Do I have To Get Technics SL1200s?

I used to own a pair and I really do miss them. What about something like the Stanton ST-100s, Numark, Denon or even a Vestax(even though they look like plastic to me)? I just feel the 1200s are overpriced and a little dated. Is there something better than the 1200s?

thanks in advance.

you will never get a straight answer to that question. First of all, it depends on your individual needs as a DJ, and second of all - too many people have their heads planted firmly up their own asses thinking that the technics 1200 will ALWAYS be the best deck.

The vestax has been proven by world class turntablists and mix djs alike - the Invisible Scratch piklz (qbert, mixmaster mike, apollo) and Carl Cox to name a few - to be a better deck for scratching and remixing on the fly. The straight arm is great for scratching, and the motor has higher torque. The ultra fader, reverse options and such, are honestly kind of silly, but certainly aren't unwelcome additions... It's a solid deck, all that has yet to be proven is whether or not it can take a beating over 15-25 years and still work like a 1200.

the stantons are okay. I own one.. It's not as good as a 1200 or a vestax - period. It's still a solid deck though, and I totally reccomend it as a solid deck for any starting DJ. Just don't mistake it to be a replacement for 1200s or a vestax, because it isn't. The key lock, when engaged, makes your track sound crappy.. it's kinda worthless unless you're working with accapellas or other completely stripped down noises.

The new numark ttx-1 or whatever it is, is the best deck in the world, ON PAPER. I have never used one, so I don't really know if it's worth the hype or not. I want to believe it's everything it says it is, but I've worked with too much worn out {censored}ed up numark equipment to trust it on it's word alone. Every deck and mixer I've used by numark have had several problems after the first 6 months.

As for the 1200s, yeah, they're a bit pricey maybe - but they're proven. I don't need to say anything about them because you already know.

For my money, it's either vestax or technics, but I say that tongue in cheek having not tried the new numarks yet. If I were a pure turntablist, I wouldn't even be considering technics anymore, but that's just my humble opinion.

hi,

first post for me on Harmony, so here we go !

I'm thinking for an alternative for the Technics myself, same reason.

Came across this german brand of which I never heard before, Omnitronic, which, comparing the specs with the technics, seem to be very decent turntables also with even higher torque.

Maybe you can take a look at the specs :

http://www.eurotekmarketing.com/omnitronic/dd3220.html

They come very cheap, around 200 Euro's.

Havent seen one in real life yet though, would like to know what they feel like before buying one.

Has anybody used them yet and what are your opinions ? Or opinions on the specs ?

Vybez

never heard of them until you posted, but they sound and look like another technics clone - in which case I say go for the real deal.. but that's just my opinion.

The thing I feel it important to remind you here is, Gemini always clamed to have a new deck (about every 6 months or so) that was better than a 1200, but it never really was. Not even {censored}ing close.

lol. I hear you man.

I personally own 2 12oomk3's and i love them. I got them b/c i know the can last and i know that they will always be on point. They have years of experience behind these decks. They only reason that vestax is now coming close is b/c technics didn't renew the patent that they had which kept others in the past from getting close. For the money they are the most reliable and best performing decks. B/c i have seen some vestax that cost more then the 1200. And as for the numark tt1 , they blow ass

didnt Technics get sold?

i don't know-they are owned by panasonic.

I'd say look around for used SL's-there are a lot out there. I prefer technics, and I've got quite a few of their older tables as well-for example, I have 2 old sl1800mk2's which still operate when I fire them up, and they are years and years old.

I hear you guys, Technics have indeed proven what they're worth.

Guess I'll take some more time saving the money and go for the real thing.

well I see you already decided but just to let you know.. the prices are coming down on used technic mkII so the thing is your going to pay about the same for used technics then you would new offbrand. why chance blowing your cash on an off brand..

Ive had my technic mkII's for over 10 years, and they have not been baby'd...they still work as good as the day I got them. no joke.

