Technics SL1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable (Black)
If there's one thing Technics are synonymous with; it's turntables. And the SL-1210G is no exception to the standard as it sounds as elegant as it looks. Building on the success of the SL-1210GAE, this up-to-date model has a 4-layer high-rigidity cabinet to increase damping.
If there's one thing Technics are synonymous with; it's turntables. And the SL-1210G is no exception to the standard as it sounds as elegant as it looks. Building on the success of the SL-1210GAE, this up-to-date model has a 4-layer high-rigidity cabinet to increase damping.
If there's one thing Technics are synonymous with; it's turntables. And the SL-1210G is no exception to the standard as it sounds as elegant as it looks. Building on the success of the SL-1210GAE, this up-to-date model has a 4-layer high-rigidity cabinet to increase damping.
If there's one thing Technics are synonymous with; it's turntables. And the SL-1210G is no exception to the standard as it sounds as elegant as it looks. Building on the success of the SL-1210GAE, this up-to-date model has a 4-layer high-rigidity cabinet to increase damping.
in 10 offers
The lowest price for Technics SL1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable (Black) right now is $5,544.76 at eBay.com.au, compared across 7 retailers.
The all-time low was $2,849.00 on 7 Feb 2026 â today's price is 95% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before â worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 22 June 2026.
Last updated at 22/06/2026 02:52:40
Technics Sl-1200g-k Black Direct Drive Turntable Grand Class Record
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Technics [sl-1200gae-k] Black Direct Drive Turntable 50th Anniversary
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Technics Sl-1200gae-k Black Turntable 50th Anniversary From Japan
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Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable
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TECHNICS SL1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable
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Technics SL-1210G - Direct Drive Turntable (Black)
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originally posted on bestbuy.com
The Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is an extremely well built piece of modern technology. The first aspect that I noticed about it was how heavy it was taking it out of the box. It is just as heavy, if not heavier, than my Marantz amplifier that I used to connect it with. The assembly of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is a tedious task and requires assembly in a specific order of detail. After I finished assembling my Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, I was able to listen to my old 45 singles and 33 albums. With the modern technology of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, my old records were able to sound studio quality. I can make ... MoreThe Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is an extremely well built piece of modern technology. The first aspect that I noticed about it was how heavy it was taking it out of the box. It is just as heavy, if not heavier, than my Marantz amplifier that I used to connect it with. The assembly of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is a tedious task and requires assembly in a specific order of detail. After I finished assembling my Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, I was able to listen to my old 45 singles and 33 albums. With the modern technology of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, my old records were able to sound studio quality. I can make several adjustments to affect the quality of sound being picked up from the stylus. Adjustments can be made for horizontal balance, stylus pressure, anti-skating, tone arm height, armlift height, and turntable start up and brake speed. Controlling the pitch of my music is also possible with the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable to speed up or slow down slightly the music to its perfect studio quality. The Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is truly the best turntable I have ever listened to vinyl recordings on.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
The Technics SL-1210G Grand Class is beautiful. Every piece looks like it was made with care. Yet it feels like it's built like a tank. It is very heavy coming in at over 25lbs. Everything is very sturdy with a rigid vibration dampening platter. I tried to do some light jumping around and didn't get anything to transfer to the playback. The tone arm has a very nice feel to it especially after it was balanced. The whole player is very smooth with the direct drive motor. It is really a work of art.There is some slight assembly to attach the heavy platter and then the dust cover. A big annoyance is that this player does not come with a phono cartridge. With all of the marketing about how amazing this thing is supposed to sound and perform I would of thought that ... MoreThe Technics SL-1210G Grand Class is beautiful. Every piece looks like it was made with care. Yet it feels like it's built like a tank. It is very heavy coming in at over 25lbs. Everything is very sturdy with a rigid vibration dampening platter. I tried to do some light jumping around and didn't get anything to transfer to the playback. The tone arm has a very nice feel to it especially after it was balanced. The whole player is very smooth with the direct drive motor. It is really a work of art.There is some slight assembly to attach the heavy platter and then the dust cover. A big annoyance is that this player does not come with a phono cartridge. With all of the marketing about how amazing this thing is supposed to sound and perform I would of thought that they'd guarantee the satisfaction by providing a quality phono cartridge. Once I got a cartridge there was a bit of careful playing around to get everything balanced and then proper track pressure set. I don't think much of that is the vinyl player's fault, just the care that's needed to ensure proper installation.As for the sound of the player I feel like it's hard to know if I'm reviewing the player itself or the phono cartridge I bought separately. So for transparency, I bought the Audio-Technica VM540ML which is a solid choice with phono cartridges. As I had mentioned, to test more the player itself I tried to bump things and get some vibrations going. The sound stayed crystal clear. I was very impressed with this cartridge/player combo. I have a few other players and this one very much takes the cake. I also have a wood floor structure so it is prone to a lot of movement. I played classic rock, pop, and metal music and it all sounded clear, dynamic, and balanced.I think Technics produced something very high end. I imagine that this player will have a very long life with all the quality parts. This seems like it's for some one who is a big audiophile and into having a hi-fi system. I would not recommend this for someone just getting into vinyl.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
