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The Technics SL-1200 turntable. The fact that the design has not changed except for minor tweaks since the product was released speaks for itself. I used it bot

The Technics SL-1200 turntable. The fact that the design has not changed except for minor tweaks since the product was released speaks for itself. I used it both as a DJ many years ago and now kept one of the turntables just for listening. The quality of the turntable is palpable not only in its physical weight but in the utter simplicity of the design. The dotted edges of the rotating plate are both aesthetically pleasing while also informative communicating rotation speed. Every detail every little part of the unit is functional design of the highest quality while also visually appealing. In my view one of the greatest achievements in modern electronics and industrial design.

timemachine 5y ago
Agree. The device is made of long lasting parts. Easy to repair if needed and parts for even the oldest models are still available.
ghostly_s 5y ago
> The dotted edges of the rotating plate are both aesthetically pleasing while also informative communicating rotation speed. Isn't this pattern actually used as a rotary encoder for speed control?
- tomcooks 5y ago
  Yes I've heard it's actually used to sync two plates
Terry_Roll 5y ago
Waiting list for the SL-1200 or SL-1210's in the 90's were well over a year and you couldnt even get B stock (ie returns resold) from Panasonic Technics either. I will add another one to the list, their SU-A range of amps with the R-core transformer. When they first came out, I was invited to a blind listening session with Technics somewhere in London and they had some of the SU-A amps up against considerably more expensive amps and you were shocked at the quality, you could point to where the different instruments were being played left and right, you could tell whether they were at the front, middle or back of the sound stage, it was an awesome experience and the low price meant they showed up some serious big names in the hifi world. Magazines were harsh to them imo. Its just a shame they couldn't replicate the quality in their surround sound amp's but I suspect that is more to do with the encoding used then and now. But the return in audiophile quality is not proportional to expenditure above a certain price, its more exponential.
quickthrower2 5y ago
Yeah “Twelve Tens” we’re fun!

timemachine 5y ago

Agree. The device is made of long lasting parts. Easy to repair if needed and parts for even the oldest models are still available.

ghostly_s 5y ago

> The dotted edges of the rotating plate are both aesthetically pleasing while also informative communicating rotation speed. Isn't this pattern actually used as a rotary encoder for speed control?

tomcooks 5y ago
Yes I've heard it's actually used to sync two plates

Terry_Roll 5y ago

Waiting list for the SL-1200 or SL-1210's in the 90's were well over a year and you couldnt even get B stock (ie returns resold) from Panasonic Technics either. I will add another one to the list, their SU-A range of amps with the R-core transformer. When they first came out, I was invited to a blind listening session with Technics somewhere in London and they had some of the SU-A amps up against considerably more expensive amps and you were shocked at the quality, you could point to where the different instruments were being played left and right, you could tell whether they were at the front, middle or back of the sound stage, it was an awesome experience and the low price meant they showed up some serious big names in the hifi world. Magazines were harsh to them imo. Its just a shame they couldn't replicate the quality in their surround sound amp's but I suspect that is more to do with the encoding used then and now. But the return in audiophile quality is not proportional to expenditure above a certain price, its more exponential.

quickthrower2 5y ago

Yeah “Twelve Tens” we’re fun!