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Who is the Grand Master of the Technics 1200 line?
Date of Review: Dec 4, 2004
The Bottom Line: I've enjoyed using the Technics SL-1210M5G for a year without any problems whatsoever. Overall this is a work horse, I'm impressed by it's performance and solid construction and stability.
A rock guitarist expects a Fender; a DJ expects
Technics. Despite valiant competition,
Technics turntables remain the undisputed industry standard for many professionals. Originally introduced in 1972,
Technics 1200 series are praised for their simplicity, and elegance. The
Panasonic Technics SL-1210M5G turntable keeps in line with its predecessors with its instant start up, torque like a tractor, and strong enough for mad scratch DJs to do handstands on. According to
Panasonics website, the
SL-1210M5G is the "Grand Master" of the 1200 line.
The
Technics SL-1210M5G offers all the essentials a professional DJ needs. This turntable has all the perks including a high performance direct-drive, good torque, great pitch control and sturdy construction. I could stop right here but most consumers want more. In my opinion the
SL-1210M5G turntable is the best of the best in this particular series. The
Technics SL-1210M5G has cured the pitch control problem encountered in some of the earlier models. There is no wavering of any kind in the pitch control as this series provides excellent sound quality. You also get unwavering speed and pitch control which is critical for mixing records. The total quartz locked continuous pitch adjustment of /-8% and /-16% is optimal for smooth clean sound adjustment.
In my opinion direct-drive turntables like the
Technics SL-1210M5G are the only kind to use for DJing. I wouldn't recommend buying a belt-drive deck to anyone planning to DJ for a party. I started off with a belt-drive turntable in high school learning early that belt-drive turntables are not designed for mixing vinyl. The
SL-1210M5G is a direct-drive analog system that offers outstanding torque for quick start-ups and untiring quartz accuracy. Put a record and the slipmat that's included; on the turntable and you will easily feel the power underneath your fingertips. The motor is strong and the platter does not slow down.
The features on this are practically endless. When I first starting using the
SL-1210M5G I was impressed with all the little extras especially the Kick Cancel and Anti-Skip functions is awesome. Fortunately all of the features and functions are practical and easy to learn especially if you are familiar with
Technics turntables. Simply whip out your 33, 45, or 78 RPM vinyl and you are in business.
This is a solid and sturdy turntable. The overall construction of the aluminum diecast cabinet is first-rate so you'll never have to worry about a wobbly platter or shaky tone-arm. I really like the heavy rubber base material as it absorbs bumps and vibrations. The tone-arm is sensitive and suspends well on your record. This is one of the beset tone-arm's in the industry as it almost eradicates skipping making it splendid for scratching, and mixing. In addition you can set the braking speed and customize it to suit your specifications. If you run into any trouble you can use the blue LED numbers to monitor the pitch. The dimensions of this particular turntable are 17-13/16" x 6-3/8" x 13-7/8" which is the industry standard.
Bottom line every DJ knows that spinning on decent decks is essential for a quality performance. Now that you've found the "Grand Master" its time you get your own. I highly recommend the
Technics SL-1210M5G for serious DJ's so spend the extra cheese and believe me you'll get your monies worth. Almost every decent club worldwide uses
Technics, so if you learn on them, you'll have few surprises when playing in the big leagues. Sure, they're expensive but they have a strong resale value and professionals don't mind purchasing secondhand
Technics.
Additional features of the
Technics SL-1210M5G include:
* computerized pitch adjustment
* high torque motor
* brake speed control
* removable hinge-free dust cover
* pitch slider
* power consumption 15 watts
* power supply AC 115V/230V, 50/60Hz
Feel free to check out my recommendations on some of the other DJ turntables I've reviewed:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable Technics SL-1200GLDE Turntable Stanton STR8-80 Turntable Nu Mark Numark AXIS2 CD Player Technics Mixer - SH-DX1200K
