Revolution of the 1200

6th January, 2016. Posted by Mr Swagger

The Technics 1200’s are undisputably the most popular DJ turntables to have ever been made. First manugfactured in 1972 with a number of updates over the years, todays announcement at the CES conference is probably the most important of them all. Being that we are deeply embedded in the digital age and most of today’s DJ have never physically touched an actual record player, let alone a record, and here we have Panasonic updating the classic to be a technically better piece of equipment for the playing of vinyl.

The new SL-1200 G looks pretty much the same as it’s predecessors, the updates have been made to the inner workings of the 1200’s. The 1200’s are direct drive turntables (as opposed to belt drive) and therefore have sufficient torque to get the platter spiining at the required speed almost instantly. However the power of the motor causes vibrations with cause fluctuations in the speed which effect the listening experience of the vinyl being played.
With the new motor in the SL-1200 G designed without the iron core that is believed to attribute to the speed fluctuations, thus removing the majority of the issue. To further reduce any vibrations from the spinning of the motor sensors have been built in to the housing of the 1200’s that work to control the rational positioning (balance).

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Technics 1200’s, a limited edition Grand Class SL-1200GAE will be available this summer in a run of just 1,200 units (for obvious reasons. Each unit will come in a magnesium housing rather than aluminium with a plate on the front with the number from the ltd run that the unit was produced as. The SL-1200G, will be available late this year.

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