I am not even sure what to say about Technics SL-1210G other than ridiculous. Ridiculously high quality, ridiculous price, ridiculous engineering, ridiculous performance, ridiculous precision. Everyone of those except the price is ridiculous in a good way. The SL-1210G does not have any flaws other than it may be too much of a machine for most people. However, if you are reading this, you are Technics audiophile target customer. My test set up was two Klipsch powered reference speakers (you do not need an amp) and Audio Technica VM95 cartridge. I had a better cartridge, but it was over 10 years old (more on that later.) I know this is not a high end set up, but it served the purpose of this review. In review:Build quality âThe first thing you will notice it is a ... MoreI am not even sure what to say about Technics SL-1210G other than ridiculous. Ridiculously high quality, ridiculous price, ridiculous engineering, ridiculous performance, ridiculous precision. Everyone of those except the price is ridiculous in a good way. The SL-1210G does not have any flaws other than it may be too much of a machine for most people. However, if you are reading this, you are Technics audiophile target customer. My test set up was two Klipsch powered reference speakers (you do not need an amp) and Audio Technica VM95 cartridge. I had a better cartridge, but it was over 10 years old (more on that later.) I know this is not a high end set up, but it served the purpose of this review. In review:Build quality âThe first thing you will notice it is a tank. Large and heavy, exactly what you want in a turntable. Heft adds stability to device that can needs precision for performance. I have another turntable that ways about 15 lbs. â the SL-1210G weighs in about 40lbs. When you start looking closer at the unit, you will fine finished metal ( I believe aluminum ) throughout. Everything is machined to perfection with not a flaw in site. The platter itself is layers of metal with a high-quality sound absorbing rubber. Every attention to detail is there down to the heavy weight rubberized feet that minimize vibration transfer. It is simply the best built audio device I have ever seen.Setup âFirst rule of buying a turntable that costs as much as a small used car is to read the manual. I ignored that rule, unboxed the unit and started to set it up. After about two minutes of looking things over, I realized I was way over my head and could screw something up. There are adjustments you have to do for stylus pressure, arm height adjustment, anti-skating â all things that I would not have put a lot of though in. What I thought was going to take me 20 minutes turned into a little over an hour. As noted, you will have to provide a cartridge.Performance âI first started with an old cartridge from my existing turntable. After setting the SL-1210G up, the sound was okay but not performing as expected. Knowing that it either had to be the cheap cables I used or the cartridge itself. As a result, I ordered a new cartridge and set it up again. Perfection. Not a hiss or pop, everything sounded great. The difference was striking and I only used a relatively inexpensive cartridge. I know audiophiles will look to put in cartridges that are half the price of the SL-1210G but the sound was stunning in the set up I had. A testament to the quality of this unit.In conclusion, I cannot imagine anything better on the market. The Technics SL-1210G is simply flawless and I really cannot see any area for improvement. As you use it, you start to notice the little things like the start/stop function, the controls while playing etc Every possible attention to detail is there. I think the main reason for that is that this is not a new design, it is a refinement of a designs from over the decades. If you can afford it, this is the best you can get.
| Warranty Period | 1 year |
| Turntable Speeds | 33 1/3 RPM; 45 RPM; 78 RPM |
| Adjust Range | ±8 %; ±16 % |
| Starting Torque | 3.3 kg-cm |
| Build-up Characteristics | 0.7 s. from Standstill to 33-1/3 rpm |
Technics Sl-1200g-k Black Direct Drive Turntable Grand Class Record
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Technics [sl-1200gae-k] Black Direct Drive Turntable 50th Anniversary
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Technics Sl-1200gae-k Black Turntable 50th Anniversary From Japan
Delivery $171.15
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable
Free delivery between 28 Juneâââ5 July
TECHNICS SL1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable
Free delivery between 26 Juneâââ6 July
The Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is an extremely well built piece of modern technology. The first aspect that I noticed about it was how heavy it was taking it out of the box. It is just as heavy, if not heavier, than my Marantz amplifier that I used to connect it with. The assembly of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is a tedious task and requires assembly in a specific order of detail. After I finished assembling my Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, I was able to listen to my old 45 singles and 33 albums. With the modern technology of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, my old records were able to sound studio quality. I can make ... MoreThe Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is an extremely well built piece of modern technology. The first aspect that I noticed about it was how heavy it was taking it out of the box. It is just as heavy, if not heavier, than my Marantz amplifier that I used to connect it with. The assembly of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is a tedious task and requires assembly in a specific order of detail. After I finished assembling my Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, I was able to listen to my old 45 singles and 33 albums. With the modern technology of the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable, my old records were able to sound studio quality. I can make several adjustments to affect the quality of sound being picked up from the stylus. Adjustments can be made for horizontal balance, stylus pressure, anti-skating, tone arm height, armlift height, and turntable start up and brake speed. Controlling the pitch of my music is also possible with the Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable to speed up or slow down slightly the music to its perfect studio quality. The Panasonic Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable is truly the best turntable I have ever listened to vinyl recordings on.
