1210gr is Worth the Sound

After trying the 1500c and noting some high frequency modulation with inboard pre-amp and 2 different external pre-amps ... I gave up! So the Pioneer PLX-1000 was was my second deck that I got to try out and it sounded better (good soundstage) than the 1500c and much better damped. The 1500c is very low in my experiences with turntables! Finally recieved my 1210gr from crutchfield scratch-dent order. pretty-good shape and some missing items but Wow! the sound is awesome! detailed, wide soundstage and clear!!! Best over the PLX-1000, P3 Rega, and last 1500c (in that order). Great customer service Crutchfield getting straightened out . And yes the 1210gr is worth the extra dollars for sound quality.

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New Canaan

This is a great, classic turntable, and I would recommend it, but there is something I feel compelled to point out, because after purchasing it, I pulled my hair out for a month trying to set it up properly, and bought a second cartridge unnecessarily. The Technics manual did a poor job of emphasizing the importance of the AUXILIARY WEIGHT at the end of the tone arm. The instructions in the manual would have you think that the auxiliary weight is necessary for most cartridges. Screw it on the end of the tone arm, and then go about calibrating the stylus pressure, anti-skate, etc. I initially used an Ortofon 2Mblue cartridge, but was plagued with skips on brand new vinyl, and couldn't walk anywhere near the turntable, despite having it well isolated. I then bought an Audio Technica cartridge and experienced all of the same problems. Next, I purchased an Ortofon stylus pressure guide which confirmed that I had nowhere near enough stylus pressure--- bottom line was that the balance weight was all used up (nearly all the way forward) just to balance the tone arm, so there was little left to make the tracking force adjustment with. My guess is that for MOST cartridges, the auxiliary weight is UNNECESSARY!! I hope this helps someone.

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DENVER

Bought this with the idea to have a secondary table and install a mono cartridge to play mono records. My primary table is a fully tricked out LINN LP-12 but changing cartridge in it is not so easy. I installed a Hana SL Mono moving coil and was so surprised with the excellent performance of the Technics, that I bought an Audio Technica AT-HS10 headshell and installed a vintage Linn Troika moving coil cartridge to play stereo records and the results were again fantastic. While I'm writing this review I'm enjoying a Peter Gabriel "Us " record and it sounds amazing, beautiful balanced sound, treble - midrange - bass in the proper detail and proportion. I had another vintage cartridge sitting around, Linn K9 moving magnet, installed with an Audio Technica VMN95SH replacement stylus. AT used to supply Linn with the stylus for the K9 cartridge. The result was consistently good, no longer surprised. The supplied overhang gauge makes installing cartridges in headshells much easier.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Excellent Turntable! Using Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge at this moment. Clear sound with no feedback at 85 dbs. Positioned a couple of feet from main speakers. I had an SL-1800 in the early 80s that I absolutely loved. This one is solid and I'm looking forward using it for many years.

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Solid performer

Really nice deck that sounds great. Put the best cart you can on it to get the most out of it. I agree with comments about the cue device. It's a bit wonky and takes some getting used to. I also adjusted the arm vertically to where I wanted it. I must admit I'm loving being able to change out cartridges quickly and easily. I've been auditioning four of them since I got the deck. Really solid tank-like construction. Recommended.

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Direct Drives rule high end

"Sleeper" (unexpected, outstanding item) The professed high end audio guys still think that great turntables need belts (rubber bands!) and 100 pound platters. I did too, till I tried this Direct Drive masterpiece. With the Ortofon Bronze cartridge and the stock cables it exceeds my former TT (Linn LP 12 with The Alphason HR100s arm and the Audio Technica ML170. This is a killer Turntable. I can only imagine the "better" Technics! Fabulous Turntable!

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Cue lever and function is a big disappointment.

Beautiful turntable but the cue lever and function is low quality and feels like cheap junk. This is a big deal given you use this twice on every album you play. this has no business on Technics top of the line. The cue lever on my Technics SL-D3, a $300 turntable is much better. Also the stylus light is useless as it does not illuminate the stylus. I am not a dj and would have bought the 1500C had it had pitch control.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Perfect

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Technics SL-1210GR

Excellent turntable. Well made. Makes a nice compliment to my McIntosh equipment.

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Technics SL-1210GR

As expected: great customer service and a great product!

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Endgame Table

I decided it was time to upgrade from my Uturn Orbit (which got me into serious vinyl playback about five years ago), and wanted to buy a table that could potentially last me forever. I think this is the solution! It's a massive step up from the Orbit, both in terms of quality and features. The thing is a tank - no more vibrations coming through the tonearm when I walk around the room. Speed consistency is also much better than the Orbit with the direct drive. I played some tracks where I had heard inconsistencies before (like in piano), and they sound much better through the Technics. I'm a direct drive convert - no more fiddly belts for me. The only thing I would recommend is taking care to do the set up the first time - it's not difficult, but you need to pay attention to detail. The only tricky part was balancing the counterweight. The instructions weren't totally clear in how to do it, but I eventually figured it out - you need to turn the weight ever so slightly until the arm just begins to fall and hangs perfectly balanced. This will ensure that the measurements on the tracking force are correct (I verified with a digital gauge). Happy spinning!

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I Will Never Go Back To Belt Drive

I have been enjoying my new Technics SL-1200GR turntable. You will notice it is the 1200GR (Silver) not the 1210GR (Black). I wanted to purchase from Crutchfield, but they have not been carrying the silver one. I had to wait about a month for it to come in stock from another supplier. I purchased the 1200GR with a Sumiko Amethyst MM cartridge. I debated on getting the 1200G but just could not justify the additional $2300. I highly recommend this table with this cartridge combo. It sounds amazing and the ease of use cannot be overstated.

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Technics SL-1210GR

I bought this turntable because of its solid reputation and because, unlike many on the market, it uses universal cartridge shells. I have a collection of cartridges I like, each mounted in its own shell, so I can easily swap them. That won't work on many of the current high-end brands that advertise "factory mounted cartridge," which most often means, "the cartridge directly mounts on the tone arm and it's a beast to install." With the Technics, you're not paying for an included cartridge you might not like. Aside from that feature, the Technics was an easy setup with a straightforward manual. It's nice to have Crutchfield tech support as a backup, but it wasn't needed. The direct drive is smooth as silk, and everything about this unit bespeaks solid construction. I have its (very) distant cousin, an Audio-Technica that I bought early in the pandemic as a stopgap. It LOOKS superficially like the Technics, but it's cheaply built in all the places where the Technics is first-rate. It jitters from room vibrations that the Technics just ignores. And finally, the Technics doesn't come with a built-in cartridge pre-amp. My high-end controller has both moving magnet and moving coil preamps built in, so I'd be paying for something I don't need. Bottom line, I've bought and used lots of turntables over the years making me very picky. And I have no complaints with this one.

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Worth the wait

Couldn't find one of these a few years ago, bought a Rega instead. Tried to find one a few months ago, Crutchfield put me on a list. Got the call Thursday, raided the piggy bank and it got here Saturday Night. Excellent . Put my Blue point #2 on it and had it running in an hour.. Quality table, my third Technics, the second direct drive. One sat in my friends garage for nine years before he gave it to me. This table has the same quality feel. And the sound. Very tight, well detailed, no extraneous noises. Just music. No contest between this one and one with a belt. The motor is a work of art.As is the rest of this table. Worth the wait. I can just imagine what the 4000$ model is like.

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Technics SL-1210GR

The turntable has been excellent. Went back and ordered speakers to accompany the new equipment. Thank you for your great advice!

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Technics SL-1210GR

Premium build and feel, as exciting as the day unboxed my first mk2's. Truly amazing sound quality straight out of the box.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Outstanding table. I own music hall's, pro-ject and Clearaudio among others. I installed a Clearaudio Maestro to the Macintosh and and it sounds amazing!

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Fantastic Turntable

What a great turntable. I packed up my Pro-ject turntable after setting up the SL-1210GR. Gorgeous and sounds great. I installed a Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge with a modified metal body. Fantastic sounding. This is the most I have ever paid for a turntable and I don't have one regret. I do not see a reason to ever upgrade my turntable again.

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Outstanding!

This turntable has exceed all of my expectations. I have not listened to records in 30+ years. This turntable is absolutely amazing for those who are looking for a high end unit. You need to have a system the compliments it otherwise it may not be a wise investment. Since I purchased this turntable I have not turned on the TV. I so amazed that quality of sound. I high recommend this turntable for those who are really into quality sound and are willing to invest in high quality components.

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Technics SL-1210GR

My dream turntable...I bought this as an upgrade to my Pro-ject Carbon Debut. I had an Technic linear-tracking turntable while in high school...& really missed the Technics brand. Instead of settling, I got this turntable. I chose the SL-120GR based on positive reviews, the Technics reputation, & expected reliability for years to come.

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Beautiful Deck. Amazing sound!

For years I've wanted a Technics turntable but never had the opportunity to purchase one. Recently I bought a MoFi Studiodeck with UltraTracker cartridge from a different retailer but the unit had motor noise and I found the slipping belt at startup annoying. I never got to even spin a record due to the noisy motor issue as I immediately returned the unit. I was left wondering what to get in return. I was at my budget limit at $1499 with the MoFi deck so was hesitant to spend this much on a deck that still needed a cartridge. I pulled the trigger on this Technics deck and couldn't be happier. I paired it with a Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge and Schiit Audio Mani preamp. The deck is dead quiet and the platter turns perfectly smooth. No platter wobble like some have reported. The tonearm lift is a little less refined than one would expect at this price point but it's not a deal breaker. Overall setup was fairly straightforward. The unit is well packaged from the manufacturer with diagrams of how to repackage for transport. This is truly an audiophile deck NOT a DJ deck like some reviews may lead you to believe. If your budget will allow, this may just be the deck you're looking for.

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Absolute perfection

This is a beautiful turntable, everything I had hoped it would be. This is an engineering masterpiece, as my first TT that wasn't my father's Dual 1209. It's both, and combined with a Nagaoka MP-200, brings life back to records I haven't played in 35 years. Platter was perfectly flat, as Technics must have addressed some manufacturing issues (per some YouTube reviews) with new stock arriving at Crutchfield. I could not have double boxed and packed this any better myself - kudos to the Crutchfield team taking care of purchases like it was going to be sent to their own homes. For audiophiles and music lovers, if you can save the $$ and reach for this one, it's well worth the wait...

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Superb direct drive turntable

I've owned some high end belt drive turntables but for me the Technics 1200GR has some outstanding sonic advantages I've never gotten from them. Everyone remarks about the incredible pitch stability of direct drive turntables but for me its the clean leading edges of transients and the tightly focussed soundstage that make this such a superb sounding turntable. It makes me think that what I hear from belt drives is a degree of time smearing and ultimately a slightly more diffuse and warmer sound from vinyl. Thats not to say the 1200 GR sounds like CD, it doesn't, but it does have some of the finer attributes that I also enjoy from that format. Pair this turntable with a high quality cartridge (mine is a Benz Ruby Z) and it will reward you over and over again with incredible sound. Add to this that its extremely easy to use, even a pleasure, with no moving belts from pulleys or dealing with bouncy suspension. The only criticism I have is the finger lift which at best seems cheap and does not match the quality engineering on the rest of the deck.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Great turn table .

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Love this turntable!

I have always wanted a Technics turntable! It's known as a legendary & iconic turntable, made more known by the radio & club DJ's! I have the MK7 & 1210GR. I love them both. The direct drive build is so quiet and smooth. I use the ORTOFON 2M blue on both turntables. Impressed! Beware of the naysayers! These are quality tables! I had an Audio Technica clone prior to getting my Technics tables. Huge difference! You won't be sorry!

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A Modern Classic

There isn't much to say that hasn't been said before. It's a superbly built table with a lot of heft to it. The adjustments, such as leveling the feet, setting up the tonearm, VTA, and anti-skate are all a breeze with this deck. It just screams quality and durability. As for sound...Before buying the 1210, I had been using a Rega Planar 3 with an upgraded subplatter and Nagaoka mp-150, all going into a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. Using the exact same setup (along with using Blue Jeans LC1 RCA's running to my phono stage), the Technics easily beats out the much acclaimed Rega in sonics. There's an immediacy to the music that you do not get with a belt drive. The bass is noticeably tighter and deeper, instrument separation and imaging is better, pitch stability and sustained notes are second to none. The detachable headshell, VTA adjustment, and auxiliary weight make fine tuning cartridge adjustment much easier than with most other decks. I've read reports that the newer MK7 and 1500c have quality control issues. If you're having doubts about whether or not it's worth dropping the extra money for the 1210, I'd say it very much is.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Attention to detail and solidly built turntable.

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This is all I will ever need.

I've owned the technics 1200 mkII the uturn orbit the pro-ject debut carbon dc and the fluance. I am finally happy. I can play 78s. headshell swaps are a breeze. Looks great in black. I got an open box and it is in perfect condition, no issues at all. Unless you have thousands of dollars to buy the super high end tables, just get this. Yes this is very expensive for regular joes like me but if I had got this first I would have saved money over all the others I bought before this. Learn from my mistakes, get this table and get on with the important thing which is listening to the records, not fussing with the equipment. Cartridge being used is the Nagaoka MP200. Crutchfield, please strike a deal with Nagaoka they are the best and in demand by the vinyl community.

