... After about 3 years of frustration with these turntables and not really being able to play anywhere else but in my bedroom (since any parties, clubs used the Technics 1210 which were a lot different to what I was used to), I applied for a credit card, got accepted (silly people) and bam! Two ... Read review
Top-of-the-range DJ turntable with switchable, digitally controlled pitch range (+/-8% or ... more
+/-16%), a new-improved tonearm with greater skip resistance, blue illuminated pitch range and stylus lamp. In gloss black finish with brushed steel metalwork.
Technics SL-1210 M5GE professional DJ turntable, Quartz Direct Drive Turntable, Cast from ... more
Aluminium, High Quality RCA cable included, Pitch Reset and Control (+-8-16%), with blue LEDs, includes dust cover. Colour: Black, Dimensions 453 x 172 x 355 mm, Weight 11,0 Kg
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Short ordering time (2-5 days)...
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Advantages: Too many to list. Disadvantages: One minor defect (see conclusion)
...any parties, clubs used the Technics 1210 which were a lot different to what I was used to), I applied for a credit card, got accepted (silly people) and bam! Two weeks later, they arrived. I had heard a lot about these decks from various friends but never realised how different and advanced they were to my old pair of decks. Although the price range was about £340 each, they certainly were worth their weight in 'die-cast aluminium'. Read on... ...are interested...
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Technics were the people that bought to you the very first direct drive turntable in 1969. Direct drive turntables work by using magnetic forces to attract and repel the platter (also holding a large magnet). This was around the time where DJ Francis Grasso (New York) bought a revolutionary new style to DJing in clubs and pioneered the art of beatmixing. ... more
This review has ended up a lot longer than expected so I have tried to break it down into sub-categories for the purpose of attracting you to the most relevant information that you may wish to read about. If, at first glance, the sight of this review puts you off reading it, then jump straight to the CONCLUSION section at the end. Happy reading.
---------------- Introduction ---------------- I started off DJing at the age of 14 and bought my mates old Pro 150's for a small price. These were belt drive turntables, which meant that the motor was being pulled basically, by an elastic band. This meant that it was slow to start up, slow to stop and any adjustments made to the record's speed by actually touching the record or platter (the base which your vinyl sits on) could have disastrous effects on the synchronisation of the two records that you are trying to play in time with each other. After about 3 years of frustration with these turntables and not really being able to play anywhere else but in my bedroom (since any parties, clubs used the Technics 1210 which were a lot different to what I was used to), I applied for a credit card, got accepted (silly people) and bam! Two weeks later, they arrived. I had heard a lot about these decks from various friends but never realised how different and advanced they were to my old pair of decks. Although the price range was about £340 each, they certainly were worth their weight in 'die-cast aluminium'. Read on...
----------------------------------------------------------------- Little bit of history for those who are interested... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Technics were the people that bought to you the very first direct drive turntable in 1969. Direct drive turntables work by using magnetic forces to attract and repel the platter (also holding a large magnet). This was around the time where DJ Francis Grasso (New York) bought a revolutionary new style to DJing in clubs and pioneered the art of beatmixing. Beatmixing is the form of matching up the basic structure of two songs with the same beat pattern and playing both at the same time so that they 'blend' in with each other and which doesn't sound like two cars passing each other blaring out different songs which make it hard to listen to either one of them, let alone both. This style was soon adopted by every major DJ and replaced the old way of simply playing one tune after the other sometimes even with a small gap in-between. Sometimes they would only have the use of a single turntable. This is not very suitable for today’s type of clubs. The first direct drive turntable was the SP-10 and was only replaced ten years later with the SL-1200MK2 which was inspired by Technics in the way that their aim was to manufacture a turntable which was built not only for quality but durable enough to cope with sustained, heavy-duty use. This set the standard for direct drive turntables designed specifically for club environments and DJs who wanted to play a continuous flow of music without any gaps and be able to do this by changing the speeds of the records. Previous versions of turntables did not even have pitch control so you can imagine how difficult that would have been. The design of the 1210 has not changed noticeably since the 1200 series and only minor modifications are made in each new variation. These modifications are usually made as they are either considered essential or improve the functionality in a way that is beneficial to the user. Technics view is that they only need to make small adjustments as added 'perfections' to the already formidably popular and respected product.
