In 1970, Technics commercialised the world‘s first direct drive turntable, and the system took the world by storm. Unlike belt drive and other systems, direct drive systems rotate the motor at low speed and directly drive the platter, thus providing numerous advantages, such as the almost complete absence of degradation in S/N ratio due to motor vibration and deceleration mechanisms, as well as high reliability over a long period time because of not requiring parts replacement. Technics wastes no time in updating turntable, unveils Grand Class SL-1200GR at CES". Digital Trends. 8 January 2017.

Turning off the strobe light allows the listener to concentrate more effectively on the music, especially in dimmed environment. Available from September 2020 globally, the SL-1210MK7R is a limited edition version of the SL-1210MK7 produced in collaboration with the Red Bull BC One international breakdancing competition. The SL-1210MK7R comes in Red Bull livery with red headshell, gold-coloured tone arm and decals. The SL-1210GAE is wholly made in Japan by skilled artisans’ hands, with a significant level of hand-made processes to ensure the highest quality possible. The top panel features a special badge, inscribed with the unique serial number to signify that it is a 55th anniversary model. Both the power and phono terminals let you detach the cables which prevent the cables from accidentally being disconnected while you perform. Thanks to the disconnecting cable terminals maintenance of the cables is easier and if you wish you can connect your preferred phono cable. The gold-plated phono terminals minimise degradation of sound quality. The earlier MK2 models 1978-1983 or so also have a different construction in the rubber base of the turntable. These turntables were made with a base that was completely rubber, whereas the newer version has 2 separate parts: rubber outside and a bakelite inlay that makes it considerably easier to take apart.The SL-1210MK7 doesn't feel as solid as the more expensive SL-1200GR and SL-1200G models. The stop/start and speed buttons don't have the same reassuring response nor quite the bombproof feel, and the LED stylus illuminator, which you can pop up and down, felt a little flimsy on the sample we saw. There was no legacy SL-1200 model on hand for a direct comparison but we'll look to further clarify the build differences. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Panasonic announced it would be resuming production with a new line of turntables, [32] beginning with the Limited Edition SL-1200GAE [33] The updated platter comes with a two-layer construction that features deadening rubber on the rear surface which eliminates unwanted resonances in the aluminium die-cast platter. The exceptional vibration-damping characteristics prevent harmful vibrations from being transmitted to your records giving you a clear sound at all times. The drive system designed by Matsushita is direct-drive rather than the more commonly found belt-drive type, a less expensive design. The direct-drive design, which was developed to reduce wow and flutter, produces a very quiet turntable that, for a direct-drive turntable, has minimal motor and bearing noise, (although the bearing rumble does tend to become characteristic in well-used turntables). This was partially achieved through the fact that the SL1210/1200 made the platter a part of the motor mechanism.Created by Technics in pursuit of true analog record sound, rather than nostalgia, the SL-1210G includes the latest technologies to solve issues involved with direct-drive systems, such as cogging. The SL-1210G includes a newly developed coreless direct-drive motor with greatly increased precision by incorporating Blu-ray Disc technology for rotation control. This cutting-edge direct-drive system will surpass previous direct-drive systems. It is not a reproduction but innovation. We are redefining the reference in direct-drive turntables for the modern age. The SL-1210 Mk7 features high-quality sound reproduction keeping true to the Technics philosophy and employs a wealth of brand new technologies to give you the reliability and durability that makes Technics a well-loved brand. A new coreless motor has been developed which completely removes the iron core from the motor and effectively eliminates the root cause of cogging, a problem that causes the platter to spin unevenly. For the best amount of torque possible the gap between the coreless stator and rotor magnets has been optimised, this results in a high torque that is equal to the SL-1210 Mk5 and makes the turntable perfect for DJs.

A bonus to the whole story we have with an integrated cover that you will not have to buy separately, as usual, the various manufacturers offer, and we all know that the cover is necessary because the dust is the biggest enemy of every turntable. Technics have also upgraded the pitch control – this digital unit uses a dedicated microprocessor to emulate the original analogue pitch from the MK2. The results of the emulation are staggering – with many claiming the MK7 is the tightest SL1210 they’ve ever mixed on!When you hear something like this, when you understand what you are doing, then you do not want to place old, worn records on this turntable, but looking at how to get an even better release because you want to hear more. We could say that, but not only in the light of the price that still exits from the expected but also by the significant technological advancements. First of all, there is a newly developed ‘direct drive’ engine (with which Technics in the early 1970s had made a commercial revolution), and then the turntable base that was far better resolved and made, and it feels in the moment when you try to lift this turntable, mechanically more precisely constructed tonearm and ultimately a more advanced electronic / software system that takes care of turntable work. Compared to the SL-1200 MK5 model, the latest upgraded version, the platter now weighs almost a kilogram more. It is made of a cast aluminum piece and strengthened by crossbars to achieve greater strength. The full speed of 33.33 rpm comes in just 0.7 seconds. It should also be noted that the base is made of double-cast aluminum and that the base and the platter are additionally covered with rubber to absorb vibration. There are more advanced solutions from which we conclude that this is a significantly improved turntable from what we remember over the past decades.