7/6/2023 0 Comments Technics turntable![]() ![]() Well, that number sounds very good to me at least, but I’m not (yet) a vinyl expert and I honestly don’t know what tracking error percentages normal record spinners yield.ītw Cartridge shown in these J3 pictures is the standard EPC-P33 with a cheap replica stylus. Supposedly, this type of linear tracker manages to retain an amazing 0.1% tracking angle error. The whole arm assembly rests on a lubricated metal rod. This is activated via an optical sensor upon dis-alignment of the arm as it is pulled toward the centre of the LP. The tangential principle for all the Technics variants remains the same: a servo controlled worm wheel connected to a radio-dial-reminiscent rope that pulls the arm assembly. The Magnet assembly is identical as far as I can see.Ībove: the SL-7 platter, however, is thicker at the edges, and quite a bit heavier. This is actually a much-reduced version compared to what’s in the SL10 and SL15, as we will see later.Ībove: rotor part of the direct drive motor for the SL-7. One thing that surprised me was that the platter motor mechanism is seemingly the same for the J3 and SL7.Ībove: the stator part of the direct drive motor for the J3Ībove: the rotor part of the direct drive motor for the J3Ībove: stator part of the direct drive motor for the SL-7 – notice the similarity? All the plastic of the J3 is now aluminium and zinc diecast, but the SL-7 platter motor, while not a 100% copy, follows the exact same principle as in the J3. As you can tell from the above picture, they use completely different mechanisms as well.ĩ8% plastic J3 on the left, 98% aluminium/zinc diecast SL-7 on the right – just kidding with those figures of course, but despite being built from different materials and having different automation- and arm mechanisms, the J3 also has some things in common with the SL7, which is something that can’t be said about the SL10 and SL15. Given its diminutive size, the SL7 seemingly weighs a ton. The SL-7’s top part (body and lid) is made of aluminium diecast and its bottom part (the dark grey bit) of zinc diecast. 35 or so years old, and still going strong. On top of the superb Artesania Krion turntable platform, which is large enough to hold two Technics linear trackers at once – very handy for my comparisons!Īfter the positive initial experience with the J3, I decided to purchase a Technics SL-7 for myself. ![]() That said: they all sound wonderful, and especially after recalibration, it seems that they perform just perfect. Nevertheless, I can’t rule out that some of the conclusions that I reach are clouded or influenced by the mere age of these players. While I found no evidence of the former, I did encounter the latter, but I compensated for this by carefully re-aligning the servo settings. It is not uncommon for turntables of this age to have worn bearings or, especially in case of linear trackers, aged electronics causing misalignment of the arm. The turntables reviewed here are 30+ years old. But let me tell you all about how this story started. On the main picture and above: the best Technics linear trackers: SL15 on the left and SL7 on the right. And so, I was once again bitten by the analog audio bug.Īvid Volvere turntable, Grado and Benz cartridges and Musical Fidelity M1 Vinl phono stage kindly supplied by StudioAlkmaar Interestingly, this cheap plastic unit managed to sound emotionally utterly engaging, communicating in a manner that even my best CD players failed to do. In order to further assess the Artesania Turntable Platforms that were over for a review, a friend brought over a humble Technics J3, just for the fun of it. ![]() The analog audio bug has bitten me again… ![]()
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