------------------------------ Receiving the goods... ------------------------------ I couldn't wait to start using them. Off came the boxes and there they were. A brand spanking new shimmering pair of 1210's staring at me as if to say "Yeah, you know the score. Who are they (looking at my old pair now in a corner of the room gathering dust)? They're cramping my style guy." They held a certain awe about them and I immediately obeyed the decision to rid myself of the inferior and rather embarrassed looking Pro 150's. Actually my little brother took them off my hands as I didn't have the heart to throw them away since we had spent many a quality hours together. Anyway, out with the old, in with the new. Before I even assembled my new 1210's (simple placing the platter on top of the deck and plugging it in), I had to take a deep breath and watch for a little while, half expecting them to play the records themselves. Dribbling over with, I plugged them into the national grid and fired them up...
------------------ At first glance ------------------ Lets take a little look over these babies to see what they could offer me before I started using them. First off, the decks are a little heavier than most (almost dropped them after a mis-judged snatch out of the box). This helps with preventing the needle from skipping and jumping across the record when vibrations from the speakers, dance floor or even knocks from a bedroom door slamming could cause the needle to come out of the groove in the vinyl and fall back into the next or previous groove representing another part of the song. This, together with the anti-skating control and the tone-arm adjustable balance and height ability, makes for a very steady needle that will take a lot of punishment before even thinking about jumping. Technics felt that full vibration proof measures needed to be taken into account when designing turntables meant for DJing and have achieved this aim extremely well. The base of each turntable incorporates a mixture of ultra-heavy rubber and die cast aluminium. This obviously explains the added weight and why the needles stick to the record like glue, though there is another purpose. This being that feedback and distortion (caused by vibrations and the general atmosphere) are decreased meaning a more clearer sound is achieved with a crisper and more punchy bass at the lower spectrum of the sound output and a less 'tinny' treble at the higher range. The other aspect of the measures taken to provide a solid, stable setting is a large insulator (partly provided by the rubber basing), which serves to block floor vibrations, and stop them before they reach the tone-arm and ultimately, the needle on the record. Technics even attached the lids to the turntables onto the rubber basing which meant that if they ever slammed down onto the deck (not that likely since they are held up by springs and not many people keep the lids on anyway, especially in clubs) the vibrations would be kept at bay. There are products which you can buy which act as shock absorbers and look like car air-bags but I can assure you that you will not require them and I would only consider them if the turntables are placed on VERY unstable or wonky surfaces.
------------ Usability ------------ These decks really took me by surprise the first time I used them as I was not expecting them to be so powerful. Hit the play button and the record will start playing immediately and at the desired speed (set via the pitch control). This is all down the high torque that the turntable boasts. The pitch control selector will play a record at -8 to +8% of the original recorded speed. This can be increased up to -12 to +12% by opening up your deck and simply adjusting a few screws but I'd rather leave it alone. 'if it aint broke, don’t fix it' (There are a few websites which can provide tutorials on this). This means that differences in speed for the two records can be accounted for and adjusted accordingly. The pitch slider is very smooth and extremely sensitive. it is also very responsive and stable. This is due to the quartz precision technology which is more reliable than the motors found in belt drive turntables and will never flutter. Some other brands are prone to small random speed increases or decreases due to power surges or knackered motors etc. This does not happen with the 1210. The only problem with the pitch slider is the area around the zero mark. Between -2 to +2%. You may experience undesirable changes in speed when adjusting the slider as there can sometimes be two points on the scale which represent zero. This can be fixed by visiting various websites as mentioned above (search on google) or you can send it back to the manufacturer/retail shop where you bought it from. I recommend the latter since warranties and the like are voided when you start to play around with the insides.
