Technics SL-1200G turntable Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Direct-drive turntable with three-layer, 8lb platter; four-layer plinth for vibration damping; coreless motor running at 33 1/3, 45, 78rpm; and tonearm. Speed adjustment range: ±8%, ±16%; starting torque: 3.3kg-cm (2.8 lb-in), adjustable; build-up characteristics: 0.7s from standstill to 33 1/3 rpm; wow and flutter: 0.025%; rumble: –78dB (IEC 98A weighted). Platter: Brass and aluminum, diecast. Diameter: 13 5/64" (332mm). Weight: 7.9lb (3.6kg). Power supply: 120V, 60Hz; power consumption: 14W in use, approx. 0.2W standby. Included in the box: turntable, tonearm, mat, dust cover, EP adapter, balance weight, small and large auxiliary weights, headshell.
Tonearm: Universal Static Balance type. Effective length: 230mm (9 1/16"); overhang: 15mm (19/32"); tracking error: within 2°32' at the outer groove of a 12" record, within 0°32' at the inner groove; offset angle: 22°; arm-height adjustment range: 0–6mm; VTF adjustment range: 0–4gm; headshell weight: approx. 7.6gm; cartridge weight range without auxiliary weight: 5.6–12.0gm; with small auxiliary weight: 10.0–16.4gm; with large auxiliary weight: 14.3–19.8gm.
Dimensions: 17 27/32" (452mm) W × 6 13/16" (173mm) H × 14 21/32" (372mm) D. Weight: 39.7lb (18kg).
Finish: Silver and black or solid black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: GM1KA001049. Designed in Japan, manufactured in Malaysia.
Price: $3999. Number of US dealers: "A total of 32 storefronts." Warranty: 3 years, parts & labor, original owner only.
Manufacturer: Panasonic Corporation, Shiodome Bld. 1-5-1 Higashi Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8301. Web: technics.com, na.panasonic.com. Imported by Panasonic Corporation of North America, Two Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102. Tel: (201) 348-7000. Web: us.technics.com.

COMPANY INFO
Panasonic Corporation
Imported by Panasonic Corporation of North America
Two Riverfront Plaza
Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 348-7000
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
JHL's picture

...of few lines of audio reviewing more apt than the first line of this one. It's right up there with the first few from "Flesh And Blood: The Reichert 300B".

MhtLion's picture

Visually they look very similar. Have anyone compared using the same cartridge? I'm sure SL-1200G is better, but I wonder by how much when using the same cartridge.

windansea's picture

other than DJs, who uses the pitch fader?

Herb Reichert's picture

is essential for getting the most out of 78rpm records; which were recorded at speeds generally between 74 and 81rpm.

78s rule!

hr

shstrang98's picture

So if Panasonic can do this, they can bring back the Isoloop series open reel machines.

volvic's picture

I have heard it many times and always wanted one. However, there appear to be some teething quality control issues, particularly the G. A member of my Facebook group had to return his four times because of wobbly platters and led lights burning out. He finally downgraded to the GR. Not sure if moving production to Malaysia has anything to do with it, as the wobbly platter issue also used to afflict the Japanese-made ones. Still, I want one.

Dodo's picture

1200G is made in Japan. Less expensive 1200GR is made in Maleysia.

Dodo's picture

I purchased the black one (SL-1210G) few moths ago based on good reviews and I’m very happy with it.
I see several record labels use it as reference for test pressings and quality control.

volvic's picture

Panasonic switched all production including if I am not mistaken, the top of the line SL-1000R. But I know for a fact that the 1200G is made in Malaysia.

Dodo's picture

I wish I could post photos. It’s says made in Japan on my 1210G and on the box it came in.

Dischord's picture

Both the 1200G and the 1200GR were made in Japan until the spring/summer of 2021 when Panasonic moved all of it's turntable production to Malaysia. So G's and GR's before that are made in Japan, and all after that are made in Malaysia.

volvic's picture

Enjoy!! I want the G but already have too many tables and no space. You are right, Abbey Road engineers play their records on 1200G’s, and they know a thing or two about quality.

