The Backspin

Technics Turntable F.A.Q.

9 December 1997, Version 1.0

 

by Robert Jan Broer (robertjan@haafkes.nl and rjbroer@tref.nl)
http://www.haafkes.nl/backspin and http://leden.tref.nl/rjbroer
(E-mail and WWW with the Haafkes domain prefered)

With some help of :

Kiichiro Watari (Technics staff Japan)
Technics Audio Guide IV
Mark Kout
Jospeh Powell
Richard Belliveau
Helpdesk Panasonic Centre Netherlands

(if your name should be here, e-mail me.. I lost my addressbook a while ago)

A lot of e-mailers
and people who send me manuals and documents
on various Technics models.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

 

 

1. Introduction

2. History of Technics Direct Drive turntables

3. History of Technics cartrdige and turntable by Kiichiro Watari

4. Turntable terminology

5. Maintenance tips

6. More information

 

 

 

1. Introduction

This F.A.Q will give you some background information about Technics turntables, turntable terms and ofcourse some specs. from Technics turntables.

This F.A.Q. isn't ment to compete with the fabulous SL1200Mk2 F.A.Q. from Steve Valdez (also available on my website), because my F.A.Q isn't only about the famous SL1200Mk2 but about Technics turntables in general. I also didn't print anything about modifying and the use of various DJ cartridges etc. I suggest you check out Steve Valdez 's F.A.Q for this. If you want to know about DJing and turntablism, check out http://www.wicked-styles.com from Doc Rice.

Because I don't know about all (+150) Technics turntables, I just wrote about some turntables that were sold and used a lot and still are being used. If you have information about a Technics turntable that isn't printed in this F.A.Q, please e-mail or send me the specifications so I can place them on my unofficial Technics turntable website and in this F.A.Q.

In chapter 2, I'll only wrote about the Direct Drive players as in the rest of the F.A.Q.

I did print the history sheet that Kiichiro Watari sent me some time ago which also contains the belt-drive turntables etc. That sheet goes back to 1932.

Note. I get a lot mail from people who ask me if I know any good places where you can get Technics SL1200Mk2 turntables. Well, I just don't know. ;-) For people in the Netherlands I could name a few companies but I can't help you out when you live 3000 kilometres from here. ;-) Please contact the Panasonic dealer in your country for a dealer. You can also ask for manuals (also for older models like the SL-1100 or SP-10) at Panasonic. The shipping costs are about $4 USD.Check http://www.mei.co.jp for Panasonic Distributor addresses worldwide.

Also note that this is my first F.A.Q. so it can contain some serious mistakes/errors.

 

2. History of Technics Direct Drive turntables

note! Because it is sometimes hard to imagine how a table looks like, I placed photo's and pictures from some turntables at my website at http://www.haafkes.nl/backspin

 

A long time a ago, in 1969 to be exact ;-), the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Technics and Panasonic that is) introduced the Direct Drive system.

To explain what Direct Drive is, I'll quote a line out of the Technics Audio Guide IV :

"The motor is directly coupled to the platter and turns at the same rate as the record. Since it turns at a low speed and there are no additional parts to transfer torque from motor to platter, the D.D. has several advantages, e.g. Low wow & flutter, low rumble, rotational stability and precision and a long service life."

The torgue is high and it runs at the right speed (33 1/3 rpm or 45 rpm) very fast, this makes the turntable very usefull for DJs.

In 1970 the (now famous) SP-10 was released and it was just a case, no arm included. It is still a very 'hot' object for collectors.

In 1971 Technics introduced the first complete Direct Drive player called the SL-1100. It was a real massive table with a Start/stop button, pitch control (pot metres), stroboscope and a s-shaped arm.

There are also SL-1100A and SL-1100AC models, but I have no information on them. The SL-1100 is also known as the pre-SL1200. A lot of DJs used the SL-1100 in the 70s, I read somewhere in an interview with Grandmaster Flash that it were the first Direct Drives he worked with. Also Kool Herc used to have them in his famous Herculoids soundsystem in the late 70s in the Bronx-NY/USA.

A nice feature on the SL-1100 was that you could replace the Technics arm for a SME arm

The SL-1100 were never sold in Europe, but in 1972 Technics introduced the SL-110 which is exactly the same as the SL-1100 but didn't came with an arm. You had to buy a Technics arm or a SME arm. The SL-110 were sold in Europe and were quite expensive back in the day.