The design and layout of the tone-arm and its settings meant that a zero-gravity balance could be achieved for perfect alignment of the needle against the record. This, in conjunction with the anti-skate setting and the fact that the needle's angle against the tone arm could be easily modified, meant that rotational resistance could be kept to a minimum. in turn, this improves skipping of the needle and wear-and-tear on the vinyl.
----------------------- Other features..... ----------------------- - There are two different main speed settings - 33 and 45 rpm (revolutions per minute) - Play/Stop button - very responsive. Because this button and the buttons for the main speed settings are digitally (electronically) rather than mechanically transfused, they can be used to temporarily increase or decrease the speed of the record playing.
- There is a light situated on the power button which beams onto the platter. The platter contains 4 rows of solid dots which vary in size and distance apart. I have not quite got the grips of using them to my advantage yet but they can hold a major indication as to factors such as the correct speed of the record playing and can be used to trouble shoot the pitch control. it can be used in this way since the position of the dots will form an optical illusion which moves either backwards or forwards depending on the current speed on the pitch control. When the pitch control is set to zero, these row of dots second from the bottom should be visible and stay stationary. Move the pitch slider up (increase the speed) and the dots should start moving in the same direction that the record is playing. Move the pitch slider below zero (decrease the speed) and the dots should again start to move but this time in the opposite direction to way the record plays. if your turntable does not follow this procedure then they may need adjusting to reset the 'true-zero' value. - There is also a light set at the front of the deck next to the platter which provides and invaluable glow which can be used to pick out certain parts of the vinyl while it is playing and generally help you out when playing somewhere dark! These lights can be changed and there are kits for about £20 each which will change the standard orange glow to a more brighter electric blue or red. Fantastic.
-------------------------------------------------- My personal experience of my 1210s -------------------------------------------------- Compared to my old set of decks, I could go on for hours about the advantages and superseded differences of these 1210s. But here are a few main points which I feel really sets them apart from other brands.
Spinbacks/pullbacks/REWiND!! Crafted originally by the Jamaicans who used it together with an echo chamber to create a noise that would hopefully fill the time in which it took them to put another record on, it involves spinning a record quickly in the opposite direction to which it is playing. These are very easy to perform on the 1210 and will keep the needle stuck to the record unlike other brands which can send the needle flying up in the air.
Scratching There are many types of scratching and new styles and techniques are developed all the time. In the most basic form, it involves moving the record backwards and forwards, running over the same point in the tune or sound sample. This is combined with opening and closing the cross fader (sited on the mixer - more apt to be explained in another review) and creating a chopped up version of a small section of a song or a capella sample. The Technics handles all types of scratching supremely and although I cannot quite get the hang of the advanced techniques, people have been performing them on the 1210s for years.
Beatmixing Explained briefly above, this involves playing two records at the same time and in harmony with each other. This means that the beat structure of each record is matched together and the start and finish of each bar (or chorus, verse, break etc) on each record is aligned correctly. The Technics 1210 boasts quartz direct drive accuracy and once you have set the desired speed via the pitch control, will hold that speed indefinitely.
Ergonomics The overall design of the 1210 is pleasing to the eye and the sultry black tone gives it a hint of 'classic' look. Many design aspects of the product provide for an uncompromised playback of vinyl with technology to counter any habitat you place it in. One thing to add to the range of features is the fact that the legs that it stands on can be adjusted individually for height and counter-height on uneven surfaces.
Durability I have had these for almost four years now and they have never failed to play a record. Not that much of a bold claim but they have been used every single day for at least an hour. There are no dents, scratches or otherwise fatal (or even temporal) signs of damage. I met a record collector once who had one (he didn't need two as he was not interested in DJing but bought the 1210 simply because he understood it to be the top of the range turntable) for fifteen years and it still looks in the same condition as mine which are not eve four years old.
