If you’ve been saving up for a direct-drive Technics turntable like the SL-1500C or perhaps the legendary, DJ-oriented SL-1200, you now have a more affordable option. Technics has introduced the $1,000 SL-100C, a new vinyl spinner based on the $1,200 SL-1500C, but with a few tweaks that drop the price by $200. You can find the SL-100C on technics.com or Amazon.com starting August 15th.
Like the SL-1500C, the SL-100C is aimed at the home hi-fi crowd rather than the DJ community, and its design reflects that intention. In fact, at first glance, the SL-1500C and SL-100C look almost identical, except for the tone arm – it’s black on the 1500C, while the 100C takes the silver finish from the silver version of the 1500C.
Technique
But look a little closer and you’ll see one of the areas where Technics has saved some money. Instead of the included Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge that the company supplies with the SL-1500C, the 100C is equipped with an Audio-Technica AT-VM95C cartridge. Both use moving magnet construction, but the Ortofon version uses an elliptical needle, while the Audio-Technica cart uses a conical needle. The Ortofon is more expensive, and some enthusiasts feel that the elliptical stylus produces better precision, with less distortion.
The good news is that the AT cartridge may prove more versatile than the Ortofon for people planning to upgrade later, as Audio-Technica offers several higher quality cartridges in the same family as the VM95C.
Technics also seems to have simplified the selection of output jacks on the back of the SL-100C’s cabinet. Unlike the SL-1200C, which is equipped with both phono and line outputs, the SL-100C only has a phono output, meaning you’ll need a phone preamplifier to use it, or a receiver/amplifier that has a dedicated phono input.
But aside from these two small changes, the SL-100C seems to satisfy the same vinyl itch as the SL-1500C — the two products share many identical components, including a coreless direct-drive motor with motor control, a solid bi-layer chassis, an S-shaped aluminum handle and by automatically lifting the lever that is activated at the end of the slot on the vinyl. This feature helps prevent unnecessary needle wear after completing each side of the LP, but can also be canceled if you decide you don’t want to use it.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn