Technics SL-100 C turntable

Following the success of the SL-1500C, Technics comes back with a brand new direct drive turntable, more accessible, more simple and designed for “audiophiles”: the Technics SL-100 C!

TECHNICS SL-100 C: CHARACTERISTICS

The new Technics SL-100 C looks very much like the Technics SL-1500 C at first glance.

To put it simply, this is an SL-1200 without its pitch section and thus without the speed and stylus lights. This is not a big deal as these gadgets are exclusively made for DJs, which is not the case of the SL-100C.

However, there’s still the conventional Start-Stop square button. It features two speed buttons to switch between 33 and 45 rpm. You can switch to 78 rpm by pressing both buttons at the same time.

Even more surprising, the SL-100 C includes a semi-automatic function! Indeed, when the tonearm reaches the end of the record, the Auto Lifter function automatically raises the cartridge.

TECHNICS SL-100 C: CHASSIS

The upper chassis is made of die-cast aluminium. Therefore, it is able to eliminate any vibration. The lower chassis features a material consisting of ABS-mixed with glass fibre.

It rests on four feet equipped with sorbothane springs, providing excellent damping characteristics.

TECHNICS SL-100 C: PLATTER AND DRIVE PRINCIPLE

The turntable is driven by the same coreless and single-rotor direct drive motor as the SL 1200 GR. It is able to read the high rotation accuracy and high-precision signals of the record. The motor has total control over the platter’s inertia.

The two-layer structure die-cast aluminium platter is dampened by a rubber coating allowing to eliminate unwanted resonance.

TECHNICS SL-100 C: TONEARM AND PHONO CARTRIDGE

There’s the mythical S-shape tonearm dear to the Japanese brand. It uses the same gimbal suspension construction and high-precision bearing as the SL-1200 series.

It can be associated with almost every cartridge having a weight between 6 et 16 g (without the headshell). The tonearm comes with an Audio Technica AT-VM95C MM cartridge as standard.

Technics guarantees that its reliability was also improved with the addition of a detachable phono cable. In fact, it was one of the main failure reasons in the previous series. 

TECHNICS SL-100 C: TESTING AND LISTENING

The sound is what you would expect from a Technics direct drive turntable.

We notice the Technics SL-1500 C’s excellent balance and really nice readability. There’s also good dynamics and an excellent punch in the low end of the spectrum.

Of course, it’s more adapted to “modern” music than classical music, just like its big sisters. As a matter of fact, the belt driven competitors are superior in terms of nuance and articulation.

This new Technics SL-100 C turntable is clearly designed for music lovers nostalgic of the legendary SL-1200. The manufacture is splendid and worthy of the eighties’ nostalgia!

The Technics SL-100 C offers excellent value for money.