Tube guy, unless you just have an emotional attachment to this table, and please believe me when I say I understand if you do, but I genuinely think your money would be better spent buying another table. It sounds like you are willing to spend almost $200 or so in upgrades, and I just think you could buy a used Rega, Revolver, Thorens and a couple of others that just don't have the difficulties this table has, which lead to its sonic difficulties. I sold that table when it was new, I know the table, and its not that I think it is bad for what it is, I just think audibly you could spend your money wiser elsewhere. If you are going to keep it, the biggest area of audible improvement you will be able to make is suspending or floating the base, as it is very susceptable to sonic and movenment interference. Then tacking the platter and heavy matting it, as it too is vibration prone. Then on to the arm and headshell rewiring, which is not going to be an easy task. I hate being negative , but that the way I would suggest you go.
High-end tweeks for a vintage Technics Tuntable
Audiogoners,
I will appreciate your recommendations on all the tweeks and/or upgrades for my Vintage Technics turntable model SL-1600 MK2 from the early 80's in my home office system. My main system has a Linn LP-12 fully loaded with EKOS tonearm, Archiv cartridge, Lingo power supply, Lingo phono pre amp, circus, trampolin, etc.
I just purchased a new Shure Type V XMR cartridge for it and will like to add some more upgrades like a better mat, headshell wires, record clamp, high-end phono cables, isolation devices, and more ....
Have anyone done this with this kind of turntable ?
Here is a brief description of the unit and you can connect to this internet link if you want to see a picture of it: http://mark.kouts.home.mindspring.com/1600mk2.html
SL-1600Mk2
Quartz Phase-Locked Direct-Drive Automatic Turntable
ca. 1979-80
Total quartz-locked continuous (analog) pitch adjustment of +6%. Aluminum die cast cabinet with Double Insulated Suspension System utilizing TNRC (Technics Non Resonant Compound) Inner Base. Underside of turntable platter vibration-damped with specially-fabricated rubber matting. Integral rotor/platter motor with full-cycle detection FG delivers 1.5 kg/cm starting torque, allowing platter to reach 33 RPM within 0.7 seconds. All front-panel controls, including start/stop, cueing, speed, and LED pitch variation display. Control buttons are precision-designed to require a moderate but definite amount of pressure for activation, providing a sense of positive control while minimizing the possibility of accidental operation. Automatic disc-size selection and Repeat Play Control with infrared sensor. High sensitivity, low-mass gimbal-suspension tonearm. Fully automatic tonearm operation controlled by microprocessor. Muting circuit eliminates unwanted noise at needle touch-down and lift-off at beginning and end of record. Universal interchangeable headshell design. Gold plated contacts. Helicoid arm-height adjustment over a range of 6 mm to accommodate varying cartridge dimensions. Stylus illuminator for low-light conditions. Quick stops achieved with a fully electronic braking system. Red LED strobe illumination controlled by the extremely stable quartz oscillator rather than potentially unstable AC line frequency.
This player came out as an updated and improved version of the SL-1600, and in the process replaced the SL-1300Mk2. Unlike the relatively minor changes from the SL-1300 to the SL-1600, the second Mk2 series was a complete redesign from the ground up, incorporating a new motor, new quartz-controlled electronics, and new tonearm. Like the rest of its series, the SL-1600Mk2 was marketed as a high-end "professional" item, much like the SL-1300Mk2, but differed from that model in several important respects. Firstly, it utilized an analog (vs. digital) pitch control system. Secondly, the tonearm was redesigned, and the trouble-prone arm-lift mechanism was replaced by a more reliable and smoother-operating microprocessor-controlled, motor-driven assembly. Lastly, through tighter electronic integration and manufacturing advances, it was also significantly cheaper to produce and sell than the SL-1300Mk2.
Thanks,
I will appreciate your recommendations on all the tweeks and/or upgrades for my Vintage Technics turntable model SL-1600 MK2 from the early 80's in my home office system. My main system has a Linn LP-12 fully loaded with EKOS tonearm, Archiv cartridge, Lingo power supply, Lingo phono pre amp, circus, trampolin, etc.
I just purchased a new Shure Type V XMR cartridge for it and will like to add some more upgrades like a better mat, headshell wires, record clamp, high-end phono cables, isolation devices, and more ....
Have anyone done this with this kind of turntable ?
Here is a brief description of the unit and you can connect to this internet link if you want to see a picture of it: http://mark.kouts.home.mindspring.com/1600mk2.html
SL-1600Mk2
Quartz Phase-Locked Direct-Drive Automatic Turntable
ca. 1979-80
Total quartz-locked continuous (analog) pitch adjustment of +6%. Aluminum die cast cabinet with Double Insulated Suspension System utilizing TNRC (Technics Non Resonant Compound) Inner Base. Underside of turntable platter vibration-damped with specially-fabricated rubber matting. Integral rotor/platter motor with full-cycle detection FG delivers 1.5 kg/cm starting torque, allowing platter to reach 33 RPM within 0.7 seconds. All front-panel controls, including start/stop, cueing, speed, and LED pitch variation display. Control buttons are precision-designed to require a moderate but definite amount of pressure for activation, providing a sense of positive control while minimizing the possibility of accidental operation. Automatic disc-size selection and Repeat Play Control with infrared sensor. High sensitivity, low-mass gimbal-suspension tonearm. Fully automatic tonearm operation controlled by microprocessor. Muting circuit eliminates unwanted noise at needle touch-down and lift-off at beginning and end of record. Universal interchangeable headshell design. Gold plated contacts. Helicoid arm-height adjustment over a range of 6 mm to accommodate varying cartridge dimensions. Stylus illuminator for low-light conditions. Quick stops achieved with a fully electronic braking system. Red LED strobe illumination controlled by the extremely stable quartz oscillator rather than potentially unstable AC line frequency.
This player came out as an updated and improved version of the SL-1600, and in the process replaced the SL-1300Mk2. Unlike the relatively minor changes from the SL-1300 to the SL-1600, the second Mk2 series was a complete redesign from the ground up, incorporating a new motor, new quartz-controlled electronics, and new tonearm. Like the rest of its series, the SL-1600Mk2 was marketed as a high-end "professional" item, much like the SL-1300Mk2, but differed from that model in several important respects. Firstly, it utilized an analog (vs. digital) pitch control system. Secondly, the tonearm was redesigned, and the trouble-prone arm-lift mechanism was replaced by a more reliable and smoother-operating microprocessor-controlled, motor-driven assembly. Lastly, through tighter electronic integration and manufacturing advances, it was also significantly cheaper to produce and sell than the SL-1300Mk2.
Thanks,
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