single deck as reasonable
2. will have any brand allegiance to Technics?
I’m not convinced.
Hey Dan – good to see you around here.
I take your point about the price. But the power of the brand is immeasurable. Logic goes out of the window when talking about Technics turntables, as it’s iconically cool, and that’s something that’s passed down through generations. People are justifying the price tag all over social media and planning to sell their current 1200s just to have the new 1200s.
Human nature plays such a strong part of any buying decision, and if they’ve got the money, there’s a chance that they will buy Technics simply because of the cool factor and reputation of the Technics brand.
New stuff is not always better then old stuff. The old is tried and true and new, well, the recalls will prove the point.
I think a big thing to note, is that Technics is more popular amongst the dance music/ mix Deejays than they are amongst turntablists. To put it into perspective, we have separate mixing and turntablism setups in the house.
I am one who prefers technics for mixing, but prefers Super-OEM’s for scratching.
Im old school, i use my 1200 mk2’s for both. I continue to readily enjoy it but have since purchased the numark scratch 2 channel mixer for midi fun. Didn’t have midi machines for cue points back then so spinning or taping record positions is how we moved quickly along the grooves.
Good points all around. If they do know the name, their father or uncle taught them but as fr as features go, bland all around are these new tables to the new gen.
So this guy comes on here and slams the iconic cornerstone, the bedrock of the mountain of djing, with little(no) data to back up any claims, just gut feeling, of a demo unit………
And ya`ll call ME a troll??????
Are you referring to the author?
Thank you Technics for making such an amazing product…………..from the 70s up to 2010!
$1200.00 US dollars for this turntable is a joke.
You have made the second hand Technics turntable market much more desirable. No longer will we scoff at a gently used set of mk2s for $1500.00
this is still better than an old second hand technics with old cables and an old pop up bulb.
people like to put technics down because they think superoems are better totally ignorant of the specs.
people pay over 2 grand for pioneer NXS…so you conplaining about 1200 makes you a poor bastard lol
Ha! Just picked up two beautifully kept mk2’s for $370 each from ebay. One came with ortofon cartridge and scratch needle, the other came with lid and cratridge, no needle. Both in great shape. I tearsd them down to do an inside and out cleaning and only one needed some of the tlc, the other was damn near perfect.
I just bought a set of Reloop 8000 from an American store $990 shipped to my door. Tons of features half the price.
Me will just wat for the SL-1200 MK7 (Mark 2) then……. or even the MK8.
Well folks, it looks like a oem coz it competes with oems. Still better than oem. Also, you act like you haven’t heard of the GR model – go for it if you want more. Quality was never cheap.
Given that quality is Technics main selling point, if the new one feels no better than a good super OEM, what do you feel makes it better in your opinion?
Also, better quality used to be the same price as the competition. Now it’s twice as much for apparently less quality than before.
I’m genuinely interested. Is it brand loyalty? The better specifications? Trying to get inside the head of the community’s thinking here. I want to understand.
biased opinion…why dont you try it out in a club for 8 hours non stop mixing and then tell us the experience.
Just looking at it and feeling doesn’t really mean much if not put to use.
I have played on SuperOems a couple of weeks and i had to return them even when i need ultra pitch.
I’m just blown away, I think everyone who has seen it in person at NAMM is less than thrilled about the MK7. I hear it went down to $999 in the US from the ridiculous $1200 price point, not sure if it’s true. Also, why in the world did they not internally ground the MK7? It’s 2019 and DJs will still have to mess with a ground wire. Technics had such an opportunity to hit a grand slam but they completely missed it. It’s like they Super OEM’ed themselves. My M3D 1200’s look better than ever these days lol!!
Inka One at the booth confirmed that it is $999. Same here. Internal grounding and pitch fader not clicking at the middle are the only cons I could come up with.
looks lovely but your review makes me sad,any news on the sl700 (biz’s 7″turntable? or new Vestax related stuff,
well done dj worx nice honest review.
No news on either. It’s safe to say that you’ll never ever see the 7″ come from Technics. And Vestax for the foreseeable future will only exist as stpVestax and operating in the extremely high end market with products like the Phoenix mixer. People holding out for VCIs and PMCs need to move on from the good old days and find other brands.
ok,thanks
Thanks for the review, I was wondering whether the new 1200’s would still retain that high standard or not. I’ll rather stick with my trusty MK2’s. Sorry to say this Mark, but whats up with the pics? 4 of the 6 are almost identical. I was expecting some nice high quality pics from all angles. Shame on you ;)
I was in bed in the UK while these were being taken. Besides, the words tell you all you need to know. Words are TRUTH.
My assumption is that after a year of gigging out w’ the MK7, they will be scratched to all hell. The reason why those pics all look the same, Ace, is because he is bringing attention to the knicks in the paint. That powder coating looks cheaply done.
This makes me sooooo glad I found a ‘mint condition’ pair of MK5s a couple years ago.
I said in the other thread that the only way they could return to market and be profitable would be to cut corners and add a certain amount of purposely designed obselence into the new turntable.
Such a shame I did want a pair.
Feel like Akai and mpc line. Maybe Technics continue working in this line and improve it next time… but also maybe Pioneer adds more tech in the PLX like Reloop and wins the internet. :}
To me the MK2 is still my favorite out of all the Technics turntables. Ok, I haven’t tried all of them, but at home I have an MK5 and an MK2 and the MK2 takes the crown. If people want that iconic Technics turntable in their setup, I’d still recommend the MK2.
“Christmas cards” lmao! Nice one.
It’s not even made in Japan. That, alone, makes me a hard ‘no’ on this 1200 cone.
Nokia also has great legacy and decent phones, but still i don’t see anyone buying it because of that.
They did the exact same mistakes that the nice Finish company did – felt way too comfortable behind their logo and left far away from the others.
Goodbye Technics, it’s been great 25 years together, time to move on.
I’d rather remember you as a legend than becoming a clone of yourself.
Goodbye Johnny, have a nice time with Hanpin.
To me this is like Akai mpc.
GL is Reinnassence (big)
Mk7 is Touch.
So next iterations should include Serato inside :trollface: jk
But keeping the analogy I expect improvements for mk8 more dj oriented and maybe from plx mk2 finally a full standalone digital turntable (like new denon prime but full turntable with tonearm… and airhorns hehehe)