The Technics SL-1210G Grand Class is beautiful. Every piece looks like it was made with care. Yet it feels like it's built like a tank. It is very heavy coming in at over 25lbs. Everything is very sturdy with a rigid vibration dampening platter. I tried to do some light jumping around and didn't get anything to transfer to the playback. The tone arm has a very nice feel to it especially after it was balanced. The whole player is very smooth with the direct drive motor. It is really a work of art.There is some slight assembly to attach the heavy platter and then the dust cover. A big annoyance is that this player does not come with a phono cartridge. With all of the marketing about how amazing this thing is supposed to sound and perform I would of thought that ... MoreThe Technics SL-1210G Grand Class is beautiful. Every piece looks like it was made with care. Yet it feels like it's built like a tank. It is very heavy coming in at over 25lbs. Everything is very sturdy with a rigid vibration dampening platter. I tried to do some light jumping around and didn't get anything to transfer to the playback. The tone arm has a very nice feel to it especially after it was balanced. The whole player is very smooth with the direct drive motor. It is really a work of art.There is some slight assembly to attach the heavy platter and then the dust cover. A big annoyance is that this player does not come with a phono cartridge. With all of the marketing about how amazing this thing is supposed to sound and perform I would of thought that they'd guarantee the satisfaction by providing a quality phono cartridge. Once I got a cartridge there was a bit of careful playing around to get everything balanced and then proper track pressure set. I don't think much of that is the vinyl player's fault, just the care that's needed to ensure proper installation.As for the sound of the player I feel like it's hard to know if I'm reviewing the player itself or the phono cartridge I bought separately. So for transparency, I bought the Audio-Technica VM540ML which is a solid choice with phono cartridges. As I had mentioned, to test more the player itself I tried to bump things and get some vibrations going. The sound stayed crystal clear. I was very impressed with this cartridge/player combo. I have a few other players and this one very much takes the cake. I also have a wood floor structure so it is prone to a lot of movement. I played classic rock, pop, and metal music and it all sounded clear, dynamic, and balanced.I think Technics produced something very high end. I imagine that this player will have a very long life with all the quality parts. This seems like it's for some one who is a big audiophile and into having a hi-fi system. I would not recommend this for someone just getting into vinyl.
I am not even sure what to say about Technics SL-1210G other than ridiculous. Ridiculously high quality, ridiculous price, ridiculous engineering, ridiculous performance, ridiculous precision. Everyone of those except the price is ridiculous in a good way. The SL-1210G does not have any flaws other than it may be too much of a machine for most people. However, if you are reading this, you are Technics audiophile target customer. My test set up was two Klipsch powered reference speakers (you do not need an amp) and Audio Technica VM95 cartridge. I had a better cartridge, but it was over 10 years old (more on that later.) I know this is not a high end set up, but it served the purpose of this review. In review:Build quality âThe first thing you will notice it is a ... MoreI am not even sure what to say about Technics SL-1210G other than ridiculous. Ridiculously high quality, ridiculous price, ridiculous engineering, ridiculous performance, ridiculous precision. Everyone of those except the price is ridiculous in a good way. The SL-1210G does not have any flaws other than it may be too much of a machine for most people. However, if you are reading this, you are Technics audiophile target customer. My test set up was two Klipsch powered reference speakers (you do not need an amp) and Audio Technica VM95 cartridge. I had a better cartridge, but it was over 10 years old (more on that later.) I know this is not a high end set up, but it served the purpose of this review. In review:Build quality âThe first thing you will notice it is a tank. Large and heavy, exactly what you want in a turntable. Heft adds stability to device that can needs precision for performance. I have another turntable that ways about 15 lbs. â the SL-1210G weighs in about 40lbs. When you start looking closer at the unit, you will fine finished metal ( I believe aluminum ) throughout. Everything is machined to perfection with not a flaw in site. The platter itself is layers of metal with a high-quality sound absorbing rubber. Every attention to detail is there down to the heavy weight rubberized feet that minimize vibration transfer. It is simply the best built audio device I have ever seen.Setup âFirst rule of buying a turntable that costs as much as a small used car is to read the manual. I ignored that rule, unboxed the unit and started to set it up. After about two minutes of looking things over, I realized I was way over my head and could screw something up. There are adjustments you have to do for stylus pressure, arm height adjustment, anti-skating â all things that I would not have put a lot of though in. What I thought was going to take me 20 minutes turned into a little over an hour. As noted, you will have to provide a cartridge.Performance âI first started with an old cartridge from my existing turntable. After setting the SL-1210G up, the sound was okay but not performing as expected. Knowing that it either had to be the cheap cables I used or the cartridge itself. As a result, I ordered a new cartridge and set it up again. Perfection. Not a hiss or pop, everything sounded great. The difference was striking and I only used a relatively inexpensive cartridge. I know audiophiles will look to put in cartridges that are half the price of the SL-1210G but the sound was stunning in the set up I had. A testament to the quality of this unit.In conclusion, I cannot imagine anything better on the market. The Technics SL-1210G is simply flawless and I really cannot see any area for improvement. As you use it, you start to notice the little things like the start/stop function, the controls while playing etc Every possible attention to detail is there. I think the main reason for that is that this is not a new design, it is a refinement of a designs from over the decades. If you can afford it, this is the best you can get.
The Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable has been great!This is coming from a novice music lover. I had been looking for a good turntable to pruchase, and a few of my friends had recommended me to look at the Technics line. At first I was very skeptical. There are so many other turntables for a lot less money. I did more research, and came to the conclusion that you typically get what you pay for when it comes to record palyers.I went ahead and got this one. I did nee some assistance setting it up. I just Youtubed a ton of videos about turntables, and also constulted some peopel I know that already had a turntable. I found out i needed a phono cartridge as well. So i went and purchased a decent one. Once that was installed correctly, I went and ... MoreThe Technics SL-1210G Grand Class Direct Drive Turntable has been great!This is coming from a novice music lover. I had been looking for a good turntable to pruchase, and a few of my friends had recommended me to look at the Technics line. At first I was very skeptical. There are so many other turntables for a lot less money. I did more research, and came to the conclusion that you typically get what you pay for when it comes to record palyers.I went ahead and got this one. I did nee some assistance setting it up. I just Youtubed a ton of videos about turntables, and also constulted some peopel I know that already had a turntable. I found out i needed a phono cartridge as well. So i went and purchased a decent one. Once that was installed correctly, I went and grabbed a few vinyls I had in a box.Once I set one on the platter, and started it up, my ears were amazed! It had been so long since I heard a vinyl. The sound was so crisp and clear, with no distortion. I had it playing in my garage, paired with some decent bookshelf speakers and an amplifier. The SL-1210G definitely deserved the Grand Class claim.
I have owned 4 turntables in my lifetime and will have to say this one is 100% the best one I've owned to date. You can tell from the materials used, weight of, and attention to detail that this was designed to be a leader in quality. It made my vinyls a highlight of my collection. I can't emphasize the weight enough. The weight of everything allows for better stability, more rigid-weighted arms for better sound, the phono terminals appear to be gold plated and appear to conduct really well. I have literally zero complaints about this turntable in terms of quality or making your vinyls sound good. Additionally, I have a lot of other people in my life that would also identify as audiophiles and nothing quite sets the stage for a conversation like this turntable. The ... MoreI have owned 4 turntables in my lifetime and will have to say this one is 100% the best one I've owned to date. You can tell from the materials used, weight of, and attention to detail that this was designed to be a leader in quality. It made my vinyls a highlight of my collection. I can't emphasize the weight enough. The weight of everything allows for better stability, more rigid-weighted arms for better sound, the phono terminals appear to be gold plated and appear to conduct really well. I have literally zero complaints about this turntable in terms of quality or making your vinyls sound good. Additionally, I have a lot of other people in my life that would also identify as audiophiles and nothing quite sets the stage for a conversation like this turntable. The design itself is relatively conservative and refined. The vibration reduction appears to work wonders as well. The vibration seems to be reduced from the heft, use of dampeners, and super clean motor. For any audio enthusiast or person using one of these for income, I would recommend nothing more than this.
My dad used to be a huge fan of music and had a good taste for audio equipments. Every time we were shopping for Amps or Turntables he used to tell me that a way to start evaluating an amplifier was "the heavier the better". And he was right at some point. On Amplifiers, big and heavy magnet transformer and big capacitors that would make the unit more expensive or heavier than others, however these conditions will guarantee a good performance. Nowadays that reasoning would change with the new design of the power supplies, but, OMG, this Technics Turntable is the heaviest that I have experienced so far. And that is a clear indication that the designer engineers has spared no one single detail to get a really high quality product, which definitely has changed the way ... MoreMy dad used to be a huge fan of music and had a good taste for audio equipments. Every time we were shopping for Amps or Turntables he used to tell me that a way to start evaluating an amplifier was "the heavier the better". And he was right at some point. On Amplifiers, big and heavy magnet transformer and big capacitors that would make the unit more expensive or heavier than others, however these conditions will guarantee a good performance. Nowadays that reasoning would change with the new design of the power supplies, but, OMG, this Technics Turntable is the heaviest that I have experienced so far. And that is a clear indication that the designer engineers has spared no one single detail to get a really high quality product, which definitely has changed the way I have appreciate music from vinyls until today.To be honest, this is my dream turntable that I have been waiting for. The unit doesnât come with Cartridge or stylus, and obviously will need a Phono preamp. I had ordered a Ortophon 2M cartridge, and a Grado Silver3, the first one I am plaining to use for the day by day use and the Grado for recordings and special events. I am excited waiting for those to arrive. But for now, in this case, I have used the old school and never disappointing Shure M91ED, with a brand new