Dodo's picture

I’ve checked it and it says made in Malaysia on mine and on the photos at Technics website. Thanks for pointing that out.
Nevertheless, I have zero issues with its quality. Looks and performs like a high quality instrument.

volvic's picture

I don’t think the issues are common, nonetheless, some issues have been reported by a few. Still, for $4000 it is all the turntable anyone will ever need. Enjoy!

avanti1960's picture

to test for the effective mass of the tonearm, something Technics does not publish for some reason.
While the accessory headshells work well with taller low compliance cartridges, shorter high compliance carts need the lighter stock headshell for more ideal system resonance and to let the cartridge level out. The stock headshell has a specific distance from tonearm center axis to headshell mounting surface. With most accessory headshells that distance is greater which makes the cartridge sit higher. The VTA dial can run out of travel and the arm will not be low enough when shorter cartridges sit higher with accessory headshells.
Also knowing the effective mass would be helpful when calculating system resonance and some fear that the actual value is not low enough to allow certain desirable high compliance cartridges.

avanti1960's picture

leaves the underside of the LP unsupported. I assume the resonance is supposed to drain through the (8) mini cones to the platter and chassis.
I hope the cones do not make contact with the LP grooves- no way I would let my LPs make contact with a few pointed cones no matter how blunt they may be.

call me Artie's picture

Review of platter mats and comments about the effects of platter mats tell us more about the sins of the turntable used than it does about the mat itself.
Mats can be highly-coupling (e.g. no mat, very thin mats) or highly damping (e.g. Sorbothane, soft flat rubber mats, foam mats) or highly de-coupling (e.g. the standard Technics ribbed rubber mat, the Trans-Fi Reso Mat mentioned, both of which which make minimal contact with the record under-surface). There are also middle-ground mat types which try to find a place in between (felt mats, cork mats).
The effect each type of mat has on the sound depends on what the predominant turntable noise issues are for that particular test. I think it's fairly easy to understand that if a turntable bearing, platter or drive is generating noise, then an isolating platter mat will deliver an improvement. On the contrary, if a turntable bearing, platter and drive unit is deadly silent, then a highly-coupled mat will deliver improvements by allowing self-vibration within the record (generated by the stylus tracking) to evacuate quickly into a mass sink. In the middle-ground are various types of mat and turntable combinations which may be some of one and some of the other, hence may sound better with a middle-ground damping type mat.
The fact that the Technics under test sounded better with a highly-isolating mat tells us that Techics has not delivered a really audiophile silent platter/drive/plinth combitation in this deck.

Dischord's picture

Or it is just one person's subjective opinion, and does not really say anything about the turntable. Fremer's preferred mat in his 1200G review was Stein's “The Perfect Interface”, and that is something like 1 mm of paper.

VAngelo's picture

Totally agree.

I use Resomat myself.
I have owned many turntables in my hifi life. Issue I had with the Direct Drive decks is the motor spins so slow, and in order to achieve speed stability they require a lot of electronics. The means the motor is constantly being corrected every microsecond, which leads to platter 'jitter'. This translates to a 'hardening' of the sound.
I found the Reso-mat reduced this hardening rendering the performance more musical.
Heavy belt drive decks don't suffer from this, but I find them in general undynamic.
The Idler drives sounded most dynamic, but also rumbled. Here again, the Reso-mat isolated and reduced this effect.

Please be aware these are my personal general findings. There may be exceptions and your mileage may vary....

Lazer's picture

And your hypothesis sounds logical Artie, but I currently have a Oracle Delphi TT paired with a SME Series IV tonearm. Table came with a felt mat. I then switched to a thicker “damping” mat that Mikey recommended half a dozen years ago. Now, I am using the Stein Perfect Interface, and it is light years ahead of the other mats but my thicker “damping” mat sounded better than the original thin felt mat.

Lazer's picture

I’ve been drooling over both the Technics 1200G and a vintage Gerarrd 301 for a couple years as replacements or maybe co-equals in my system with the Oracle. This review made me want the 301.

cafe67's picture

I scored “ 712” a while ago as cancelled order, brilliant turntable , no fuss, don’t have spend a grand a year keeping it updated. All adjustments are easy to do. Has worked effortlessly with my Lyra Argo and Charisma MC2 carts. Haven’t felt ( no pun intended ) the need for fancy mats or power cables. Did fit better interconnects

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