Later that year, in 1972, Technics introduced the SL-1200. It was a lot smaller than the SL-1100 and SL-110 but also had a stroboscope, pitch control (pot metres), an s-shaped arm and was still very massive. This turntable was also used a lot for DJing back then, but Technics didn't produce them for DJ-use.

In 1973 Technics introduced the SL-120 which is the same as the SL-1200 but with no arm. It seems like the same story as with the SL-1100 and SL-110 to me. I don't know which arm, other than Technics, you could place on a SL-120. Also the SP-12 was released that year.

I have no specs and info on the SP-12 or whatsoever. Only a pictures, and I can only say that it looks like the SP-10 to me.

In 1974 Technics introduced the SL-1300. A full automatic Direct Drive player with a repeat function (also called 'memo'), pitch control (pot metre) and an s-shaped arm.

Later on, 1977, the SL-1300Mk2 came out. It looks a bit different and has a digital read-out pitchcontrol and is Quarz Direct Drive. The knobs are not covered by the dust-cover like the 'regular' SL-1300.

Also in that year, Technics came up with the SL-1350. Which is almost the same as the SL-1100 but has a repeat function.

In 1975 Technics introduced the SP-10Mk2 which has a remote control. You could buy a special titanium arm and a wooden base for it and the complete set was called the SL-1000Mk2. This whole set weights over 25KG!!!!

Also in that year, Technics came up with the SL-1350. Which is almost the same as the SL-1100 but has a repeat function.

In 1976 the SL-1400 and SL-1500 were released . Both tables look like the SL-1300 but don't have a repeat function. The SL-1400 is semi-automatic and the SL-1500 is manual operated. The SL-1300, SL-1400 and SL-1600 were also available in a dark color (a bit brown) and were called the SL-1310, SL-1410 and SL-1510.

From those SL-1400 and SL-1500 were also Mk2 -series produced (also in 1977). Quarz Direct Drive and the controls on the front of the turntable were the most important changes.

The SL1600 and SL1700 were introduced in 1976. They look like the SL1400 and SL1500 but have a Direct Drive system with double insulation. No shocking changes in design.

The SL-2000 was also released in 1976, a middle class Direct Drive turntable, this one was

only produced in black and was equipped with an S-arm, stroboscope and pitch control (pot-metres). It had a nice and fresh look but wasn't very solid. It stood on some short-springs.

In 1977 the Mk2s came out from the SL-1300, SL-1400 and SL-1500. Also available in a darker color. (1310Mk2 and so on)

In end 1979/begin 1980 Technics modified the SL-1200 and named it the SL-1200Mk2. It became more massive, got a slide pitch and became Quarz Direct Drive. It was ment to be a DJ table. The SL-1200Mk2 is still in production. Check the Steve Valdez SL-1200Mk2 F.A.Q. for this beauty. It is still being used in nightclubs, discos, bars and ofcourse by a lot of events.

It is still one the favourite instruments (beware of the Vestax series!!) for all the turntablists out there. Check the DMC Videotapes for seeing this turntables in action, available at http://www.beatstreet.com

In 1981 Technics introduced the 3rd Mark of the SP10. The SP10Mk3. It was the turntable with the world's biggest 1.1ton/cm2 inertia mass Quarz Direct Drive turntable.

In 1982 the whole set came out for the SP10Mk3. The SL-1000Mk3D. That is, a SP10Mk3, an EPA100Mk2 arm and a nice case.

In 1984 the SL-J2 and SL-J3 came out. It were Direct Drive players with Linear Tracking.

A TP4 cartridge was mounted.

In those years after 1984 I only got some type numbers as you can see in the chart in chapter three. Nothing special really. The glory days of the turntable were gone.. people started buying CD-players and CDs.

In 1996 the Technics SL-1200LTD was introduced, a SL1210Mk2 done with piano-finish and a golden platter and arm. No new tech.specs except for the pitch-reset knob.

In the same year Technics released a mixer called SH-DJ1200 that would be used (and still is) in the DMC championships (Technics is a sponsor). A mixer also done with piano-finish and golden knobs and striped.

The SL-1200Mk2 is still being produced. The SL-1210Mk2 and the SL-1200Mk2 are except for the color exactly the same. In Europe that is. In the USA, one of these models don't have a voltage switch (110v-220v). Therefor, the SL-1200Mk3 was released. A black turntable with a voltage switch. I am not sure if this is the only change, but I assume it is because the Mk3 isn't available in Europe.