stylus. I also tested the unit with the Audio Technica 440. However I was able to get the full performance that the Shure cartridge and its stylus can offer with this turntable. The Shure was famous for its punchy sound vibrant on the high notes, an excellent choice for Rock music, but it is very sensitive to the tracking force and antiskating, and if the turntable is a not performing well from the star to the end while playing the vinyl, it may be suffering from distortion. And this Turntable performed flawlessly!For the amp, I used the Yamaha DSP-A1000, with Yamaha Floorstanding Speakers and Yamaha Subwoofer which is an excellent old school amplifier and it is as heavy as this turntable. I also tried the separate preamp Fluance PA10 that I bought time ago while looking to upgrade my Amp. I also have a big Sony Soundbar, however, if you really want to listen high quality music, you have to remember that vinyls are recorded in Stereo, so you need an stereo amp (L and R) an preamp to really hear the music the way it was conceived.So, if you have a Ferrari, you cannot go cheap on the tires, or low octane gasoline, you want to reach the best performance you can get.Both, Yamaha with its own preamp and Fluance preamp performed great with this turntable. I think they will be wasted in any other one, which I found interesting because I was always able to find little flaws like distortion or vibration so it is definitely the turntable that make it sound great, no distortion of any kind. For the vinyls, and this is the part that I really want to test, I listened several 4 phase LPs Because the way these LPs were recorded, any flaw on the turntable or Stylus will be very noticeable, and the turntable passed all of them. I played my Beatles favorite Rubber Soul Stereo USA version, and David Bowieâs The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, and both sounded great. Then I played Mirage by Fleetwood Mac and the voice of Stevie Nicks sounded so clear and well defined, amazing. And finally Herbert von Karajan Beethoven 5th symphony and Mozart 25th. Wonderful!The setup is easy, if you are familiar with turntables you just need to follow the instructions of the Ownerâs Manual. It comes with a high quality audio phono cable which I strongly recommend to use, the phono earth cable, the head shell, power cable, plate, mat and 1 main balance weight and 2 auxiliary weights. These 2 I didnât need to use, however most likely when the Grado Cartridge arrive, I may need them, since Grado cartridge are heavy.So after you assemble the plate and its screws, your next step is a sensitive part, attaching the cartridge to the head shell. Technics has included an overhang gauge, that will let you adjust the position of the cartridge based on the distance of the stylus, on the head shell, be patient and careful while doing this so you donât want to damage the stylus. This calibration part is important because it will guarantee a uniform performance response while playing a whole vinyl. If this is not well done, you will have distortion, vibrations or skips. I also used a Alignment Protractor cart, to make sure the cartridge alignment and calibration was right. This can be found and print from the internet.Then you attach the balance weight. Look for the specs of the Stylus you are using to apply the correct Tracking force, for the Shure I am using for example it is 1.25, but I prefer 1, and the same for the Antiskating. The Audio Technica is around 2.5, keep in mind this because the better you setup this unit you will get excellent sound performance, and you will ended up enjoying the vinyls as I am right now.And that is it. The turntable is ready to roll!Now, since is a high end unit, it includes many other manual adjustments, like the height of the arm, or the turntable start up and brake speed that are located in 3 tiny screws below the plate. I think probably the with Grado Cartridge will require some arm height calibration. As for the rest, I recommend leave it with the default setting, it works just fine. However this adjustments are available.This high end Turntable doesnât have the automatic or semiautomatic start/Stop, which is common on low end commercial turntables. This feature usually takes power from the main motor, whish will affect the performance creating a bias or recess of power. So, in this case, you turn on the unit, use the cue lever to move the arm to the vinyl, and when the play finish, lift the cue lever and return the arm to the arm rest.The pitch control is a great tool, the slide pith has 2 options, +-8 or +-16 in percentage and you select your choice by pressing the 2x botton the strobe light looks really fancy. And then you have the stylus light switch, that will let you see the condition of the stylus, if it requires to be clean it, beside the fact that is another cool feature.The direct drive motor will always adjust the speed at 33 1/3 no matter the weight of the vinyl, it is digitally adjusted and will guarantee the right speed of the song, and direct drive is always the technology to go.This turntable is solid, well designed, every single screw feels high quality, either the tone arm (magnesium alloy) or the whole chassis (brass aluminum). Everything tells me how reliable is this unit, the high quality design prevents to get distortion, absorbs the vibration, and doesnât allot high frequencies interfering.Vinyls have been always my favorite way of music source, you can enjoy the art design, read the lyrics, and I donât like the 5.1 or 7.1 for music, since the original source is stereo and the natural way to listen. For example, The Beatles Albums, Abbey Road, or Revolver, are more enjoyable, to listen the music the way it was recorded, and this turntable performs amazingly.I have had several turntables, but this one beats all of them!
