THE LAST BUYThe Durability Standard
Technics Turntable, Premium Class HiFi Record Player with Coreless Direct, Stable Playback, Audiophile-Grade Cartridge and Auto-Lift Tonearm, Dustcover Included – SL-100C, Black (SL-100C-K)
Electronics

Technics Turntable, Premium Class HiFi Record Player with Coreless Direct, Stable Playback, Audiophile-Grade Cartridge and Auto-Lift Tonearm, Dustcover Included – SL-100C, Black (SL-100C-K)

Technics SL-1200mk2 Turntable

Forged
Forged
$1,299.99Typical: $300-1500 (used)Confidence: high
4.6(139 reviews)
Buy on Amazon$1,299.99

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About This Product

  • Accurately Reads Your Records: The high-sensitivity aluminum S-shape tonearm reads every signal stored in record grooves, for optimal tracking and sound
  • Audiophile-Grade Cartridge: A pre-installed Audio-Technica cartridge provides high fidelity with minimal setup; tonearm height adjusts easily within a range of 6 mm, enabling the use of other phono cartridges for easy upgrades
  • Auto-Lifter Reduces Wear on Records & Stylus: At the end of a record, the Auto Lifter raises the cartridge; the simple design doesn’t use motor power which eliminates electrical or vibrational impact to help preserve vinyl records from stylus wear
  • Functional and Beautiful: A vinyl player with a sleek, minimalist design and elegant, high-quality operation provide an excellent listening experience
  • Functional and Beautiful: A vinyl player with a sleek, minimalist design and elegant, high-quality operation provide an excellent listening experience
  • For over 60 years, Technics has led Japanese audio innovation—crafting DJ turntables and earbuds that deliver clear, emotionally rich sound with timeless precision.

Why It Lasts

Direct-drive quartz-locked motor eliminates the belt that's the primary failure point in belt-drive turntables. The motor is built into the platter itself — a large magnet over the spindle surrounds the coils, creating a drive system with essentially no power-transfer loss and no wear items. The die-cast aluminum chassis absorbs vibration and provides a stable base. The high-torque motor reaches 33 1/3 RPM from standstill in 0.7 seconds, which is why DJs have been beating on these in clubs since 1979 and they keep working. Produced continuously from 1979 to 2010 with over 3.5 million units made.

Known Weaknesses

The original RCA cables are hardwired and degrade over time — resoldering or replacing them is the most common maintenance job. The pitch control potentiometer gets scratchy after decades of use. The tonearm bearing can develop play in heavily used units. Finding a clean unit is harder every year as prices rise in the collector market. The integrated phono preamp is adequate but not audiophile-grade. The direct-drive motor introduces low-level electrical noise that belt-drive purists can detect.

Durability Breakdown

Warranty
3.5
Materials
9.0
Community
9.3
Brand Rep
9.2
Repairability
6.3

Specifications

Product Dimensions14.6 x 17.8 x 6.7 inches
Item Weight21.8 pounds

Data Source

View community discussion →

Quick Stats

Overall Score7.6/10
TierForged
BrandTechnics
CategoryElectronics
Price Range$300-1500 (used)
Confidencehigh
Data Points5/5
4.6(139 reviews)
Buy on Amazon$1,299.99

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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