 

If you have specs on a model that isn't mentioned, have additional info or think that something I wrote is incorrect. Pleas don't hestitate to mail me.

 

3. History of Technics cartridge and turntable by Kiichiro Watari

This chart was made for my website at 25 december 1996 by K.Watari.

Date Contents Model Name
1932 May Production start "Phono Motor" #287
1935 Jan. Production start "Pick Up" #770
1958 Feb Development of Moving Magnet Pick Arm, the first in Japan (Monaural) WM-28
1959 Mar. Development of MM Stereo Pick Up, the first in Japan STM-58
Aug. Player System with the Mechanical Servo Straight Line Tone Arm
(The first Technics Player System)		 Technics-100P
Dec. Production Start Semiconductor Cartridge EPC-95SS
Aug. Cartridge with the Platinum Cobalt Magnet and One point Suspension, the World First Technics-200C
1969 Jun. Development of Direct Drive Motor, the World First  
1970 Jun. Production Start Turntable with Direct Drive Motor, the World First SP10
1971 Jun Cartridge with Titanium Cantilever, the World First Technics-205C, 260C,280C
Nov. Direct Drive Player System with Die-cast Case, the World First SL-1100
1972 Nov. The Middle Class Player System "SL-1200" SL-1200
1973 Jun Cartridge with Samarium Cobalt Magnet, the World First Technics
205CII,405C,440C
Oct. Direct Drive Turntable, the Popular Edition SL-35,45
1974 Jun Direct Drive Full Auto Player System(Integral Rotor-Platter Drive Motor, Memory Repeat) SL-1300
Sept. Cantilever and CKS Magnet unified Cartridge Technics 270D
Dec. Tapered Pipe Carbon Fiber Tone Arm EPA-102
. Direct Drive Auto Changer System, the World First SL-1350
1975 Jun Synthesized Quartz Lock Turntable System SP-10MKII
Aug FG Servo Player System SL-23
Oct Technics 205CII Series "HIGH", "LOW" Impedance Type Technics 205CII(H)
205CII(L)
1976 Apr High CP Direct Drive Player System SL-2000
Direct Drive Motor with 1 chip IC, the World First SL-1400
Jul Direct Drive Player System with Double Insulation SL-1600,1700
Oct Middle Class Synthesized Quartz Lock Turntable System SL-01,SP-20
Nov Variable Damping Universal Tone Arm EPA-100
Pure Boron Cantilever Moving Magnet Cartridge EPC-100C
1977 May Quartz Synthesizer Direct Drive Player System with the Pitch Control (0.1% step Max. ±9.9%) SL-1300MK2,
SL-1400MK2,
SL-1500MK2
Direct Drive Auto Changer Player System SL-1650,1950
High CP Direct Drive Full Auto Player System with Memory Repeat SL-1900
Nov First Technics Moving Magnet Cartridge(Twin Ring Coil) EPC-300MC
Head Amp "SU-300MC" using Battery  
Middle Class Quartz Direct Drive SL-1301,1501
Wireless Record Player System, the World First SL-FM1
1978 . The World Biggest Torque Motor for Cutting Machine SP-02
MM Cartridge using Pure Boron Cantilever with Technics Temperature Defense Damper EPC-100CMK2
1979 . Changeable Tonearm System EPA-500
The Most Lightweight Pure Boron Cantilever Cartridge EPC-205CMK3
Jacket Size Linear Tracking Player System, the World First SL-10
1980 . Special Rubber Aluminum Die-cast Cabinet for Anti-Vibration Player System, for D.J. and Broadcasting Station SL-1200MK2
Pure Boron Cantilever Coreless Twin Ring Coil MC Cartridge EPC-301MC
Plug In Connector System, T4P, Propose for Universal Standard  
1981 . World Biggest,1.1 ton/cm2 Inertia Mass, Quartz Direct Drive Turntable System SP-10MK3
1982 . Programable Linear Tracking Player System SL-6
World Most Lightweight, Effective Mass, Pure Boron Cantilever Cartridge EPC-100CMK4
Auto Lift System by Optical Detector, Wood Cabinet Player System SL-M1
Jacket Size Linear Tracking Tonearm Player System with Precision Optical Sensor SL-Q6
SP-10MK3 Player System
(SP-10MK3+EPA100MK2+SH-10B5)		 SL-1000MK3D
Quartz Direct Drive Linear Tracking 10 Programable SL-QL15
Quartz Direct Drive with Pitch Control (±6%) SL-QX300
1984 . The Low Cost Jacket Size Full Auto Player System SL-F1
Quartz Direct Drive(Slotless) 8 Programable Linear Tracking, TP4 SL-J3
Quartz Direct Drive(Slotless) Direct Play Linear Tracking, TP4 SL-J2
1985 . Electronic Drive Tonearm Quartz Direct Drive Player System SL-MA1
1986 . Slotless Direct Drive Full Auto
Slotless Direct Drive Full Auto		 SL-DD33
SL-DD22
Quartz Direct Drive 8 Programable Linear Tracking TP4 SL-J33
Slotless Direct Drive Semi-Auto SL-DD20
1987 . Belt Drive Full Auto SL-J100
Quartz Direct Drive(Slotless) 8 Programable Linear Tracking, TP4 SL-J300
1990 . Belt Drive TP4 with EQ amp. SL-J7
1995 . Belt Drive TP4 with EQ amp. SL-J8
1996 . SL-1200MK3 Gold Version SL-1200LTD

