The new Technics SL-1200 MK7 will reportedly cost £899/$1200

[astromech]

Yeah, price is down to 999USD now. But... hands on time from both Phil at DDJT and Drew for us at DJWORX gave very similar conclusions that it's a big step back from what people expect based on the old decks. It's looking to basically be a SuperOEM with a Technics-designed motor.

[Stazbumpa]

Yeah, price is down to 999USD now. But... hands on time from both Phil at DDJT and Drew for us at DJWORX gave very similar conclusions that it's a big step back from what people expect based on the old decks. It's looking to basically be a SuperOEM with a Technics-designed motor.

^ This. It looks a lot like Panasonic are cashing in on nostalgia and have given us a very meh piece of kit. I'd be looking at a set of Mk 2's and having them serviced.

[electroshock]

It's looking to basically be a SuperOEM with a Technics-designed motor.

So what precisely is Super OEM on the mk7?

[the_bastet]

So what precisely is Super OEM on the mk7?

I think he was referring to features on the MK7 which are also featured on super oem turntables such as 78rpm, reverse, and start/stop adjust being on the face of the unit (instead of buried under the platter like it is on the mk2/3).


The price drop to $999 is a good idea. That will bring it to being only $300 more than what I sell fully restored technics for.

[astromech]

So what precisely is Super OEM on the mk7?

The build and materials. It's just not a $1k turntable.

[Patch]

Especially when you can buy a used pair of MK2’s and get them fully reconditioned/refurbed for waaay less.

[astromech]

Especially when you can buy a used pair of MK2’s and get them fully reconditioned/refurbed for waaay less.

If you're patient, you could possibly get two for that price.

[electroshock]

The build and materials. It's just not a $1k turntable.

Is the PLX $800 turntable? Or the Denon prime? How does a $1000 look like?
The top panel is aluminum diecast, don't know of any oem with such. Bottom panel has changed, it's not rubber but ABS mixed with glass fibre. In Technics' words "The combination of this special high-rigidity material and a metal chassis raised the rigidity and vibration-damping performance to higher levels, realising a robust cabinet for beautiful sound reproduction."
That sounds to me that the performance is not negatively affected, but improved.
It has a new motor and better tonearm and finish than oem. The fact it's lighter does not show anything. The GR is also lighter than MK2.
We shall see, but I expect it to be absolutely good tt.

Reconditioning 1200 is not for everyone, some people want to buy new. And note that the tonearms are discontinued. Would be cool to have them back in production but I don't think Technics will do it. If some aftermarket manufacturer does it, it will probably suck.

[astromech]

Is the PLX $800 turntable? Or the Denon prime? How does a $1000 look like?
The top panel is aluminum diecast, don't know of any oem with such. Bottom panel has changed, it's not rubber but ABS mixed with glass fibre. In Technics' words "The combination of this special high-rigidity material and a metal chassis raised the rigidity and vibration-damping performance to higher levels, realising a robust cabinet for beautiful sound reproduction."
That sounds to me that the performance is not negatively affected, but improved.
It has a new motor and better tonearm and finish than oem. The fact it's lighter does not show anything. The GR is also lighter than MK2.
We shall see, but I expect it to be absolutely good tt.

Reconditioning 1200 is not for everyone, some people want to buy new. And note that the tonearms are discontinued. Would be cool to have them back in production but I don't think Technics will do it. If some aftermarket manufacturer does it, it will probably suck.

https://djworx.com/namm-2019-technics-sl1200mk7-oh-boy/

The first big loss is in the material and weight. Beyond pitch stability, one associates the 1200 with incredibly robust build quality. Unlike other pro turntables the 1200mk2-6 had a 3 layer construction, combining a steel top layer, solid rubber bottom and a chewy chocolate center (a solid plastic spacer). This multi-layer construction gave the 1200 industry-leading feedback resistance, almost unmatched.

The new SL1200mk7 however has a plastic bottom piece, which feels somewhat hollow in comparison. While the injection-molded piece provides a really great cable plug-in bay and solid handle grip, I would have taken the permanently attached cables any day. There are a few other little things that bother me as well. The pop-up light snaps instead of rising slowly, and the paint feels cheap compared to the anodized SL1210mk2 or the beautiful scratch magnet powder coating of the SL1200mk5g. Overall, the SL1200mk7 is a let down, if only because of the almost impossibly high standard of the original.

[electroshock]

That quote doesn't address my questions / observations. It says what you already said, that the construction is different, but it shows no evidence that the new one is worse in practice, except it is lighter. That is nothing to judge by. The finish looks the same as on the GR, it is of course different paint than mk2, on a still aluminum chassis. The popup light also shoots on the mk2 after a while. Dissing the turntable because of the popup light is ridiculous. Is the great motor there? Yes. Is the great tonearm there? Yes. Great isolation? Yes. Price will probably go down to $999. Can't really see the problem dissers have.