Technics SL-1200: The World's Most Culturally Significant Turntable

The name Technics is revered among both audiophiles and DJs. For over 50 years, this Japanese brand has produced some truly iconic products, such as the culturally significant SL-1200 turntables.

The hi-fi brand was launched in 1965 by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and rose to international fame in 1970 with the introduction of the first-ever direct-drive turntable, the SP-10.

Engineer Shuichi Obata sought to remedy issues of conventional turntables such as slow response, speed fluctuation, and wear of rubber belts or wheels. The solution was a high-torque brushless motor that drove the platter directly using sophisticated solid-state circuitry.

Radio DJs quickly adopted the SP-10 thanks to its quick response and high-fidelity sound reproduction. The high torque was ideal for quick cueing of records.

The SL-1100 of 1971 and SL-1200 of 1972 brought this technology to a rugged and compact package that caught the eye of nightclub DJs.

Hip-Hop pioneers like DJ Kool Herc began experimenting with new methods of cuing and mixing records using a pair of Technics SLs and a mixer which led to the discovery of now iconic DJ techniques such as beat matching, scratching, and pitch bending. The SL-1200 was now being used as a musical instrument, and turntablism was born.

In 1979, Technics launched the SL-1200 MK2. Designed with DJs in mind, it featured quartz-locked speed control, extreme vibration damping, and the now iconic pitch slider. The MK2 went on to become the standard setup that all DJs either used or aspired to use.



Technics has continued to improve the SL-1200. The latest MK7 features an advanced coreless motor, improved pitch control, a sensitive S-shaped tonearm with high precision bearings, and an aluminium chassis with integrated damping; making it the ultimate turntable for many audiophiles and DJs alike.

In addition to their legendary turntables, Technics component hi-fi systems have been well regarded among audiophiles since the ‘70s. To this day Technics continues to adhere to its core values of blending high technology with an emotive listening experience.

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Also read: TRC Recommends: Best Turntable For Every Budget