The Technics Substitute
Since Technics are getting harder and harder to find for cheap anymore, what would you say a viable replacement for a pair of technics 1200’s would be?
Stanton ST-150s.
Even Q uses them (But the STR8 models)
Loooooooaaaaads of posts on this already…
Stanton STR-8 150s
Numark TTXs
Vestax PDX2000/2000Mk2/2300 etc
Go have a dig. 
There a bunch of tables out there that people will say are as good as 1200’s or maybe some people will suggest certain tables are better than 1200’s. No matter what though, wether they are better or maybe they’re just as good, they just aren’t 1200’s. Ive never seen Stanton 150’s or PDX’s, etc in the booth. Practicing/using on what you would play on in a prffesional club is IMO worth the tag (within reason). Take it for what it’s worth.
Hands down Numark TTXusb’s
So he should buy some CDJs? Just kidding 
I had 1200s for a few years a while back, and own a pair of STR8-150s now (don’t ask, it’s a sad story). Anyways aside from looking a little bit different and having a few more buttons (that aren’t really needed unless you’re mixing Kenny G with Sonic Death Monkey) I can’t tell much of a difference (if any).
I would say buy STR8-150s and spend the extra $1000+ that you’ll save on records/downloads/plugins/mixer/whatever.
There is no substitute!
True story: Someone refered me to a big production company. They were about to do another tour all around the east coast US, and their crowds were anywhere from 1500 to like over 10,000 and usually around the 5,000-8,000 mark. I guess they were looking for someone to open for the main headliner at all their shows. They got my info from whoever refered me, looked at my soundcloud mixes and picked me and two other dudes as finalists (they said over 100 applicants). I go in to meet them at their facility, they tell me they have a special DJ booth set-up that shoots lasers and smoke and that I have to use their equipment (CDJ-2000’s, 900 nexus). Well I told them the truth, I hadn’t used CDJ’s since I used a pair of 1000 MK2’s a few times like 8 years ago.
Yea they didn’t pick me…I’m sure I woulda been fine cause it’s not rocket science, but who in their right mind wants to take that big of a chance on someone?
Mad long story…but maybe “I” should buy CDJ’s
…Why?
do you scratch?
i dont - and maybe its me just being skeptical because theres some nuance of 1200s im missing that can only be realized while going crazy with the scratching, but it all just seems like bullshit. i dont fucking care about the brand, the only objective thing ive literally felt a difference in from table to table and makes a difference you can FEEL - high torque and direct drive.
this is a tired arguement but of all the times ive seen it ive yet to see a technics purist being able to articulate why a vestax stantons or numarks offerings arent suitable, its always the same bleating “itz da best”, “itz da standard”, “all da greatz uz itz”… just seems like bullshit.
The 150s are kind of close in look and feel. Any of the other super OEMs will theoretically perform well.
There are other decent tables out there but none feel like technics even though their specs on paper seem comparable none have the track record. I have had and fixed up tons of technics manufactured in the 1970’s. The chances of anything else lasting half that long are slim to none and you can’t fix and get parts for any other tables like you can with technics- they are pretty much disposable.
The big reason to get the real deal is the feel. Nothing feels like pressing the technics start and stop button and no platters are anywhere near as solid and great feeling- everything screams quality from a design era when things were actually built to last and not break and be replaced in a few years.
Search around for used technics and don’t look back, you can get a pair for cheaper than the current new top end tables.
Apart from the fact they still perform rock solidly, Technics are iconic design classics.
None of the others are
I think the biggest thing is the feel. I’ve played w/ 150’s and they felt a lot different than my 1210’s. They had a lot of torque, more than I was used to, and I had to be more heavy handed. My boy who had the 150’s, said that my 1210’s felt like he had to almost push the record forward a lil to get it goin cause it had a lot less torque than he was used to (I think he was just so used to the 150’s he was too heavy handed).
So, if you’re in a club, you normally use 150’s, but you have to use the club’s 1200’s, I’m sure you’re going to feel a little handicaped or timid or just not yourself cause it’s just a different feel. Not having to deal w/ that is worth the price I think.
techs have perfect feeling torque if you are wanting to mix songs and not scratch, they are easy to pitch bend accurately, have amazing weight, balance and consistancy in speed.
The high torque super oem’s are fantastic for scratching but no where near in the mixing department as you need to use excessive pressure on the platter to pitch bend, which can mean you bend too hard or soft, so it depends on what you want turntables to do. If you want to scratch timecode go with the super oem’s, but if you mix real vinyl or timecode easily and seamlessly the is “no substitute for technics”.
I was gonna say this.
For me, though, 1200’s feel and look like they’ve been made by REAL engineers, to tight tolerances, and using reliable manufacturing processes.
Too many of the alternatives look and feel like toys (hollow plastic buttons, round edges, etc…). (The reason for all the round edges on the plastic TT’s is that the (cheap) manufacturing process to make them introduces stress at corners/angles - weakening the construction).
I’m no expert on the super OEM tables, but it seems to me like if there IS a super OEM table available with metal deck plates, and metal buttons, then that tt would be (almost! 
) as good 1200’s/1210’s…
(Xone - can you back me up on this? Have you cracked open an OEm TT yet?)
I have no interest in bothering with them unless someone gave me one but if the outside quality and feel is any indication then I pretty much know what to expect.
Honestly I just don’t see any company ever coming close to the technics design and quality again. They just couldn’t do it and still be profitable which is why Panasonic discontinued them and they already had all the manufacturing in place- so the odds of anyone else filling the void are slim.
I say if you dont want to get Techs, go TTX’s. But i played on a pair when i was in the market for some tables and they were awesome, but i tried my friends tech 1210’s and was blown away, went to the atm pulled out 400 bucks and bought them on the spot. best-buy-ever
I just sold one of my tt’s. I kept one to rip vinyl when needed, but even that doesn’t get done very often.
Stantons ST 150’s is the way to go.