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Wow! Exceeds expectations!

This is the perfect turntable for hi-fi fans looking for high end performance, but want an alternative to the mainstream "audiophile" turntables in this price range. The new generation 1200/1200GR tables are high end "hi-fi" tables first, disco/broadcast tables second. While it may look closely like the other 3 million 1200 series tables produced over the last 50 years, it has been totally redesigned to a higher level. This is a truly a stealth hi-fi turntable! Just unpacking it was a treat; I've never seen packaging and assembly instructions with this level of detail and precision. Fit and finish is flawless. Even at maximum gain, the turntable is dead quiet. The arm tracks beautifully at 1.5 grams. Working with a high quality cartridge, the 1200GS produces extended punchy bass, detailed mids and highs, with a noticeable soundstage. And of course with the new drive system, it has tons of torque and quietly comes up to speed in less than a second. Thanks to Crutchfield for the easy transaction (kudos to Drummer), the great packaging (double boxed: very important for an expensive product), and the two day delivery on time, as promised.

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Technics SL-1210GR

Very solid! Very good quality! Great sounding! Started with Ortofon 2m blue cart, sounded great! This was a noticeable upgrade from my last TT (which was a pretty good table for $500) but the quality and looks were a serious upgrade on this TT. Switched to a Nagaoka mp 200 cart. Amazing sound upgrade!! Probably will never sell this TT.

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Best Turntable I've Ever Owned! Great Shipping and Customer Service!

Over the years, I've owned many a turntable, and based upon this experience with my new Technics SL-1210GR, I am happy to report that this one blows them all away! It was a breeze to set up and sounds like a dream. I've owned both belt drive and direct drive, and while some people are wary of direct drive tables, I believe this one leaves all of them (and all belt drives) back in the dust. The speed is rock solid. It's built like a tank, and makes every record sound better than ever before. The one thing I'm not crazy about is the feet. They're a little wonky, but once you get used to adjusting them, they're fine.I'd like to give a shout-out to whomever packed my item for shipping. Instead of just slapping a sticker on the display carton of this expensive and fragile item, they carefully packed it in a larger box, surrounded it with the right amount of great, environmentally friendly packing material, and sent it off to UPS. It got here on time and without a scratch. It's so important to pack items like this in a way that can withstand shipping. The box from Technics is not designed for that. They knew this and took appropriate actions.I did have the occasion to speak with customer service for a moment to ask a question about my order, and I would like to mention that they were friendly, informative, and very helpful. A great experience all around. If you are looking for a turntable that will last you for many years of happy listening, buy this one and buy it from the GREAT folks at Crutchfield.

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Wow!

I have owned many high quality turntables from Clearaudio, Pro-Jett, VPI, Sota, Nottingham, Linn, etc. My first turntable 25+ years ago was an sl-1200 mkII. As great as it was back then, the new gr is miles ahead of the mkII. I bought the new gr out of curiosit for a second system I was planning to put together. Simply put, it will now replace my reference Akurate level Linn Sondek LP12 on my main system, it is that good! Do yourself a favor and pair this amazing turntable with the Mani (Schiit) and MP-200 (Nagaoka) for heaven Nirvana! Associated equipment: NAD M-10, Elac Uní-Fi UB5

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Better than before!

I own 4 Technics SL-1200 variants incuding the 1210GR that I recently received from Crutchfield. One has an external psu, a couple have Jelco tonearms. One has a KAB dampner. I fitted my 1210GR with a KAB dampner, Technics thick mat, and Orsonic head shell. The result is stunning. With a Denon DL-301 Mk ii cart, all frequencies in the spectrum are presented beautifully. Bass is particularly outstanding. A play of Dire Straits Sultans of Swing never sounded so tight. Perfect bass guitar, just like the instrument. Technics tables are phenomenal, DD is so easy to deal with and only one centered beautifully designed bearing. Don't worry about the critics saying the 1210GR is not serious audiophile .... IT IS! When you understand the engineering involved in this new release the price is easily justified. I was skeptical at first but when I weighed everything and looked at other tables, the GR became a no brainer. I guess at this point you can tell I'm a satisfied fan. OK .... nuff typed!

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