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
Parfait
Totale satisfaction avec cette platine vinyle Technics SL-1500 C, le petit plus avec le bras qui se relève en fin de disque et réduit l'usure du diamant, dynamique et pureté sonore sont au rendez-vous.
Prestation parfaite concernant la préparation de ma nouvelle platine avec montage de ma cellule MM Ortofon 2MR Black.
Merci à toute l'équipe et en particulier aux personnes qui se sont occupées de mon achat.
Cordialement.
Parfait
Absolument rien à dire conforme en tout point
aucune fioriture
Son esthétique me permet d’écouter mes disques avec d’autant plus de plaisir. J'ai upgrader le son avec la cellule Ortofon blue 2m. Platine bien construite et facile d'utilisation. L'avantage avec l'équipe maPlatine, ce sont les tests et de réglages avant envoi.
Très fonctionnelle
Je souhaitais une platine avec :- un capot - un bras en S doté d'un porte cellule amovible, - un réglage du bras en hauteur - une gestion des vitesses par boutons. Et bien j'ai tout cela avec cette platine et en plus une sensation de robustesse et de confort. Le fonctionnent se fait en silence, la gestion des vitesses est simplissime. Attention toutefois au réglage de la hauteur du lève bras surtout si vous modifiez la VTA. Le levage du bras en fin de disque ( débrayable) même si un peu bruyant est un plus. Cette platine pourra sans problème être upgradée avec une cellule MC. Le colisage effectué par MAPLATINE est parfait.