New Turntables - AT-LP8X, DP3000NE, SL-1300GK, and others

[Bob from Florida]

Interesting direct drive from AT. No tests yet showing actual numbers. From reading what is available, the general consensus - which may mean absolutely nothing- is AT exceeds published specs.
Anybody buy one yet?

AT-LP8X

Audio-Technica expands its line of direct-drive turntables with the semi-automatic AT-LP8X, featuring a newly designed tonearm lift that automatically raises the tonearm at the end of a record sid ...

www.audio-technica.com

 

[AaronJ]

Who’s going to get this over a Technics SL-100C for $200 less? Unless you really don’t like the look of Technics can’t see what market segment this is fighting for. Nothing about it indicates the price is justified. It needs to be $899 tops.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Who’s going to get this over a Technics SL-100C for $200 less? Unless you really don’t like the look of Technics can’t see what market segment this is fighting for. Nothing about it indicates the price is justified. It needs to be $899 tops.

The tonearm of the Technics is its shortcoming. The AT arm appears superior. Technics should offer their tables with a blank arm board.

 

[Chrispy]

The tonearm of the Technics is its shortcoming. The AT arm appears superior. Technics should offer their tables with a blank arm board.

Was just looking at your link....they don't even mention the arm, what's the superiority?

 

[thewas]

Technics should offer their tables with a blank arm board.

They used and still do for their TOTL models

Technics SP-10MK3 on thevintageknob.org

vintage Technics audiophile reference turntable - the ultimate LP masterpiece and last of the japanese big ones

www.thevintageknob.org

Direct Drive Turntable SP-10RE-S

The revival of the SP-10 Series establishes a new reference point for the modern high-fidelity turntable, redefining it for a new age. That’s why, as the newest additions to Technics’ signature Reference Class lineup of audio components, we have dubbed the SP10RE-S the heart of our newest direct...

us.technics.com

Although their tonearms (especially their TOTL ones) where also great

Technics/Panasonic and Other Devices 3 Technics/Panasonic

 

[Bob from Florida]

Was just looking at your link....they don't even mention the arm, what's the superiority?

The 100C has the classic - arm drops when you release the VTA clamp, AT is adjustable on the fly - threaded riser. The Technics arm lifter looks like plastic while the AT looks like metal. Hard to tell without touching one.

 

[Bob from Florida]

They used and still do for their TOTL models

Technics SP-10MK3 on thevintageknob.org

vintage Technics audiophile reference turntable - the ultimate LP masterpiece and last of the japanese big ones

www.thevintageknob.org

Direct Drive Turntable SP-10RE-S

The revival of the SP-10 Series establishes a new reference point for the modern high-fidelity turntable, redefining it for a new age. That’s why, as the newest additions to Technics’ signature Reference Class lineup of audio components, we have dubbed the SP10RE-S the heart of our newest direct...

us.technics.com

Although their tonearms (especially their TOTL ones) where also great

Technics/Panasonic and Other Devices 3 Technics/Panasonic

While I might spend up to $3K, there is no way I will spend $20K on a turntable. Maybe a motorcycle that I can spin on a turntable jack...
The 1200's have blank armboards available that I could utilize, however, I have not found one for the 100C - different hole pattern.
Second look at your link - I see the version minus the plinth would work. Still too much money. I do have a piece of 4 inch thick Mesquite big enough for a plinth in the garage... Fancy speaker money for a turntable is a bit much these days.

 

[dlaloum]

The tonearm of the Technics is its shortcoming. The AT arm appears superior. Technics should offer their tables with a blank arm board.

The technics arm can have an oil damper added (from KAB audio) - this takes it a step up, and allows it to match well with both higher compliance and lower compliance cartridge designs... no such equivalent is available (yet) for the AT arm. And the technics arms are no slouches - (and with a plethora of various upgrades available for them.... some of which are clearly in the snake oil domain!)

KAB Electro Acoustics http://www.kabusa.com

It would not overly surprise me to see KAB issue such an add on for the AT...if sufficient demand exists.

 

[Multicore]

Semi-auto. Nice!

 

[Bob from Florida]

The technics arm can have an oil damper added (from KAB audio) - this takes it a step up, and allows it to match well with both higher compliance and lower compliance cartridge designs... no such equivalent is available (yet) for the AT arm. And the technics arms are no slouches - (and with a plethora of various upgrades available for them.... some of which are clearly in the snake oil domain!)

