Thread: Technics SL-1200 MK6 to be released.

http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=829



It's not very often that Technics have something to announce but it seems that a 1200MK6 is due. Word coming out of Japan indicates a seemingly not that revised model with a special 35th anniversary model as well. I'm sorry but I can't even raise but the smallest of woots for this one.



Picking through the various Japanese sources and allowing for translation variations, it seems the MK6 will come in the regular 2 colours with the following updates:

• Improved tonearm mounting and oxygen-free copper wire being used for the signal.

• Improved vibration damping in the body.

• Improvements to the pitch control accuracy.

• Better LEDs.

• Possibly some motor improvements.

And marking that after 35 years, the almighty Technics is still going, there's a K1 edition of 1000 units that comes with a framed Gold disk and a 55 page book that backslaps the 1200 for being so bloody great.



So aside from some under the hood improvements to a unit that is generally considered to be perfect, there appears to be no difference. I find myself asking the same question that I'm sure everyone is thinking - what's the point? Well turntable sales are dwindling, even for Technics so making the 1200 just that little bit better can't do any harm. Also, in these times of software doing all the work, there's some logic to buying a really simple but supremely high quality turntable for DVS systems.

But really - would it have killed Technics to add a wider pitch range? Maybe even a straight arm? Again, I find myself utterly underwhelmed with the lack of evolution in the Technics turntable. There's no doubt that they have the skills to bring out the one true turntable - one deck to rule them all. But they don't and I can't for the life of me work out why.

Here's the original Panasonic Japan release. I hope some Japanese speaking visitors will take a look and fill us in with the real detail of what's happening with the MK6.
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Seriously. . no straight arm, only +/- 8 still.
Personally, I'd rather have MK5G's then these.