If youâre unfamiliar with the Technics brand this turntable probably shouldnât be something to look at. However, if you know the Technics brand (under the Panasonic brand), then you know why youâre here.One look at the 1210G and youâll see what I mean. Itâs a work of art, and the turntable feels extremely sturdy and solid; clocking in at over 40lbs, this makes sense. The craftsmanship here cannot be understated: overall, the SL-1210G features numerous items to deliver the purest sound on vinyl around. This turntable is easy to see as being engineered from the ground-up to deliver on that front.Unboxing the 1210G was straightforward, and since the tone arm is factory-installed and already factory-balanced (a clever âbalancedâ sticker is there for you to see upon ... MoreIf youâre unfamiliar with the Technics brand this turntable probably shouldnât be something to look at. However, if you know the Technics brand (under the Panasonic brand), then you know why youâre here.One look at the 1210G and youâll see what I mean. Itâs a work of art, and the turntable feels extremely sturdy and solid; clocking in at over 40lbs, this makes sense. The craftsmanship here cannot be understated: overall, the SL-1210G features numerous items to deliver the purest sound on vinyl around. This turntable is easy to see as being engineered from the ground-up to deliver on that front.Unboxing the 1210G was straightforward, and since the tone arm is factory-installed and already factory-balanced (a clever âbalancedâ sticker is there for you to see upon opening), it was easy enough to get things dialed in.The Grand Class version is just about the pinnacle of turntable design, which should be expected from Technics.Speaking of the pinnacle, delivering a precise sound with as little interference from the turntable as possible seems to have been Technics' mission. Its brass and aluminum platter features a reinforced three-layer structure with anti-resonance rubber backing, which is also paired with Technicsâ three-layer plinth that is found in the marquee 1200MK turntable, making sure you donât have to worry about vibrations.The 1210G features an added top layer for looks and extra rigidity, however.The tonearm uses a gimbal technology paired with unique precision bearings create an incredibly stable tonearm. The 1210Gâs signature coreless direct drive motor is renowned across the industry and is featured here as well.Now that weâve gone through the components, how does it deliver on the promise of uncompromised sound quality?Exactly how you would expect.For the cartridge I used an Ortofon 2M Bronze; speakers are KEF LS50âs; amplifier is a Yamaha A-S801. Overall, I found everything simply sounded tighter, and there was far less noise hum and interference. Exactly what I wanted, and expected, from this offering.To be honest, the only issue I have with the SL-1210G is that it doesnât include a cartridge within the package. Sure, you could argue that spending this much on a turntable would mean that that person has already found their preferred cartridge of choice, but even still, it is a bit of a letdown.This all said I expect my 1210 to last me 50+ years of extremely profound listening, delivering smiles the entire time I have it going.
The first thing you notice as you're unpacking this turntable is the the sheer mass and weight of everything, followed by the quality of materials used. It's a solid unit that is almost a work of engineering art. Everything in the packaging comes well protected and assembling the unit is simple and straightforward, regardless if it's your first high quality turntable or not.What's most important though is the sound that it produces, and to get a better feel for how good that sound is, I did a bit of a comparison test. First up was against a high quality digital stream, basically how majority of people hear their music. As expected, this wasn't much of a contest. This turntable just blows that away to the point it was almost painful to even listen to the streamed ... MoreThe first thing you notice as you're unpacking this turntable is the the sheer mass and weight of everything, followed by the quality of materials used. It's a solid unit that is almost a work of engineering art. Everything in the packaging comes well protected and assembling the unit is simple and straightforward, regardless if it's your first high quality turntable or not.What's most important though is the sound that it produces, and to get a better feel for how good that sound is, I did a bit of a comparison test. First up was against a high quality digital stream, basically how majority of people hear their music. As expected, this wasn't much of a contest. This turntable just blows that away to the point it was almost painful to even listen to the streamed music.Next up I brought out my budget turntable, the kind that's just plug and play. Again, this was no contest. Although we now have that vinyl sound, it's just no comparison to what even a decent quality turntable can put out.That takes us to my final comparison, this Technics SL-1210G against a decent quality, mid-range turntable. Since we're now dealing with 2 true turntables, I was able to get a good comparison by using the same speaker setup, amplifier, and even cartridge, making the turntables themselves the only variable. While this was a much closer competition in sound quality, this Technics turntable still easily won out. What I noticed the most about the sound this Technics produced which the other didn't do as well at is the fullness and depth of the music along with the clarity. It's not so much that the other turntable was bad, but how much better the Technics did in all the little things. I could more easily hear all of the smallest details of all the instruments and vocals. As I leaned back and closed my eyes it honestly almost felt as though I was in the studio. It was a truly pleasing experience.The small details is the other thing that sets this turntable apart. Not just in the parts that help create the sound, but also in its operation and how smooth it all is. For example how smooth the platter starts and stops. There's absolutely no jerkiness, no sudden stops, no overly hard braking, and it doesn't bounce backwards once it does come to a stop. Same goes for the tone-arm, just slow and smooth movements, again no jerkiness at all and no fear of it hurting your stylus or vinyl. Even the lid is smooth and stays in almost any position you put it in. And when it's too low to stay in position, it slowly lowers itself instead of just dropping down.That's what you get with this Technics unit, precise controlled movements and operation. From the speed controls and the direct drive motor, through the platter and arm all the way to the lid, which by the way is extremely easy to remove.One of the ways all of this precise, smooth operation and amazing sound can happen is the solid construction using quality heavy materials. Not only does it allow everything to work the way it does, it also helps minimize, and practically eliminate, any vibrations. That part is key to good consistent sound. As the record was playing I was checking all around the turntable and felt no vibration at all anywhere. This attention to quality also extends to the thickness of the plating on the connections, leaving you with the confidence that this unit will last a very long time.All that said, things aren't perfect. I was honestly surprised to find a fairly noticeable defect, at least with the unit I received. On the front of the unit along the edge where the top case meets the lower case, there are a couple wavy spots that stick out a little on the lower portion. I've added a picture with this review showing these spots. While they have no effect on the operation or sound produced from the unit, it's not something I'd expect to see when there's so much attention to detail everywhere else on such a high-end and high-priced turntable.That one cosmetic defect, however, is really the only negative I could find. This unit is obviously on the higher end of the price range, but is still definitely worth the cost, especially for audiophiles with a nice vinyl collection. Even if you don't consider yourself an audiophile, if you're someone who gets enjoyment from music, or someone who likes to sit back and relax while taking in the sounds of music, then won't regret making this type of investment.
