Technics SL-1200MK7 Direct Drive Turntable System Silver

Sound Quality Backed by Functional Beauty The SL-1200 Series was originally developed in pursuit of pure audio performance. The vibration-absorbing cabinet and insulators suppress undesirable noise, while the gimbal suspension tonearm provides high tracking performance for high-fidelity sound reproduction. The design has not been changed much for more than 40 years, thus retaining the ultimate functional beauty achieved in the first-generation model. The SL-1200/1210MK7 has also further unified the all black design scheme, even in every part, to become more stylish and attractive.   S-shaped Tonearm, a Technics Tradition The SL-1200/1210MK7 comes with a static balance S-shaped tonearm to carry on the Technics tradition. The tonearm moves in a unique arc as it tracks the record disc, and reproduces music with high fidelity. The bearing section features a high-precision bearing structure. The tonearm provides high tracking performance without stylus skipping even under hard usage such as scratching.   High Sensitive Tonearm The tonearm, which has continued to support the leading edge of the DJ scene for many years, inherits the highly reliable static-balance universal S-shape tonearm. Using high-precision bearings, it achieves a higher initial-motion sensitivity than the SL-1200MK6. This accurately tracks the groove on the phonorecord to assure excellent tracking performance with minimum stylus jumping even in harsh playing conditions such as scratching. The Direct Drive System That Pioneered the DJ Culture The direct drive motor (D.D. Motor) formed the core of the SL-1200 Series. In addition to providing unparalleled accuracy, the D.D. Motor technology that was introduced in 1970 offered reliability for long-term use with its excellent durability. This further evolved with the SL-1200/1210MK7, and achieved even higher sound quality as the Coreless Direct Drive Motor.   Coreless Direct Drive Motor Achieving Stable Rotation The direct drive system uses a slow-turning motor to directly drive the platter. This system has various advantages. It offers high performance, such as rotation accuracy and powerful torque, does not require replacement of parts and maintains high reliability over a long period of time. On the other hand, the direct drive system was said to produce a rotation irregularity called cogging. For the SL-1200MK7, a new coreless direct drive motor was developed. This motor employs a coreless stator. The removal of the core (iron core) from the stator eliminated the root cause of cogging. Furthermore, the magnetic force of the rotor magnets was improved to the highest possible level, and the gap between the coreless stator and rotor magnets was optimized, thus achieving high-torque-performance equaling that of the SL-1200MK5. Boasting smooth rotation and powerful torque, this motor reproduces sound accurately and faithfully from the groove on an analogue record.     Pitch Control for a New Chapter in Music History Pitch control on the SL-1200 was originally utilised for the precise adjustment of rotation speed. Club DJs began using this function to match the pitch between two tracks to achieve smooth transition. This technique led to the explosive popularity of the SL-1200 worldwide. The current vertical fader was first installed on the SL-1200MK2. This change was made to simplify use for DJs. The MK7 has newly incorporated full digital control to enable accurate and stable adjustment within the range of ±8/16%.   Stylus Illuminator Featuring a High-brightness and Long-life White LED The stylus illuminator features a new push-type structure for intuitive operation, and employs a high-brightness and long-life white LED. The illumination area and intensity were reviewed to provide improved visibility of the stylus tip even in a dark environment.   Stable Operation under All Conditions Each insulator foot consists of an internal spring and rubber, and the bottom surface is covered with a cushion material. They effectively shut out vibration even in a loud sound environment. If the turntable cannot be set up on a perfectly level surface, its height and inclination can be adjusted by turning individual insulator feet.   Power / Phono Cable Terminals The power and phono cable terminals allow detachment of the cables. The phono terminals are gold-plated to minimize sound quality degradation. Since the terminals allow disconnection of the cables, maintenance of the cables is easier.     User-friendly Stylus Light The light that illuminates the stylus and its position on the record was featured for the first time on the SL-1200MK2. Technics opted for a popup-type light, not a detachable type, for easier use. The SL-1200/1210MK7 comes with a white LED that offers high brightness and a long life. The illumination was improved and its range was reviewed to ensure optimal visibility.     High-Rigidity Cabinet and High- Damping Insulator The chassis, an essential part for reducing external vibrations, inherits the audio quality enhancement technology fostered through the development of high-end turntables. The aluminum die-cast chassis is rigidly integrated with a special material consisting of ABS mixed with glass fiber to achieve a two-layer construction. The combination of this special high-rigidity material and a metal chassis raised the rigidity and vibration-damping performance to higher levels, realizing a robust cabinet for beautiful sound reproduction. The insulator is comprised of a spring and rubber to provide optimal frequency characteristics. This not only assures high sound quality and superb howling resistance, but also effectively shuts out external vibrations under high sound level conditions. Symbol of the SL-1200 Series The original purpose of the strobe light, a standard feature on all models from the first-generation SL-1200, was to enable an accurate visual adjustment of the rotation speed. Since Technics incorporated quartz control, in models starting with the MK2, the rotation speed became extremely stable; thus, there was no need for the strobe anymore. However, DJs wanted the familiar strobe on the turntables they use, so it is still provided on the current model. The SL-1200/1210MK7 comes with an LED strobe that can be set to illuminate in red or blue.   Diverse New Functions Adapt to Various Playing Styles Torque / Brake Speed Adjustment The newest digital motor control technology, accumulated through the development of Blu-ray disc products, is applied to improve adjustment by allowing the torque and brake speed to be adjusted individually in four steps. The Pitch Control Function The pitch control function allows fine adjustment of the rotation speed within ±8 % / ±16 %. It does this through digital control, from positional detection of the slider to rotational control of the motor, eliminating the unnecessary DA conversion. This greatly improves tracking performance to achieve accurate and stable pitch adjustment. Reverse Play Function The reverse play function, which brings forth new possibilities of creative performance, makes its first appearance in the SL-1200 Series. In addition to 33-1/3 rpm and 45 rpm, a rotation speed of 78 rpm is supported. *The torque / brake speed adjustment, rotation speed switch, and reverse play can be adjusted by switches on the main unit.