 

4. Turntable terminology

The following list contains terms and a short explanation of that term.

All laminated core :
A special permalloy laminated core production process is used to reduce eddy current loss and improve the linear response range of the cartridge's magnetic circuit.

Aluminium diecast :
Made by pouring molten aluminium into a mold. Designed to offer greater precision and vibration resistance than parts made of stamped sheet metal. Used for quality turntable platters.

Anti skating device :
A carefully calibrated, adjustable device acting on the tonearm near its rotational center to counteract the natural tendency of the tonearm to move toward the center of the record, thereby holding the stylus centered in the record groove. Spring-mounted or suspended weight systems are typically used.

Armature :
Th moving portion of a magnetic circuit. In a motor, the rotating center as opposed to the stationary stator. The coils in a MC cartridge; the magnet in a MM cartridge.

Balance weight :
A weight to balance the tonearm and adjust the tracking force. Also called "counterbalance".

Boron :
An element nearly as hard as diamond and having a high modulus of elasticity. Therefore, ideal as a phonocartridge cantilever material.

Boron nickel :
Nickel with a crystalline boron surface layer. Used for the contruction of the tubular portion of tonearms, this material maintains light weight (low mass) while raising rigidity and strenght.

Boron titanium :
Titianium with a layer of crystalline boron on the surface for increased rigidity. Because of its light weight (low mass), high strenght, and corrosion resistance, titanium is often used for aircraft parts.

Brushless motor :
A motor eliminating sliding contact conductive material or carbon blocks and using instead an electronic switching circuit to change the polarity of the stator. There is no direct contact between rotor and stator.

Cantilever :
The part of a cartridge that transmits vibrations, first picked up by the stylus tip from a record, to the electro-magnetic generating unit.

Cartridge :
A transducer that converts the mechanical vibrations caused by the record groove undulations into an electric signal.

Direct Drive system :
A turntable system using a low speed motor (that turns at 33.3 or 45 rpm) directly coupled to the platter so that the motor shaft is one with the spindle.

Elliptical stylus :
A stylus tip having an elliptical cross section, as opposed to a conical shaped stylus.

FG Servo motor :
A frequency generator in the motor produces a signal dependent on motor rotation. This is compared to a reference signal and the motor is controlled so that the two signals are the same. Compared to an electronic governor motor, the FG motor has less speed deviation or drift and is less affected by temperature.

Friction :
Pivot friction occuring at the tonearm support. The less the friction, the more freely the tonearm moves to accurately trace the record grooves.

Full automatic turntable :
A turntable that, when turned on by the operator has all the necessary functions to lift the tonearm from rest post and place it on the lead-in groove and return it to the rest post when it reaches the record's end. For example; the SL-Q310/SL-1300/SL-1350 are automatics.

Headshell :
A device for attaching the cartridge to the tonearm.

Insulator :
An insulator or shock absorber intended to prevent outside vibrations from exciting the turntable. Turntable cabinet feet are often constructed to act as insulators.

Moving Coil cartridge (MC) :
System in a cartridge in which a coil moves to generate an electro-magnetic force. Features low impedance and special characteristics.