Anthropometrics The setting for the tone arm and anti-skate control are easy enough to adjust but I would advise doing anything whilst a record is playing! The power button for the turntable is convenient enough but you can accidentally brush past quite easily and switch the power off. Highly embarrassing although this has been improved upon and the latest MK5 1210 has changed this circular switch to a push button switch to prevent accidental power downs. For a lot of advanced techniques of turntablism (the art of using your turntable almost like a musical instrument to create sounds and noises which could be perceived as music or a tone) the Technics is designed to cope with them all. Some people like to turn their turntable on its side with the tone arm at the back so that it doesn't get brushed by your hand or loose sleeve but this is really only for the most serious of turntablists who command a lot out of the decks.
----------------------------- Extra design feature!! ----------------------------- one point which I wanted to bring up but was not sure where in the review to place it is the fact that you can replace the standard covering of the deck (not the lid, the actual plate that sits on top of everything) with almost any colour or design imaginable. A friend of mine sent his covers off to a company who sprayed them exactly to the design and colours that he wished for. Gold plated and mirrored covering are amongst the favourites and I am on the lookout for a see-through covering! Although this may not ever be available as the materials still need to be fairly strong. Look out for the limited edition Technics 1210 which are gold plated on most parts of the deck!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do I rate Technics 1210 so highly and recommend them to the general consumer? ------------------------------------------------------------------- The fact that the Technics 1210 are the most respected, industry standard turntable available attracted me to them in the first place. After I bought them however, I was soon to realise the advantages and far improved functionality that they had to offer over other brands. They withstand prolonged punishment and are durable enough to last literally for years and years if looked after properly. Maintenance for me is minimal and involves dusting the covers and underneath the platter every few months. They have provided me with an unsurpassable joy that has kept me loyal to them ever since. Other brands and models out there just will not live up to the same expectations and the price is irrelevant in my opinion. Although it can cost up to £600 for a pair of these, they will outlive and outperform 10 sets of turntables which may cost a fraction of the price. if you cannot afford these just yet, then it doesn’t matter. Save up for them and don't be tempted by the next best thing. As I have mentioned before, every major (and minor) club in the WORLD will have these turntables available to the DJ and if you are not used to them then you could have a hard time as I did during the beginning. I started off by just buying ONE of these decks and eventually had the money to buy the other one I so desperately wanted. These decks will stand the test of time and operability. it will be hard to break one of these. I don't suggest you see how easy it really is because it will knock another dent in your wallet to fix it!
Technics 1210 will continue to be the most implemented DJ turntable for as long as people keep making vinyl records.
--------------------------------------------------------- Technical specifications for those who are interested --------------------------------------------------------- - Total quartz locked continuous pitch adjustment up to 8% - Precision moulded aluminium die cast cabinet and heavy rubber base material absorb unwanted vibrations - Unwavering quartz Direct Drive accuracy: wow and flutter 0,01% WRNMS, rumble -78dB (Din B) - Very high torque (1.5Kg/cm) for quick start-ups - Highly sensitive low mass tone arm with gimbal suspension/helicoid tone arm height adjustment - Colour black
---------------- Conclusion ---------------- Things I like about this product: - high torque - formidable durability - quartz accuracy (stable speed) - the tone-arm adjustments are second to none - vibration-proof - virtually no needle skips or jumps - minimises the wear-and-tear of your vinyl - will continue to be the world's no.1 turntable for years to come - used all around the world - lights and covers can be changed to give your turntable a 'unique' look
Things I don't like about this product: - power switch can get in the way sometimes
I really cannot stress enough how decent this product really is. I have re-read my review of it so many times and it still doesn't read how I would like it to read. This review is the longest I have wrote so far but at the same time is just not long enough. There are many other features which I would love to comment on but have spent the last 4 hours or so writing this without even going over to my turntables and looking to see if there is anything else I need to include. I know there is more to be added but will make notes of these aspects and update the review accordingly. I may even re-structure the whole thing so if you found this a bit hard to follow then I will soon replace it once I have planned a bit better for it. Please comment on this if you wish to do so. Any feedback is appreciated, don't be shy about leaving critical feedback as this will just prompt me to reiterate what I have spoke about accordingly. Those of you who didn’t enjoy it please tell me why. Those of you who have been convinced to buy / not buy this product please tell me also and I will know whether the review is having the desired effect since I enjoyed writing it so much.
