After the success of the SL 1200 GR turntable, Technics is back with a new direct drive vinyl turntable, more accessible and more intended for "audiophiles" than for DJs: the Technics SL-1500 C turntable.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: CHARACTERISTICS
At first sight, the new Technics SL-1500 C is similar to the mythical SL 1200 (and not really to the SL 1500 of the 80’s).
But when you take a closer look, you can notice that it has been lightened by its "Pitch" of speed! Even if it is not really useful on living room playback...
The stroboscope and the led of the stylus have disappeared! Nothing serious, because these “gadgets” are fully designed for clubs.
However, we fin the typical “Start/Stop” square button. It is accompanied with two commuters of 33 and 45 rpm speeds. A pressure on both at the same time, switches to 78 rpm.
More surprising, the SL-1500 C is equipped with a semi-automatic function! Indeed, once the tonearm reaches the end of the vinyl record, the tonearm rises by itself.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: CHASSIS
The upper chassis is fully made of die-cast aluminium. It also removes vibrations.
The lower baseboard integrates a material made of ABS plastic, mixed with glass fibre.
It is based on four bases equipped with springs and sorbothane, offering excellent damping characteristics.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: PLATTER AND DRIVE
The drive is made via the direct drive motor, without core and with the unique rotor SL 1200 GR.
It offers a very regular and precise rotation. This motor has an optimal control over the platter inertia.
The double layer die-cast aluminium is damped with a rubber coating that removes unwanted resonances.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: TONEARM AND PHONO CARTRIDGE
We find the legendary “S” tonearm, important for the Japanese manufacturer.
It has the same cardan shaft suspension and high precision bearings as SL-1200 models. It welcomes more or less every phono cartridges between 6 and 16g (excluding the headshell).
Technics guarantees that its reliability has also been improved by the integration of a removable phono cable. Indeed, it was part of the previous series of regular breakdowns.
As standard, the tonearm is equipped with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: INTEGRATED PHONO PREAMPLIFIER
The Technics SL-1500 C integrates a MM phono preamplifier.
A commuter allows the deactivating of the integrated phono stage in order to use a more powerful phono preamplifier.
TECHNICS SL-1500 C: TEST AND LISTENING
The restitution is faithful to what is offered by a Technics direct drive turntable.
We find an excellent balance and a very beautiful readability. The Technics SL-1500 C demonstrates a nice dynamic and an excellent impact in the lower end of the spectrum.
It is intended more for a listening to so-called "modern" music, than to symphonies or string quartets, where its belt-driven competitors do better in terms of nuance and articulation.
The integrated phono preamp is not as “bad”... With the 2M Red cartridge, we have excellent results. In the future, we can upgrade it with an Ortofon 2M Blue stylus.
This new Technics SL-1500 C turntable is clearly designed to music lovers nostalgic for the mythical SL 1200. It is very well designed and totally meets the nostalgia of the eighties!
An excellent direct drive turntable, offered at a very competitive price!
AWARDS:
Diapason d'Or
FranckPrinciple: direct drive
Phono preamp: integrated MM
Signal-to-noise ratio: 78 dB
Tonearm: S shaped
Speeds: 33, 45 and 78 rpm
Starting torque: 0.18 Nm/1.8 kg/cm
Starting: 0.7s
Wow: 0.025 % wrms
Functioning: manual
Automation: lifting the arm at the end of the disc
Platter: die-cast aluminium
Platter diameter: 332 mm
Platter weight: 2 kg (with platter mat)
Tonearm length: 230 mm
Tonearm height: +/- 0 to 6 mm
Tracking force: from 0 to 4 g
Compatible cartridge: from 5.6 to 16.4g with included headshell
Max mass of headshell/cartridge: 25.1 g (with additional counterweight)
Outputs: Line + Phono
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M red
Weight: 9.9 kg
Dimensions (W x H x D): 453 x 173 x 372 mm
Customer reviews
Très satisfait
Livraison en moins de 48H. La platine est prête à l'emploi, réglé, etc....
Très satisfait, un son au top avec la cellule Ortofon 2M Red. Ma vieille Thorens ne fait pas le poids, c'est évident.
Merci à François pour la préparation et MaPlatine.com
La platine ultime ?
Magnifique ! Plug and Play (merci à maplatine pour le réglage). D’une manipulation simple, elle redonne une seconde vie à mes vinyles, même les plus anciens. Bien que manuelle, le bras se lève tout seul en fin de lecture (bon il faut être un brin patient, ce n’est pas instantané, mais ça fonctionne bien). Bref un bel objet qui respire le haut de gamme (quel son !). Sans doute ma dernière platine !
Top.
Entièrement satisfait, simple d'utilisation, semble très robuste, la réputation de la marque faisant le reste, je suis conquis. Quand à maPlatine.com c'est parfait, livraison rapide, réglage préalable impeccable, je recommande.
Wahou!
Ma commande est arrivée rapidement, bien emballé, et en toute sécurité.
J’avais lu le critique positive du Technics sl1500c par Franck et j’ai décidé qu’il conviendrait très bien à ma collection de vinyles car il est éclectique mais il ne contient pas de musique classique.
Cependant, j’ai décidé amplifier le potentiel de ce deck en mettant à niveau le stylet vers un Hana MC MK II.
Je viens de jouer le superbe On The Corner de Miles Davis et les couches rythmiques baroques complexes et entrelacées ont été magnifiquement rendues !
Jusqu’à présent, je pense que le mariage du lecteur Technics fiable et fonctionnel et de la livraison raffinée et élégante du Hana semble être un mariage fait au paradis!
Ian