Have your say & ask the experts

Technics SL-1210 Mk5 + Origin Live armboard + RB250

Or...

Rega P3-24 + Rega TT-PSU ?

Or 'unmolested' SL-1210 mk 5 with original arm so I can use a range of different cartridges easily by switching headshells and rebalancing arm.

Same cartridge for both decks so not relevant to this. (Probably DL-103 since you ask.)

Please discuss.

Impossible to demo the Technics + Rega RB250. (I will purchase the armboard + arm and have them fitted by a local DJ equipment supplies workshop & technician with 20 years experience of the SL-1200/1210 when the Technics 1 year warranty runs out or if I get too impatient to wait that long.)

I know the Rega Planar 3 (with Goldring 1042) and the P3-24 (with DL-103 and TT-PSU) very well so do not need to be convinced of it's virtues. I do NOT know the SL-1210 mk 5 at all, but have read an awful lot saying how great it is as a hifi turntable especially with a Rega arm.

Thanks.

p.s. I have no ambitions to be a DJ.

The 1200/1210's are designed for one purpose - to be abused by DJ's. They don't even compare to a Project Debut, as proven by an A/B demo for a customer a few years ago.

And unless you know something I don't, the 1210's are designed for the Technics arm and can't be fitted with anything else unless you're a member of the A Team. And even if this is possible, there would be no point as it's not a hi-fi product.

FrankHarveyHiFi:

And unless you know something I don't, the 1210's are designed for the Technics arm and can't be fitted with anything else unless you're a member of the A Team.

Origin Live do a replacement armboard for fitting the RB-250/RB-300 at a cost of £39....

Here

FrankHarveyHiFi:

The 1200/1210's are designed for one purpose - to be abused by DJ's. They don't even compare to a Project Debut, as proven by an A/B demo for a customer a few years ago.

And unless you know something I don't, the 1210's are designed for the Technics arm and can't be fitted with anything else unless you're a member of the A Team. And even if this is possible, there would be no point as it's not a hi-fi product.

I'm sorry but that is quite wrong, not only was the SL1210 in service with over 5,000 Broadcast Authorities, but its platter was used on most Disc cutting lathes too, because a belt couldn't hold the speed accurately. It is and was a masterpiece and it's as good as the best ever made.

The fact that that the SL1210 was the most reliable and successful turntable of all time and judged by experts as the best should not be forgotten because it proved indestructible in the hands of DJs.

Ash

FrankHarveyHiFi:

The 1200/1210's are designed for one purpose - to be abused by DJ's. They don't even compare to a Project Debut, as proven by an A/B demo for a customer a few years ago.

And unless you know something I don't, the 1210's are designed for the Technics arm and can't be fitted with anything else unless you're a member of the A Team. And even if this is possible, there would be no point as it's not a hi-fi product.

With respect, you should probably do some reading up before posting comments like the above. Apart from the below article which proves it's been done for a few years now, there was such an item in Hi Fi Corner in Edinburgh's Rose Street with the modified Audio Origami arm a fortnight ago. Yours for £890.

http://www.tonearm.co.uk/Technics_sl1200_1210_dj_turntable.pdf

One other thing; the deck was never designed primarily for DJs only originally - it subsequently was adopted by that user group due to the deck's many strengths - the high quality motor, timing and build not least.

As for comparisons to a Debut III, I think not....maybe a close run thing which is testament to the Project, but if you compared the upgraded Technics, you have a serious midrange deck that performs and punches well above its weight. A serious contender in the sub-£1k bracket.

FrankHarveyHiFi:

They don't even compare to a Project Debut, as proven by an A/B demo for a customer a few years ago.

I wouldn't want to be one of your customers! Crickey, that's like comparing night to day! They say I do sweeping generalisations, but that was taking it to the extreme! A project debut cannot be compared to a SL1200 on either price basis or sound basis. And no arm upgrade? What tosh! A perfectly easy upgrade with the appropriate fittings! That's a truly pretentious comment which just makes the hi-fi industry look, well, pretentious!

And can you explain exactly why it is not a hi-fi product? Does direct-drive scare yoa

You might quote the right person by the bye Hughes lad....recheck and I think you'll find Frank "contentious opinions" Harvey threw that little tidbit in the ring....!

the record spot:

You might quote the right person by the bye Hughes lad....recheck and I think you'll find Frank "contentious opinions" Harvey threw that little tidbit in the ring....!

Soooooo Sorry! Changing it now...nothing happened! :)

No probs buddy, easy done.

I am sitting here reading a certain hifi magazine (August issue HFW page 105) and the editor (a certain David Price or 'DP') says in part of his reply to a reader's letter....

"The third way is a new SL1210 with an Origin Live Technics adaptor, an Audio Origami RB250 (or similar) tonearm, Isonoe isolation feet and a SoundDeadSteel platter mat - giving you the set-up I'm running right now. In most respects, it has comfortably seen off most high end turntables it's been up against... DP"

He is not the only person I have seen recommend the SL-1200/1210 models in both modified and un-modified form. For the record: The Rega P3-24 + TT-PSU and Technics SL-1210 with Origin Live armbase and RB-250 are now the only candidates left on my shortlist for a turntable (when I get paid in 3 weeks time) so this is not idle banter for me.

I know from personal experience (of many years) the virtues of the Planar 3 and now (courtesy of a friend owning one) the sound of a P3-24 + TT-PSU. However I do not want to keep treading such a well worn path if (for about the same money) there is a better way. I prefer the look and build of the Technics and the convenience (why not?) of the Technics and even 'silly' things like pitch perfect speed.

Even if the Technics/RB250 and Rega P3-24/TT-PSU are on a 'par' for sound quality, I think I will go for the Technics.

And Mr.DP recommends the Wharfedale E-series...so he's got the thumbs up from me! (not that I've read any of his publications...)

Hmmmmm....

Rega has just announced (today I think) colours for the P3-24. They are available from late September onwards in gloss yellow/green/white/red or black. They will come as a 'package' with a Rega TT-PSU and will retail for £598.

I will need to factor this latest info in to my decision as well!

did you decide what to do in the end?

part of me wants to get the Project Debut III SB, but the real vinyl lover in me wants to do justice to my records.

I have use tevhnics decks in the past and they are so well made it's unreal!

I suppose my main question is this - is the SL1210 mk5 significantly better than the mk2? they all hold their proce so darn well there are no real bargains to be had o the older versions.

I think the origin live upgrade is unbeleivably tempting and has a real support and fan base amongst many - including audiophiles.

My bonus is due soon and im so tempted to blow some of it one of these - just don't want to regret it. Those new P3-24's look stunning!

arghhhhhh! what to do?

The SL1210 is a wonderful piece of hi-fi engineering and I've heard some sound absolutely stunning through pretty high end amplification and speakers. I'm just in the process of changing back to a Thorens TD150MkII after having a Michell Tecnodec and, TBH, the Michell put me off playing records and didn't touch either the Thorens or the SL1210s I've heard.

tommyb:

did you decide what to do in the end?

Yep. The Technics simply was not available without ordering in advance (no demo possible) at a cost of £550 or so. My dealer refused to order it in (despite handling Panasonic Plasma TVs) so I would have had to order from a local DJ supplies shop and wait a couple of months.

Other priorities came along (major house refurb), the budget shrank, so I bought a Rega P2. I now have an Ortofon 2M Red on it and a new, thicker (blue) Rega mat and it sounds brilliant!

I will be upgrading to the Ortofon 2M Blue stylus next month then maybe an upgrade to a Creek OBH-18 MM phono stage in the new year.