Your rig sure sounds great, dude! Congrats! Maybe another pickup, but otherwise you're good to play...! Now a little about its history. 70s turntables are special in the story of hi-fi. They were the result of a long line of gradual improvements, and thos of this era (circa 1975-1977) represent the absolute pinnacle. Home hi-fi went viral and all the manufacturers sought to out do one another, no expenses spared. This little brother of the 1200 "DJ-model" is state of the art, almost. The MarkII has some other light mechanism but yours is pretty close to perfection for my money. Sure you can waste more money, but it's a game of seriously diminishing returns. I mean speed of light diminishing. 😜
I'm currently looking to pick up a 1500 that's been well maintained and serviced. It's the build quality and looks that sell for me. It's a simple deck and easy to work on if need be
Here is a SL-1500 that I restored and sold. Good tables but a little more plasticky than the SL-1300 I currently restored and kept for myself: ua-cam.com/video/T-i13AWITOM/v-deo.htmlsi=7zBw_AukB8ZP6_x7 (Part One is on my Channel)
It sounds great, i have bought an SL-1400 MK2 with a broken arm lift for 140 euros (found a 3D printed piece for 20EU including shiping from germany),and i have fixed it and it sounds great too, these "puppies" are build like tanks.
They sure are build well. My son found a Technics SL D3 in the trash. No power and rca cords plus a bended stylus. Brought it back to life and it's still running fine.
I fixed mine, it wasn´t that dificult, really easy if you know how to solder(you have to dimantel the hole thing), but it´s working really well, no issues at all, i ollow all your TT videos, great job with those Thorens you have, i´m seeking for a TD 160 with a good price,
Man that truly sounds fantastic! I’m diving headfirst into the vinyl world and have been for a year or so now. Would love to get my hands on a vintage turntable such as this. Do you refurb and sell these? I’d be I interested in buying. Sounds so good over the phone I can only imagine in person! Nicely done!!
love it - noticed that you have a dbx compander unit in your rack. do you have many LP's that are encoded for those? I just bought my first unit and, haven't even plugged it in as I don't have any discs to play with it.
It is a dbx 224 - yes it can decode the rare dbx encoded LPs but it's main purpose is mainly as a dbx noise reduction unit for my cassette decks. The 224 features simultaneous encode/decode so will work with 3 head cassette decks while monitoring a recording in real time.☺️
Nice review. I have the same TT. Couple of questions and comments. Why did you change the platter mat? I agree the original slide mount head shell is a pain and not very user friendly. Where did you get the head shell? When you restored it, did you upgrade the interconnects? If so, what did you use? Tri-flow Teflon lubricant works great to lube the spindle. Novus Industries makes a great plastic polish.
I didn't change the platter mat. That was just a custom mat I had kicking around as an option. Amazon for headshell (eBay as well prices are better). Yes to changing rca connectors when needed. I use Singer sewing machine oil. Just as good. I am a Hydrocarbon Engineering Technologist by education. Cleaning plexiglass, this is how I do it: ua-cam.com/video/xUie7zHIFpk/v-deo.htmlsi=P59bQefaro5rbPjW
@cmkilcullen8176 acrylic Mats are just plains silly like "special" wires. If you want to go that route, you will have to trial it yourself. If you hear a difference, you have magic ears...😉🤣
Your rig sure sounds great, dude! Congrats! Maybe another pickup, but otherwise you're good to play...! Now a little about its history. 70s turntables are special in the story of hi-fi. They were the result of a long line of gradual improvements, and thos of this era (circa 1975-1977) represent the absolute pinnacle. Home hi-fi went viral and all the manufacturers sought to out do one another, no expenses spared. This little brother of the 1200 "DJ-model" is state of the art, almost. The MarkII has some other light mechanism but yours is pretty close to perfection for my money. Sure you can waste more money, but it's a game of seriously diminishing returns. I mean speed of light diminishing. 😜
I'm currently looking to pick up a 1500 that's been well maintained and serviced. It's the build quality and looks that sell for me. It's a simple deck and easy to work on if need be
Here is a SL-1500 that I restored and sold. Good tables but a little more plasticky than the SL-1300 I currently restored and kept for myself:
ua-cam.com/video/T-i13AWITOM/v-deo.htmlsi=7zBw_AukB8ZP6_x7 (Part One is on my Channel)
“Aqua Marine” from Santana’s Marathon album.