I love these decks. They are second only to krazyburd whom I adore and have tried to acquaint with each other on a few occasions!
------------------------------ Add-ons to the review ------------------------------ In the listed features 'check boxes' section, I have been forced to select which type of person this product is best suited to. In reality, it is suited to everybody who is serious about DJing. If you are a professional then this product is for YOU and you are probably already using it. If you are an intermediate then you better start getting used to this product since it will be what you come across if you ever want to play at a gig. If you are a beginner and have the money to buy a pair of these, THEN DO SO. If you cannot afford them just yet, I would highly recommend that if you are going to settle for a cheaper pair in the meantime, make sure they are DIRECT DRIVE! Otherwise you will come into problems when using these for the first time. You have been warned...
Advantages: top of its class Disadvantages: there are none!
Ahh, Technics SL1210 MK2 decks are a delight in themsleves, and proof that some things in life DO stand the test of time!!
The Sleek Black casings, the silver pop up light, the black and silver feet, oohh it oozes class!!
Not only are SL1210 MK2's the most technically accurate turntables, with the most amazing pitch control, they are very hardwearing, a friend of mines got tossed out of a 6th floor window in an emergency situation (!) and survived, ... ...would is beyond me!!)
Technics are still the DJ's number one choice, but i do understand people who cannot afford them going for a copy brand, like Gemini or something.
In my opinion though, save up and hold out for the real thing, it's not like theyre gonna be outta fashion or outclassed by another set of turntables for a very long time, after all, people have been using the same old technics for years!!!! ...
mbmb11 13.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Technics SL-1210
Advantages: Classic equipment, excellent performance Disadvantages: maybe too pricey, probably worth it
With so many new turntables being released with gimmicks such as slanting plates, and anti skating arms, people have started to lose sight of the fact that DJ is not meant to sound entirely 'clean'. Rather than have a turntable designed to stop u making mistakes, a true DJ should want a sturdy, reliable piece of equipment with which to experiment. Enter the 1210...the original and best. There is nothing spectacular about the design apart from its ... ...as that of a classic mixing turntable. It is a square box with few controls, designed for playing music, used for making it. You feel a cheeky sensation using equiment of this sort in this way, like u are bring to life with creativity, a Volvo-like forte of reliability. These decks will take years and years of punishment and can be tuned up at retailers all around the country.
Keep it Old Skool ...
womblej 11.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Technics SL-1210
Advantages: Industry Standard Decks Disadvantages: Technology being left behind??
I have had a set of Technic 1210's for around two years now. The design (even up to the MK5 Specials) still has not changed. This may cause a problem due to Technic's competition increasingly undercutting the price of 1210's and having decks which are more advanced technology wise. For example compare the Stanton STR8150 & Vestax PDX2300, with the Technic 1210s or even the 1210's MK5G's and you will see what i mean. This turntable is the industry ... ...pitch control -8 to +8, lights etc, huge torque (essential), anti-skate control, head shells, adjustable tone arms etc. Altogether a good solid turntable. The motor is almost gauranteed to keep this turntable turning for years and years, the quality of the work manship & quality of the components are apparent throughout this turntable. As it is the industry standard, I see this as being the best deck to hav if you wish to get used to club set-ups. ...
thedjcraiglee 29.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Technics SL-1210
Advantages: Very reliable and almost every part is replacable Disadvantages: They are not the best in terms of quality and value for money
...start this review by saying technics are brilliant, on performance they are nearly unbeatable. recently i bought a pair of decks and i was troubled with the question of which ones to buy? well there are 4 pairs of decks that i feel are top of the range, the best decks on the market, so i thought "well i could go for the numark TTx1s, they look cool they have the digital display, they have a large amount of tourque so when your cueing or scratching ... ...the decks i'm reviewing the technics this is when i thought yes these are the decks for me the industry standard technics very precise motors, and amazingly accurate pitch control, these decks are brilliant they feel and look perfect the only thing was the price so i decided to look at the STANTON ST8-150s, this really is the best deck on the market the pitch control is smooth, the torques is massive the look is gorgeous and they play better than ...
