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John
Want an ‘affordable’ Technics turntable but without the DJ trimmings of pitch-control, stylus lamp and platter strobe marks? Until this week, you had Hobson’s choice: the SL-1500C (‘reviewed’ here) or nowt.
However, with their newly announced SL-100C, Technics has sharpened its audiophile aim. The incoming model strips away the SL-1500C’s internal phono stage and swaps out its Ortofon 2M Red pick-up for an Audio-Technica VM95C to shave €100 from the sticker price. The SL-100C will sell for €899.
Still in play on the SL-100C are Technics’ iron-coreless direct drive motor, S-shaped aluminium tonearm, two-layer platter, high-rigidity cabinet (one of its strongest selling points) and tonearm auto-lift (that lends it greater mainstream agreeability).
In the press release, European Technics product manager Frank Balzuweit is quoted as ‘saying’: “The demand for this high-quality ‘plug’n’play’ turntable – having exceeded our own expectations – is still undiminished even to this day. However, there is still a strong appetite from the market to deliver a similarly attractive package at an even more affordable price.”
Play on, Frank.
Further information: Technics