The last paragraph details my setup, if interested.Novice to experienced audiophile, you cannot go wrong with this. If you are a beginner, [1] all of the setup is typical for a turntable and is necessary, and [2] re-read directions before wiring/installing the cartridge, especially if you paid a lot for it. Invest in a $17 scale to adjust the needle force.The Technics SL-1210G is beautifully and thoughtfully constructed, and is a piece of art in and of itself. Everything is heavy and well-constructed. Everything, including the On/Off button and tonearm balance, is textured and ergonomic, which elevates the experience. Itâs amazing. Everything sounds warm and bright, like an old tube-amplifier.Music permeates every part of my life; I use it to get pumped up and ... MoreThe last paragraph details my setup, if interested.Novice to experienced audiophile, you cannot go wrong with this. If you are a beginner, [1] all of the setup is typical for a turntable and is necessary, and [2] re-read directions before wiring/installing the cartridge, especially if you paid a lot for it. Invest in a $17 scale to adjust the needle force.The Technics SL-1210G is beautifully and thoughtfully constructed, and is a piece of art in and of itself. Everything is heavy and well-constructed. Everything, including the On/Off button and tonearm balance, is textured and ergonomic, which elevates the experience. Itâs amazing. Everything sounds warm and bright, like an old tube-amplifier.Music permeates every part of my life; I use it to get pumped up and to relax, to celebrate and to mourn, and for catharsis. Itâs nostalgic to a degree, and Iâve always bought the music I grew up on; oldies from the 60âs, 70âs classic rock, rock, and later jazz and blues. Iâve used turntables in the past that were okay, but Iâve wanted a âreal goodâ turntable for at least two decades. If I would have known what I was missing, I would have had something like this caliber a long time ago. I listened to âThe Great Gig In the Skyâ (Pink Floyd) and âGold Dust Womanâ (Fleetwood Mac), among many songs, and heard background sounds that Iâve never heard prior, even from CD and lossless audio files.The Technics SL-1210G has an extremely solid plinth (base) with firm, adjustable vibration-dampening feet. At ~35 pounds though, the tank-like plinth is a bit overkill, in conjunction with a heavy brass and aluminum platter. Iâm a big guy and I played ball with my dog while listening to records, with no skipping.This isnât, and can never truly be, a plug-n-play type of device. You need to connect the cartridge to the headcase and adjust length, adjust and balance the tonearm, adjust the height of the tonearm assembly potentially, adjust the x, and adjust the anti-skate. Just like any other turntable. The Ownerâs Manual is written extremely well, has well-thought out / detailed illustrations, and is correctly written. The Ownerâs Manual came as a paper copy in the box, which was wonderful.The only huge Con I have, to get it out of the way, is that the Technics SL-1210G didnât come with some sort of phonograph cartridge. Cartridges range in price from ~$30 to over $10k (yes, you read that correctly). It is all about stylus construction which many times dictates the price point. A true audiophile will have their preferences for brand / type of stylus, which Iâm assuming is the reason why the consumer can decide for themselves what is best. But in doing so, Technics has encouraged somebody to use a $30 stylus; Iâm not a snob, but a $30 stylus will never be reasonably capable of showcasing the capabilities of this piece of equipment. As a good compromise, Iâd highly recommend adding a paper or something about the types of stylus, shapes, construction, and help choosing a stylus.Assuming due to the motor control technology, I didnât have to âofficiallyâ adjust the pitch control. I only did it for personal amusement, to see what Janis Joplin would sound like if she inhaled helium before singing.I used an Ortofon 2M Bronze stylus (moving magnet; nude fine line diamond) on the Technics SL-1210G. It was connected to a Marantz NR1711 receiver with built-in âPhonoâ hookup (with pre-amp) and Hi-Fi Fluance bookshelf speakers.