JungleVIP 17.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Technics SL-1210
Advantages: STEADY AND RELIABLE Disadvantages: NONE
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPANIES BRINGING OUT NEW DECKS USEING THE MOST UPTO DATE TECHNOLOGIES BUT IN MY OPION NO ONE HAS
BEEN ABLE TO BEAT THE 1210'S. ALOT OF DECKS ARE FASTER HAVE REWIND BUTTONS, LOCK CONTROL AND MUCH MORE. BUT THE SL1210 HAVE MORE THAN ANOTHE PITCH CONTROL AND THEY ARE AS SMOTH AS A BABY'S BUM .YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL ONCE A MIX IS THERE YOU CAN STAND BACK AND WATCH AND BOTH DECKS WILL HOLD THERE SPEED. IN ...
MARTY1 06.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Technics SL-1210
Usability
Durability
Portability
Best suited for
Value for money
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Advantages: The Best Deck Around Great Starting Speed And Overall Performance. Disadvantages: Well To Be Trueful I Can't Find Any.
The Has Got To Be The Best Deck Every Produced, But Just Because It's
The Pro's Favourite Doesn't Mean To Say That It's The Only Deck Available.
There Are Lots Of Manufacture's Revealing More Decks Each Year. To Be Honest I Think The Technic's Deck Needs A Bit Of A Sprucing Up. This Deck Has Stayed The Same For Several Years Now A I Personaly Think That It's Time To Change.
I Would Also Consider The Stanton Deck Or The Gemini Which Does Look And Does The Business. The Are All Around The Same Price Bracket, But Try And Shop Around As There Is Second-Hand Decks Out There That Are In Excellent
Condition, But At A Fraction Of The Price They Would Sell For New.
Good Luck.
Happy Shopping. ...
fantasystudios 27.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Technics SL-1200
We all know that Technics turntables are the industry standard. In radio stations, bars, clubs and homes up and down the land Technics are the choice that most people make when selection a turntable. At one point, however, Vestax were challenging Technics to their crown. The PDX-8000 was one of their flagship products and was the one that was a direct threat to the TechnicsSL1210.
There are a few functions of this turntable that make it stand out from the rest:
1 - The LED display. As far as I am aware, this was one of the first turntables to have an LED display built in. The screen shows you what the current pitch range is (this can be set to -3 to +3, -6 to +6 or -12 to +12), it also displays the current pitch.
2 - Control stick. You can move the control stick to speed up or slow down the speed of the platter temporarily. This is ...
dandadda 19.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Vestax PDX8000
Advantages: Nearly everything-the best decks by far. Disadvantages: high price new9though it is justified), pitch control clicks into place at 0% pitch.
Many decks claim to be better than the industry standard-the TechnicsSL1210 or SL1200-but none, in my opinion, come close. These are the best selling decks there are, so surely that shows how good they are. With +/-8% pitch, and very quick start up times, no wonder nearly all top DJs choose Technics as their weapon. The Technics decks have been around for years, but still look ready for business. Although there is no difference performance wise, I prefer the Technics 1200s to the 1210s. With their sexy silver finish and retro look, these decks would look at home anywhere, not just in the big clubs. Most of the cheaper decks copy the same layout as the 1200s and 1210s, which has now become the industry standard layout, though they cannot match their performance. The only small problem with them is that the pitch fader clicks into place ...
