There’s nothing quite like a story about turntables to get sabres rattling. The passion exhibited by the Technics die-hards is striking, as is the more pragmatic approach from those who care more about the features than if it’ll last for decades. Thus posting is usually followed by a torrent of diverse opinions, ranging from “Technics for life” to “if only they’d added (insert long list of science fiction stuff)”. And this has certainly been the case with the Pioneer PLX-1000. So given the wide-ranging feeling surrounding just what the new Pioneer turntable does and doesn’t have, I’m wondering about exactly what you lot do really want, and if the manufacturers are delivering the turntable that you need.
Given the incredible success and complete love that Technics still garner, it’s no surprise that the current trend of new turntables appears to not deviate too far from the Technics blueprint. Indeed, most of the market to uses the super OEM Hanpin DJ-5500 as a base, but with a twist or two of their own to differentiate them from each other.
But what we end up with is a market rather dominated by the same decks, albeit with some differences. Of course there is Vestax doing its own thing with the PDX range, and Numark really changing things up with the TTXUSB, the latter in particular throwing the rulebook out of the window and really pushing style and design beyond what people are used to.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
This is where you come in. I want to know what you expect from new turntables. Do you want just the basics in a 1200 style? Perhaps a little more envelope pushing with some MIDI action via buttons and some sort of syncing? Or do you want everything including hardware air horns, sirens, touch screens, wifi, cup holders, Spotify, iPad docks, and just about everything that has yet to be invented?
Or do you just want Technics because nothing else will do?
Equally, do you have ideas of your own that you’d love to see happen? Share them here. I made a poll – please fill it in. Every bit of data helps.
[polldaddy poll=8196862]
NOTE: The Piorestanumartaxnics SLRPPDXSTR-120080003000150 shown is in bedroom mode (air horn points into room). Not available in any shops. Ever.