Do not throw out your old turntable just yet. This model is premium to the core, with a studier build and features aimed at DJs and those who take their vinyl very seriously. Because of that, the turntable’s price has been hiked up to match, landing at $4,000, according to Pitchfork. Panasonic chief technical officer Tetsuya Itani has hinted that Panasonic will release a similar, more affordable model, but that has yet to be confirmed.
The SL-1200G is generally heavier and tougher than the SL-1200 models of old. A 10mm-thick panel of aluminum sits on top of the three-layer cabinet design constructed from aluminum, bulk moulding compound, and rubber, which was also used in the older SL-1200MK5. To eliminate the cogging problem — tiny vibrations from the motor and varying rotation speed — inherent in direct-drive systems, the SL-1200G features a new motor that does away with the iron core used in most motors.
Vibrations and motor noise are the bane of any turntable’s existence, and the SL-1200G uses microprocessor-powered “high-precision rotary positioning sensors” to decrease both of these. The turntable also uses a heavy-duty brass and die-cast aluminum platter, which features rubber along the bottom to smooth out vibrations.
While the SL-1200G is beginning to arrive in the U.S., it does not seem like it will be available in the typical big-box stores or online retailers. For a full list of places where the turntable will be available for sale, see the Where To Buy section of the Technics website.
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