It sounds great, i have bought an SL-1400 MK2 with a broken arm lift for 140 euros (found a 3D printed piece for 20EU including shiping from germany),and i have fixed it and it sounds great too, these "puppies" are build like tanks.
ua-cam.com/video/zpzMazmRPTw/v-deo.htmlsi=-HOtu0I6d-FwtyQX
They sure are build well. My son found a Technics SL D3 in the trash. No power and rca cords plus a bended stylus. Brought it back to life and it's still running fine.
I fixed mine, it wasn´t that dificult, really easy if you know how to solder(you have to dimantel the hole thing), but it´s working really well, no issues at all, i ollow all your TT videos, great job with those Thorens you have, i´m seeking for a TD 160 with a good price,
the part that i fixed is the auto return inside the tone arm not the arm rest
YEAH!
Man that truly sounds fantastic! I’m diving headfirst into the vinyl world and have been for a year or so now. Would love to get my hands on a vintage turntable such as this. Do you refurb and sell these? I’d be I interested in buying. Sounds so good over the phone I can only imagine in person! Nicely done!!
www.usedvictoria.com/home-audio/40483277
wHERE YOU LIVE AT?
"sounds just as good" and is built way better, just as they used to... As they used to make em.
Hi! which is the difference between Thorens in terms of sound? I have to buy one
Thanks
Polish the cover for the win!
Or DIY a new one like I did in this next video (you should have checked all my videos). 😉🤣
ua-cam.com/video/Ca8Rn7EnOEI/v-deo.htmlsi=l8F7nH35BSUiaG8T
love it - noticed that you have a dbx compander unit in your rack. do you have many LP's that are encoded for those? I just bought my first unit and, haven't even plugged it in as I don't have any discs to play with it.
It is a dbx 224 - yes it can decode the rare dbx encoded LPs but it's main purpose is mainly as a dbx noise reduction unit for my cassette decks. The 224 features simultaneous encode/decode so will work with 3 head cassette decks while monitoring a recording in real time.☺️
Nice review. I have the same TT. Couple of questions and comments.
Why did you change the platter mat?
I agree the original slide mount head shell is a pain and not very user friendly. Where did you get the head shell?
When you restored it, did you upgrade the interconnects? If so, what did you use?
Tri-flow Teflon lubricant works great to lube the spindle. Novus Industries makes a great plastic polish.
I didn't change the platter mat. That was just a custom mat I had kicking around as an option. Amazon for headshell (eBay as well prices are better). Yes to changing rca connectors when needed. I use Singer sewing machine oil. Just as good. I am a Hydrocarbon Engineering Technologist by education. Cleaning plexiglass, this is how I do it:
ua-cam.com/video/xUie7zHIFpk/v-deo.htmlsi=P59bQefaro5rbPjW
www.ebay.ca/itm/296162283192?itmmeta=01HWS6YTTYWEWX2QFHVVTFT18G&hash=item44f4a5ceb8:g:ZV0AAOSwdZtloeHZ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4H%2B8NR9a5WQzFFZ2KfUw%2Bv81PQE2CycZa1BNR9gLqycHLCGUzC5Hs6HebZ8XXMO8MaZLMLN32PXpuAjQtfdEov26ixA2Gq%2BIUZlgfmcKWI69FFiVDpmQH9iHnDi%2FHEwZvAF8KeoBAenyZhF%2BlUnBjzadUsWBrQwyIArhAgbmD8TJNAwqFf0nW4mkD35zPE1U4B%2FjOBk0cNwrrTlRlDRSZrVUz1toQ3zMN4oOKqOtd8aT9uByTpeSdZsdIJFlDs3FdcQUasN5K3edQXnp37llTtuPhytXy--WJkMrEF5tv5Rs%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8qt-6bmYw
How do these tables take platter acrylic matts?
@cmkilcullen8176 acrylic Mats are just plains silly like "special" wires. If you want to go that route, you will have to trial it yourself. If you hear a difference, you have magic ears...😉🤣
Acrylic mats are hype and that's it. The rubber platter mat does a better job damping feedback through the cartridge..Acrylic mats also cause static
Sounds holographic.
It really just sounds like music recorded on a super crappy smart phone mic😁
Rega decks pay £1000+ in some cases, then fork out extra £250 for power supply unit to make it run at correct speed..conjob
Apples and Oranges - a Rega turntable is a rubber band turntable. This is a direct drive. There are many Pros and Cons to each.