Moving Magnet cartridge (MM) :
System in a cartridge in which a magnet moves to generate an electro-magnetic force. Easy-to-use and most common type.

Pitch control :
A control allowing speed changes of the record within a certain range, usually 6% or 8%.

Quartz-phase-locked control turntable :
A turntable with motor rotations controlled by very precise quarz oscillations. Like the SL-Q310 or SL1200Mk2.

RPM :
Number of times a turntable rotates in one minute.

Semi-Automatic turntable :
A turntable designed to automatically return the tonearm to the rest when it reaches the lead-out groove on the record.
For example; The SL-1400/1410 D.D. turntable.

Servo motor :
A motor with a built-in automatic speed control device to stabilize motor rotation.

Skating force :
Force drawing the tonearm toward the center when playing a record.

S-shaped tonearm :
A tonearm shaped in a S-shape as opposed to a straight tonearm.

Starting torque :
Force that makes a stopped turntable platter start rotating. Listed in KG*cm, larger values mean that platter rotation will be less affected by stylus or record cleaner friction.

Stylus :
Needle-like object that follows the record groove and picks up vibrations.

Tonearm :
Device that holds the phono-cartridge, applies the necessary tracking force for tracing the grooves of the record.

Tracking force :
Weight or force pushing the stylus down into the record groove.

Wow and flutter :
Instantaneous variations in the rotaional speed of the turntableplatter.

WRMS :
Stands for the weighted root mean square, a method of using filters to give more "weight" to 4~6Hz modulations in the 3~4kHz region when making wow&flutter measurements since the ear is most sensitive to such speed fluctations. Root mean square is a formula for deriving a virtual value from a fluctuating waveform. In contrast, sometimes wow & flutter is listed as a weighted peak (W peak value).

 

5. Maintenance tips

Always keep your turntables out of dust, put the dustcover back on the turntable when you are finished playing / spinning records.

Make sure the spindle is oiled.

Get rid of the standard interlink (the standard cable with the red and white plugs) and get a interlink with goldplated plugs (costs about $15 dollars (good ones) - $200 dollars for the audiofreak ;-) ).

Use a different cartridge for listening to records than the one you use for DJing.

If you need a new cartridge + needle, go to a good HiFi store and get yourself informed about the different cartrdiges for different sounds and music styles. Don't use the standard Panasonic EPC270 cartridge that is being supplied with the turntable or adviced by the Technics manual. There are better cartridges for the same price for your turntable.

Set your anti-skate adjustment right! Most people don't what it is for, and they don't care about it. Well, it is a quite important setting actually (check chapter 4).

For example, when you play your records at 1.5g, set the anti-skate adjustment to 1.4 or 1.6.

When playing at 1.8g, set your anti-skate adjustment to 1.7 or 1.9 and so on.

If you use your turntable for scratching and backcueing, set it to zero. (according to the Ortofon Concorde manual).

 

6. More information

As I already said in the introduction, for manuals you can contact the Panasonic Distributor in your country. For a list, look at http://www.mei.co.jp

You can also contact this address for free Panasonic or Technics brochures. The manuals cost about $4 USD.

I have found some websites that are usefull for you if you want to know more about certain models,about DJing or turntablism.

Backspin, the unofficial Technics turntable guide

- My own website that contains some specifications of various Technics models and ofcourse this FAQ and the FAQ of Steve Valdez. For the rest you can find some info about DJing, DJ equipment and a list with recordshops that sell vinyl worldwide.

http://www.haafkes.nl/backspin

 

DJ's list of turntables v2.0

http://www.apic.net/~atlantis/turntables.htm

The turntablism F.A.Q. from Bomb Australia

http://smople.thehub.com.au/~bombaust/faq.htm

 

Wicked Styles

http://www.wicked-styles.com

 

It may seem to you that there aren't much websites about turntables, that is correct. ;-)

But most of the websites printed above have some links to other interesting websites containing information about turntables or DJing.

Websites containing information about turntables only are very rare.

 

Also check out the following newsgroups : alt.music.makers.dj
                                                                        alt.music.makers.dj.bedroom
                                                                        uk.music.makers.dj

There isn't much on paper, except for some pieces in magazines :

Rap Pages 1996 DJ Edition (I can't remember the month anymore)

Rolling Stones November 27th 1997