The DJ Toolbox - DJ Equipment Reviews and News

Throughout the 80s and 90s, if you asked pretty much any serious DJ what decks you should buy, you got the same answer – get a set of Technics. Soon after its release in the late 70s the Technics SL 1200 MK2 became an industry standard with no major challengers. People loved its combination of reliability, accuracy and sound quality, and its amazing skip resistance helped pioneers to develop the art of scratching.

I bought a set of Technics SL 1210 MK2 decks back in the early 90s, and they are still in perfect working order, so I can personally testify to their durability. I can remember the day I finally got them – aged 19 I had blown my entire student loan on a set, and couldn’t wait to replace my old belt-driven models with ‘the real deal’. Once I had unpacked them from their boxes, thrown off the rubber mats in favour of my best slip mats and set up the tone arm, I was ready to go. I had used Technics before, but I have to say that pressing start and dropping the needle on my favourite record with my own 1210s for the first time was a real buzz. These turntables looked the absolute business sitting on my shelf, the sound coming out of my speakers was great, and the feel of cueing and pitch adjusting was just so much better than on my old belt-driven decks.

But anyway, enough of my fond memories, we’re now well into the new millennium and Technics do at last have some credible competition. So if you want to mix vinyl should they still be your first choice, or is it time to move on?

Background

First let me give you some background detail. As mentioned, the SL 1200 MK2 was released in the late 70s (78 to be exact). It was preceded by the original SL 1200 in 72, which lacked a pitch control.

The SL 1200 MK2 was unchanged in the western market until the addition of the SL 1200 M3D to the range in 97. The main enhancement to this model was the addition of a pitch reset button (more on this later).

At the end of 2002 the SL 1200 M3D was discontinued in favour of two new models: the SL-1200MK5, and the top of the range SL 1210 M5G (a special 30 year anniversary addition known as the Grand Master). These new decks, along with the still produced classic MK2, are the three models you are currently likely to find for sale.

There are a couple of other limited edition Technics in existence, along with models only made available to the Asian market. The only other thing to mention is that there are 1200 and 1210 versions of both the MK2 and MK5 models. The difference here is purely cosmetic though, with the 1200 being silver and the 1210 being black. There is also the SL 1200 MK2PK, which is a glossy black version of the 1200 only available in the USA.

Right, now all that detail’s out of the way, it’s on to the interesting stuff.

What people like

The Technics SL 1200 MK2 is the benchmark by which all other DJ turntables are judged. With the release of the SL 1200 MK5, and the SL 1210 M5G, Technics have not made major changes to the underlying technology that has made this deck so successful. Instead they have built upon it with some improvements to the existing design and the addition of a few new features. So, to avoid repetition, I’ll first give you an idea of the SL 1200MK2’s strengths, and then talk about what the additional features of the MK5 and M5G bring to the table.

The Technics SL 1200 MK2

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Reliability, accuracy and sound quality are the features that have made this turntable indispensable to the DJ community for so long.

The 1200 was originally designed as a sophisticated Hi Fi component rather than a DJ tool, and this emphasis on audio quality means that it sounds great. The deck can spin at a speed of either 33 or 45 rpm. Its rugged construction makes it surprisingly heavy, but this weight, along with its specially designed feet, does much to soak up the vibrations that might otherwise cause feedback and interfere with the playback of your records.

Compared to much of its competition over the years the 1200 is built like the black box from an airplane, and can withstand a fair amount of punishment without serious damage. This is great for mobile DJs who have to cart their equipment along to each new venue they play. It’s also a real bonus for clubs, whose booths can take a battering over the years at the hands of a constant stream of different jocks.

The magnetic direct-drive system that powers the unit actually incorporates the record platter into the motor, meaning there are less parts to go wrong. It also has a very long life, and will normally keep spinning for many, many years without the need for servicing.

Also key is the accuracy and subtlety of the pitch control. The last thing you want is to get two tunes closely beat-matched only to find that they keep drifting out of time because the deck cannot hold a constant speed. Fortunately, you can be confident that the SL 1200 MK2’s +/- 8% quartz-locked system will not let you down. The pitch slider adjusts smoothly too, but is firm enough not to budge if you brush it accidentally.

Torque is a measure of the amount of force used by the motor to spin the decks platter. So, with higher torque, it would take more pressure for you to slow the deck speed down by touching the side of the platter. Also, with high torque a deck can get up to speed quicker when started. Torque is a big part of what gives a turntable its feel, and despite the fact that there are now much more powerful models on the market, many people still think that the 1.5 kg per cm of Technics is just right.

The tone arm is another vital component. You need to be able to set it up correctly to get the best sound and longest life out of your vinyl. The SL 1200 MK2’s is easy to use and has very high skip resistance, which is particularly useful when scratching.

The Technics SL 1200 MK5

Probably the 1200 MK5’s most important additional feature (first introduced on the now discontinued M3D) is the pitch reset button. This enables you to instantly return the record to its original tempo, and does away with the 0% pitch notch that was one of the few bug bears users had with the 1200 MK2 (described in the ‘What people don’t like’ section below).