Technics are the most proven and reliable turntable, period. I'm sure Vestax has some comperable tables, but why go for them, when you know that there is absolutely no way you can go wrong with a set of Technics? Isospin has a great point about the 1200MKII. They are the most proven tables in the world, but because the MK3 has come out, the MKIIs are a selling for a little bit less money. They are EVERY bit as good as the MK3, but they don't have the pitch lockout button. The pitch lockout button is nice, but is absolutely not neccessary. Check out ebay.com and search under technic 1200. There are tons of good deals on these tables. Check out this auction while your at it, super good deal: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14987&item=2509393851&rd=1

You also have to take into account what you're intending to do with them. If you're just looking for some hobby tables to mess around with in your bedroom, I'd say you don't necessarily have to wait till you save enough for some Technics. Everything that's been said about Vestax I'd agree with, taking from those I know who own them. Good quality and cheaper. That being said, if you're planning on someday playing out anywhere, wait and get Technics as that's what will likely be at any place you play. I've never heard of Omnitronic and wouldn't buy em. There's likely a reason no one's ever heard of them.

Oh yeah, I have Numark's. I've had em for almost three years now with no problems. And I've lugged em around and beat em up quite a bit. However, I know from others' experience with Numarks that mine are the exception to the rule, and they normally tend to have problems quicker than the rest. For me it's a hobby and I only play out at friends' parties so getting the more expensive tables wasn't a necessity when I started out. It also allowed me to spend more on some better additional equipment, cause it doesn't help to have the greatest tables in the world if you've got the sh*ttiest headphones or mixer. Just my two cents...

I've mixed with 1200M3Ds, MKIIs, Stanton STR-80s, ST-100s, Gemini XL500-IIs (I don't think that's the right model #...its an older model that still has the XLR socket for a gooseneck lamp...I'll ask my friend that owns them and edit this thread later), and even old Kenwood KD-3055 belt-drives with no pitch controls (thats a hard one...try mixing without using your pitch control sometime) I can recommend any of these tables (although the Kenwoods should only be used for general listening unless you really enjoy challenge plus they're hard to find as they are quite old...). I DON'T recommend any of the lower end DJ tables made by Gemini, Numark or Stanton...they arn't even usable...

The Gemini's are actually a solid table for MIXING but NOT turntablisim. Plenty of torque for mixing and so long as you get good carts, no problem with skipping...and I used them on a flimsy wood table with no support under the TTs themselves, so it was like mixing during a damn earthquake! Best part - cheap. My friend that owns them picked the pair up with Ortofon DJ carts (the blue ones) and an American DJ mixer (exponential faders...gag) for $250...hell of a deal I'm sure you can all agree, even if you don't like the equipment involved...hooray for stupid pawn shop owners

Its been my general opinion that people who recommend ONLY 1200s for just mixing, suck at mixing themselves . If you are a good DJ you should be able to mix on any decks put before you, given enough time to adjust to their nuances. Within reason of course...I wouldn't expect anyone to really be able to mix using old Sound Design plastic belt-drives, although that would definetly be something to see

But if you plan on doing anything beyond basic mixing, you've gotta have decent tables, and thats not debatable.

The Techs may be old...but they're definetly not dated. But soon they will be...the patent on their direct drive system is up. Expect to see some truly badass new tables hit the market in the next few years...

I own the Numark TTX1. I have owned 7 SL-1200, 3 of them were the overseas black model, while I was stationed in Germany. I am using only one turntable in my studio, and I also recently added the Pioneer CDJ-1000. As for the Numark, the TTX1 has the same amount of if not more torque than the 1200. The features blow away the old school 1200's. I am not dissin' the 12's, but if you want to move to the next level of anything, mixing, scratching, and so on, the TTX1 is worth it, since you will spend almost as much as the 12's. Did I mention the coaxial digital output, well there is one, for what it's worth... strait and s shaped tonearm... go to www.numark.com and see the features.

Go 4 the TTX1, I promise, you won't regret it, and if you do, sell me the one you buy, I gladly buy it off you.

DJ_vgrep

the TTX1 huh? Ill think about it.

do you have to use 1200's?

of course not

are they damn good turntables?

yes. which is why people are still using them after all these years.

are there better turntables out there?

many people would argue that vestax makes some better ones. i wouldn't know because i never used vestax tables, i have 1200's and really don't want anything else. they just work. never given me a problem.