A democratic version of the SL-1200 G, retaining its iconic visual style, the new Technics SL-1200 GR2 turntable maintains the same audiophile approach by continuing the Japanese company’s pursuit of innovation and continuous improvement in technology, starting with the all-new speed controller, combined with the famous direct drive for which the brand remains one of the global benchmarks.
In the early 1970s, Technics revolutionized the turntable industry with the SL-1200 and the world’s first direct drive system. Manufactured by Matsushita for the Japanese company in 1972, this iconic turntable became a huge global success, not only for audiophiles, but also as a benchmark in the professional world, particularly among DJs.
Each new generation of this range has brought its own set of improvements, pushing the performance of direct-drive turntables even further: the new Technics SL-1200 GR2 is the latest addition to the family.
AN ICONIC DESIGN
The Technics SL-1200 GR2 uses the chassis of its big sister, the SL-1200 G, but is thinner and more simplified, made from a single-layer molded structure. The design is both elegant and carefully refined, with classic curves that retain its recognizable look. Particularly robust at 11.5 kg, the Technics SL-1200 GR2 features a double-layer design with a lower chassis made of welded die-cast aluminum and a BMC (Bulk Molding Compound) body.
This elegant and stable combination produces high resistance, resting on four anti-vibration silicone-cushioned feet, which ensure perfect balance of the turntable and excellent isolation from the support.
The platter is made of die-cast aluminum to provide maximum rigidity and thus limit resonance and vibration. To increase inertia, the shape of the die-cast aluminum part has been optimized using 3D simulation. Weighing 2.5 kg, the Technics SL-1200 GR2’s platter is heavier than that of the lower models in the range (1.8 kg on the SL-1200 MK7).
For direct drive, a magnetic field induced by coils drives the platter, which contains several magnets. The platter is not attached to the turntable. This system is designed primarily to prevent motor wear when the platter is completely stopped, greatly improving the longevity and long-term reliability of rotation. The underside of the platter also has reinforcement ribs, which further improve rigidity and damping.
The SL-1200 also features the famous traditional S-shaped tonearm machined from aluminum with a removable cartridge holder, with its gimbal pivot and high-precision bearings, as on the SL-1200G model. This arm follows the rotation of the disc with excellent regularity and offers high playback accuracy. An auxiliary weight is provided to make the turntable compatible with all cartridges weighing between 5 and 17 g.
CORELESS MOTOR AND JENO TECHNOLOGY
The motor in this new mount has been completely redesigned to further improve its performance. A real innovation, the direct drive system is powered by a coreless motor directly inherited from the Technics SL-1200 G, which gives it high precision and reduces vibrations at low speeds.
The motor control signal is generated by a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal created by Δ∑ (Delta Sigma) Modulation, a high-precision 1-bit digital-to-analog conversion method that is part of the signal path in Technics’ fully digital amplifiers. This approach, called Δ∑-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive), produces a perfect sine wave and dramatically reduces motor vibration.
This has a significant impact, particularly in the frequency range where motor vibration overlaps with the natural resonance of the tonearm and cartridge combination. As a result, rotational tracking accuracy is significantly improved, with variations of less than 0.01%. The result is an astonishingly accurate signal with a very low noise floor of -78 dB. Of course, Technics offers pitch control, allowing the rotation speed to be adjusted from -8% to +8%, a feature that is not very useful for classical music lovers, but essential for DJs.
SILENT POWER SUPPLY
In addition to the motor control, the general power supply has also been engineered.
The new multi-stage silent power supply in the SL-1200 GR2/SL-1210 GR2 is a combination of a low-noise high-speed power supply operating at over 100 kHz and a noise cancellation circuit inherited from the SL-1000R reference turntable, which eliminates residual noise by injecting the phase-reversed current of the actual noise. This method achieves a very low noise floor, resulting in an exceptional signal-to-noise ratio and improved overall signal performance.
THE SETUP OF THE TECHNICS SL1200 GR2
Due to its considerable weight and in order to allow it to perform to its full potential, the Technics SL-1200 GR2 should be placed on a rigid and stable support. As Technics does not supply a cartridge with its turntable, we opted for the Nagaoka MP-150 (MM) and the equally sublime Hana EL (MC), which we felt was a relevant choice for gauging the performance of this mid-range turntable and its tonearm, as well as being entirely in line with its price point.
In the same vein, we chose a preamplifier in the $1,000 range, even though this Technics, when connected to an MM cartridge, will already perform very well with a preamp such as the Graham SLEE ($199) or the Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS ($320). For our part, the Vertere Phono-1 MKII was the natural choice, its energy coupled with its taut musicality making it a prime candidate.
THE SOUND OF THE TECHNICS SL1200 GR2
As soon as the Nagaoka is placed on the groove, the combination of the Vertere and the Technics expresses itself effortlessly in a musical soundscape full of energy. The whole is particularly well-balanced, with clear dynamics and a very marked tempo, without the reproduction being analytical.
The Technics SL-1200 GR2 is extraordinarily quiet and without any audible trace of wobble, with clear and nuanced note attacks and no resonance effect from the tonearm-chassis combination. When listening to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, the Technics SL-1200 GR2 and Nagaoka are first-rate performers, with unquestionable accuracy of tone and warm timbres, bringing out the dazzling rhythmic attacks of the drum parts and the precision of the musicians’ playing. The soundstage develops with breadth and precision, with meticulous lateralization.
The bass is deep, tight, articulate, and fast, the treble is precise and smooth, and the midrange is present and beautifully neutral. While the Nagaoka effortlessly displays its mastery, switching to the Hana EL unlocks even more of the turntable’s sonic performance, with less obvious dynamics but adding a finesse that is in its genes. The sound reproduction is even more agile and detailed, with even more power and substance. The bass gains greater depth, relayed by an even more impressive attack and very natural support.
Listening to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is particularly revealing, with the tonal and harmonic richness of the record, as well as its formidable dynamics, seeming to literally leap out of the speakers. Although it seems obvious that the Technics SL-1200 GR2 could accommodate an even more powerful cartridge, these combinations are already perfectly convincing, with the choice between MM and MC depending mainly on the style of music you listen to most.
CONCLUSION
A remarkable evolution of the legendary SL-1200 series, priced at €1,990, the Technics SL-1200 GR2 remains highly competitive in terms of performance and outperforms most mid-range and even higher-end models. An engineering marvel, it is a concentrate of musicality just waiting to be fully expressed. With superb audiophile sound quality, robust construction, completely silent operation, and great ease of use, this turntable will appeal to both analog music lovers and professionals alike. Thanks to it, the instinctive pleasure of listening never wanes, giving you the irrepressible urge to play one record after another.
Author(s): Nicolas Chestier
Technical Sheet: TECHNICS SL-1200 GR2
- Origin: Japan
- Price: €1,990
- Dimensions: 453 x 173 x 372 mm
- Weight: 11.5 kg
- Motor: Direct Drive DC motor without core
- Speeds: 33 1/3; 45; 78 rpm
- Wobble and flutter: 0.025% WRMS
- Platter: Die-cast aluminum
- Tonearm: S-shaped aluminum
- Colors: Silver, black (SL-1210 GR2)
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