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Panasonic brings back Technics SL-1200 turntable

Panasonic brings back Technics SL-1200 turntable
The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
View 8 Images
Panasonic's engineers have developed a new coreless direct drive motor that works with microprocessor-controlled rotary positioning sensors to eliminate cogging
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Panasonic's engineers have developed a new coreless direct drive motor that works with microprocessor-controlled rotary positioning sensors to eliminate cogging
Technics is set to release a special limited edition model to mark the brand's 50th anniversary (SL-1200GAE) and a non-limited standard version (SL-1200G)
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Technics is set to release a special limited edition model to mark the brand's 50th anniversary (SL-1200GAE) and a non-limited standard version (SL-1200G)
The new Technics decks are very much influenced by the original models
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The new Technics decks are very much influenced by the original models
The turntable's cabinet is multi-layered, and includes a 10 mm-thick aluminum top panel
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The turntable's cabinet is multi-layered, and includes a 10 mm-thick aluminum top panel
The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
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The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
Only 1,200 units of the anniversary edition turntable will be manufactured
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Only 1,200 units of the anniversary edition turntable will be manufactured
The SL-1200G makes use of aluminum for the tonearm, while the anniversary edition is treated to magnesium alloy
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The SL-1200G makes use of aluminum for the tonearm, while the anniversary edition is treated to magnesium alloy
The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
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The upcoming Technics SL-1200GAE on show at CES this week
View gallery - 8 images

Back in 2014, Panasonic reanimated the not-dead-just-sleeping Technics brand with the launch of two high end audio ranges. We got a brief ears-on in the listening room and liked what we heard. Very much. But there was something missing. For many party animals of a certain age, the good times were fueled by discs spun on the DJ weapons of choice – a pair of Technics SL-1200 decks. The brand confirmed plans to appease vinyl lovers at IFA 2015 by introducing a new direct drive motor assembly for an upcoming turntable. Now, the picture is complete with a CES reveal of the brand new Grand Class SL-1200G.

In fact, Technics is planning to release two Grand Class turntables. One special limited edition model to mark the brand's 50th anniversary (SL-1200GAE) and a non-limited standard version (SL-1200G). Both are very much influenced by the original models.

Panasonic's engineers have developed a new coreless direct drive motor that works with microprocessor-controlled rotary positioning sensors to eliminate cogging (tiny vibrations from the motor and rotational speed fluctuations). The motor supports turntable speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm and drives a three-layered cast brass and aluminum platter with rear damping.

The new Technics decks are very much influenced by the original models
The new Technics decks are very much influenced by the original models

The turntable's cabinet is also multi-layered, which includes a 10 mm-thick aluminum top panel, for a combination of high rigidity and premium finish. The SL-1200G makes use of aluminum for the tonearm, while the anniversary edition is treated to magnesium alloy, both of which have been engineered to increase the dampening effect.

Only 1,200 units of the anniversary edition turntable will be manufactured, and will be released in the (northern) summer. The non-limited SL-1200 will follow later in the year. There's no word on pricing as yet

Source: Technics

View gallery - 8 images
4 comments
4 comments
Augure
Great, but the only vital information here is the price. If it's more expensive than 500$ then there's absolutely no point in re-releasing it.
David A Galler
This is an amazing development.Who would think that,we would have a new high-tech turntable in 2016.Who knows what will be brought back?
michael_dowling
It still uses a needle to play back,and a precious vinyl record can only be played so many times with a conventional turntable.I am curious why nobody has produced an affordable turntable with a laser reading system to replace the needle. There are custom built turntables that employ lasers,but they are prohibitively expensive.
butkus
The SL-1200/1210 was't anything special the first time, neither is it going to be in this rehash. Their own SL-M series or the SL-10 wipe the floor with it. Technics should really get around to re-releasing those to be taken seriously. It's a damn shame the art of Japanese high-end tt-s has been ditched for overpriced minimalism, even primitivism, from the current market leaders like Thorens, Pro-Ject, Numark etc. Not to mention that Amazon's christmas bestseller with integrated speakers and the china standard ceramic stylus, beat by anything from up till the 80s, for much less, from ebay.