The maximum anti-skate has now been doubled from 3 to 6g as well, so you have a wider array of options to help you balance the tone arm.

Another useful upgrade inherited from the now defunct M3D is the sunken power switch. This protects you from the potentially embarrassing possibility of accidentally switching a tune off mid-flow with your sleeve.

The 1200 MK5 comes with a new hard-wearing rubber bottom to give it even more protection and reduce vibration still further. Internal wire placement has also been changed to further guard against potential damage.

The old stylus light, that did tend to wear out eventually, has now been replaced with a new long-lasting white LED.

The Technics SL 1210 M5G

In addition to the extras you get with the MK5 the 1210 M5G comes with an all digital pitch control. You still get the feel that so many love from previous models, but now you can switch from the traditional +/- 8% range up to +/- 16% at the touch of a button, giving you the opportunity to beat match records that would previously not have been possible. The settings will also remain identical from one deck to another. The new pitch control is easily removable, so if anything ever does go wrong with it you can quickly slot in a new one.

The tone arm has been upgraded as well, and now includes stylus kick cancel. This feature increases skip resistance still further and is easily adjustable via a screw on the arm’s base. The wiring has also been improved both in the tone arm and phono cables to increase the clarity and bass power of the deck’s audio output.

You can now adjust the brake speed more easily too (how quickly the deck’s platter comes to a standstill when you press the stop button). This feature can add a bit more personality to your mixes. You’ll still need to remove the slip mat, but with the right screw driver you can easily alter the response from near instant to more gradual without removing the platter itself.

It may not have a major impact on the quality of your sets, but the looks of the 5G are also one of its biggest draws. The long-lasting blue LEDs in the stylus light and pitch control look the business, and the finish on the upper surface is a classy semi-gloss black with a subtle metallic fleck.

What people don’t like

As mentioned above, one of the few problems people have with the 1200 MK2 is to do with the 0% pitch notch. I have personally experienced this minor irritation on many occasions. If you are looking to beat match, and the correct speed for a tune you are going to mix in happens to fall very close to its native pitch, you may have to alter the speed of the record playing a bit before you can get the two tempos locked. This is because at 0% the MK2’s pitch control clicks into place, preventing you from making small adjustments very close by. This is certainly not a showstopper, and DJs have been successfully working around the issue for years, but it is a real bonus that the MK5 and M5G are now free from the problem.

The 1200 is quite heavy (26.5lb to be specific), and although this is seen to be a plus by many, some people do find it a problem.

Some users are also not too happy with the placement of the pitch buttons on the M5G. They’re a bit close to where your wrist might rest when adjusting the pitch control meaning you could knock them by accident.

Although easier to access on the M5G, adjusting the brake still requires you to remove your slip mat, so you can’t make changes while a record is playing.

The other gripe about the M5G is that its price is a bit steep for the amount of extras you get. Some people feel that the 1200 series should by now have incorporated the features provided by the competition, such as a wider pitch control (perhaps up to 50%), key lock (which enables you to change the speed of a record without altering its pitch), a reverse switch (to play records backwards), and USB output to plug straight into your computer or other devices.

Verdict

They’re more expensive than most, and have less features than some, so are Technics still the best choice for the serious DJ? Well, if you’re prepared to invest a little more money up front, then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Firstly, Technics will last and last, so providing you don’t drop them off the side of a bridge, you’re unlikely to need to shell out for a new set of decks, period.

Also, as with Pioneer’s CDJ 1000 CD deck, they are the industry standard, so if you plan to play out in clubs they are what you will find in the booth on 99% of occasions. Wouldn’t it make life so much easier to know the tool you will be using like the back of your hand?

But what about the extras included on some other decks these days? While there are certainly some nice to haves, the fact is that the 1200 includes everything you need to perform great sets. The lack of too many bells and whistles means there are actually less things to go wrong, and I think they have got it just about right with the changes made to the latest models. In my view the 1200’s simplicity is one of its greatest strengths.

Having said that, higher torque may well be an advantage for some scratch DJs, and if you intend to use your own equipment whenever you perform it would be worth considering a higher powered deck. If you want to scratch your way to the top at the DMC World DJ Championships, you’ll still need to know your way around a set of Technics though.

As to which model to choose if you’ve decided to invest in a set of Technics, I think you should get what you can afford. The 1200 MK2 is definitely all you need, but the MK5 and M5G do both offer genuine improvements on the original design, so if you can stretch your budget then go for it. All three should hold their value well anyway, so if you ever do need to sell them for any reason you’ll almost certainly be able to get most of your money back.

Aside from all the practicalities though, there is still no other deck on the market that looks or feels better than a 1200. When you’re mixing on a set of Technics you can tell you’re using a truly professional tool that won’t let you down, and in my opinion that’s priceless.

Rating: 5/5 Stars