KAB Electro Acoustics http://www.kabusa.com

It would not overly surprise me to see KAB issue such an add on for the AT...if sufficient demand exists.

I had my “fill” of oil dampers when I had my Micro Seiki arm many years ago. (Pun intended)

 

[dlaloum]

I had my “fill” of oil dampers when I had my Micro Seiki arm many years ago. (Pun intended)

I do prefer the electronic or magnetic dampers, or the arms with a sealed internal oil damper...

Seems to me, that in this day and age of sophisticated electronica, the electro-magnetic dampers as used on the JVC, Denon and Sony Flagship TT's of yore, would be even easier to do today.... but no sign of it in the marketplace!

 

[Bob from Florida]

This AT looks very similar to the Magnat 990 - no longer for sale in U.S.. Could be the same table with a tweaked tonearm allowing for auto lift feature.

 

[mike70]

The 100C has the classic - arm drops when you release the VTA clamp, AT is adjustable on the fly - threaded riser. The Technics arm lifter looks like plastic while the AT looks like metal. Hard to tell without touching one.

The 1200 mk7 have the VTA adjustable on the fly at the same price of the 100C.

And the superiority in the arms must be measured ... "I think" or "it will be" better ... doesn't mean that much.

 

[Bob from Florida]

The 1200 mk7 have the VTA adjustable on the fly at the same price of the 100C.

And the superiority in the arms must be measured ... "I think" or "it will be" better ... doesn't mean that much.

Agree with measurements are useful, features and functionality are also important. DJ look doesn't work for me from a preference point of view.

 

[mike70]

Agree with measurements are useful, features and functionality are also important. DJ look doesn't work for me from a preference point of view.

ok, we can't discuss a subjective assessment ... but ... maybe for other people worth it. i think the mk7 is more "machine" than 100C / AT at the same price.

and if you don't like the tonearm (is much better than many people think), there are many (many) options to change it in the 1200 (audiomods 6, origin live, sme, funkfirm, blah blah).
so, in my personal case, i don't care about the "dj look", i care about to get a better turntable.

 

[Bob from Florida]

ok, we can't discuss a subjective assessment ... but ... maybe for other people worth it. i think the mk7 is more "machine" than 100C / AT at the same price.

and if you don't like the tonearm (is much better than many people think), there are many (many) options to change it in the 1200 (audiomods 6, origin live, sme, funkfirm, blah blah).
so, in my personal case, i don't care about the "dj look", i care about to get a better turntable.

Technics is being very careful with their product line. By careful, I mean "designed to draw customers into incremental upgrades". The new 1300 version gets most of the way "there" for me except for the arm. Currently, my Performance DC with the Sorane arm checks all the boxes, except I get the desire to test the "direct drive" waters from time to time. Hence, looking at different product offerings from time to time. So far, the most attractive overall is the Denon 3000NE - which has been tested by HiFi news. Hopefully, they will get around to testing this AT. Amazon ran a 20% deal on the Denon that I missed - on the fence about trying it. If that happens again, I will probably try one.

 

[Muddywaters]

The wow and flutter and snr aren't inspiring

Wow and Flutter	< 0.1% (WTD) at 3 kHz (JIS)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	> 60 dB

 

[Bob from Florida]

The wow and flutter and snr aren't inspiring

Wow and Flutter	< 0.1% (WTD) at 3 kHz (JIS)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	> 60 dB

That's why it needs testing. The test of the 3000NE showed better than published specs. The "less than" spec can be a little or a lot less. On the other hand, those specs may be "good enough" for most.

 

[thewas]

So far, the most attractive overall is the Denon 3000NE

What makes you think its tonearm is better than of a SL-1300GR? (I am not talking about the drives where even the less advanced SL-1200GR2 measured better than the 3000NE)

 

[Bob from Florida]

What makes you think its tonearm is better than of a SL-1300GR? (I am not talking about the drives where even the less advanced SL-1200GR2 measured better than the 3000NE)

It is higher mass - which I prefer - the magnetic anti-skate has the ability to disengage without changing its setting, the VTA lifter range is 9 mm versus 6 mm in the Technics, and the overall construction appears more robust (from images versus touching).