leg·end·ar·yADJECTIVEfabled · heroic · ancient · traditional · fairy-tale · storybook · romantic · mythical · mythological · famous · celebrated · famed · renowned · acclaimed · illustrious · esteemed · honored · exalted · lauded · lionized · vaunted · venerable · notable · noted · well known · popular · prominent · distinguished · great · eminent · preeminent · outstanding · revered · glorious · remembered · immortal · unforgettableMy personal thoughts?Oh·My·GodThis turntable (and the rest of the SL-family lineage) is that good. There is a model at just about every price point from entry level hobbyist right on up to comical audiophile snobbery cut from the pages of High Fidelity. Anything beyond that is typically boutique offerings that are far from ... Moreleg·end·ar·yADJECTIVEfabled · heroic · ancient · traditional · fairy-tale · storybook · romantic · mythical · mythological · famous · celebrated · famed · renowned · acclaimed · illustrious · esteemed · honored · exalted · lauded · lionized · vaunted · venerable · notable · noted · well known · popular · prominent · distinguished · great · eminent · preeminent · outstanding · revered · glorious · remembered · immortal · unforgettableMy personal thoughts?Oh·My·GodThis turntable (and the rest of the SL-family lineage) is that good. There is a model at just about every price point from entry level hobbyist right on up to comical audiophile snobbery cut from the pages of High Fidelity. Anything beyond that is typically boutique offerings that are far from household names and even further from what is discernable to the human ear. When it comes to an "every day, run of the mill" high quality turntable, Technics has been doing it better for longer than others. They also have the track record to prove it.A six-year gap (2010-2016) aside, they have been making the SL direct drive line since 1972. Parent company Panasonic has made sure to not try and reinvent the wheel that Technics (Matsushita Electric) put in motion, they have simply ensured it stays as round as possible and continues in said motion.I mention this to show not only can you find a model for your wallet, but also that this isn't a start-up, Kickstarter funded, or some other newer offering with a very short period of development and tech behind them. Sure, those brands occasionally have something new to bring to the table. And from a design perspective, there have been some great innovations, but there is something about a timeless, classic design and approach that when done well is always appreciated and welcome at the knights of the roundtable that is enjoying a high quality auditory listening experience.Prior to the 1210G/GR, the line was known as the 1200 series and it followed a "MKx" (with the x representing the generation of the build; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and finally 6) nomenclature. During this time Technics used the 1210 to designate an alternative color (gloss black, matte black, black with silver specks, so on and so forth).Along the way, each generation added new features and innovations to the mix. Again, this is worth noting because more than a few of these were things that Technics created themselves and others are merely mimicking. This brand is the originator of a number of improvements, namely the direct-drive motor system. What you have with the SL-1210 GR is all the best attributes from those MK1-6 offerings as well as a number of improvements in this latest "Grand Class" line and MK7 models.The SL-1210G (and 1210GR) are just that. The G provides you with a classic silver finish that has been around since the 1972 introductory model year. The GR brings a matte black finish to market that, in my opinion, is the cleaner, more sophisticated looking of the two offerings. It is also the one I will be reviewing and providing photos of.Upon opening the box, you are greeted by a beautiful brass platter. This by itself is nearly as heavy as the entire other turntable I have in my office at home. Everything else short of a cartridge and a pre-amp is present in the box for you to get going. You will find all documents, set screws for the platter, screws for the headstock and your cartridge of choice, as well as some RCA cables, a power cord, a cartridge spacer, grounding cable and the body itself.And let me tell you, what a body. This thing is HEAVY. My other turntable is ~17 lbs., the SL-1210 is approaching 40lbs. And while I have listened to some extremely high-end systems that are ~100-150lbs, there is a certain threshold where all that extra weight really isn't going to do much aside from making it very difficult to move whenever that time comes.Having said that, weight is a very good thing when it comes to sound. It keeps vibrations at bay and resonance where it needs to be and out of where it doesn't need to be (via dampening). I could play an album on my other turntable and set my hand down on the counter as far as 10 feet away and if I do it firmly enough not only might the record skip, but you could hear and audible thump that would travel all the way through the surface to the speaker and come out as an audible noise.When trying the exact same thing after getting the 1210 all set up, I could not get the same noise to emit from the speakers, or the album to even skip. Sure, if I slammed my hand down 6 inches from the turntable it would likely do it, but I was more so going for a real-world "setting a glass down on a coaster on the same surface as the player and what was that? Why am I hearing this action over here out of my speakers?" That's how good the dampening is on this thing, simply amazing.Not going into any specifics as to cartridge, stylus, speakers, pre-amp, etc etc (as this review is not about those things) I will say that regardless of what cartridge I used, which speakers I ran it to, or what pre-amp I powered it with, the SL-1210GR sounded amazingly beautiful. Some carts perform better with particular genres of music, so keep that in mind.This is also why you will notice in some of my photos there is a silver headstock, as that is my backup (the headstock that ships with the unit is black). Speaking of headstocks, I love that you have the quick-change option on these as you can purchase additional headstocks, load a cartridge on it (be sure to follow the manual for proper setup) and completely alter your sound profile in a couple seconds.Also found in the manual are how to setup and balance your tonearm, adjusting the turntable start/stop speed, armlift height, and how to update the firmware, to name a few. There are just so many things you can adjust to suit your style and accommodate the cartridge of your choice, not to mention tonearm as I know a lot of people have a personal preference in that regard, as well.The quality of the materials used, the improved dual-motor direct drive system which provides more consistent speed/torque performance, and the other tech in this turntable warrant the price. Easy recommendation if you are in any way serious about your listening experience.
| Warranty Period | 1 year |
| Turntable Speeds | 33 1/3 RPM; 45 RPM; 78 RPM |
| Adjust Range | ±8 %; ±16 % |
| Starting Torque | 3.3 kg-cm |
| Build-up Characteristics | 0.7 s. from Standstill to 33-1/3 rpm |
