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

[watchnerd]

You can buy an SME armboard - my understanding it’s an easy replacement

I heard it was a bit of a PITA, actually.

But, also, what do I do with the arm after? I'd rather just buy armless to begin with.

Lots of other TT makers sell armless versions.

 

[EJ3]

Very possibly, but I'm frustrated at not being able to see and compare with higher-end models to see if fancier finishes and what-not are worth the premium to me.

I like things that perform excellently and look excellent while doing it.
Unfortunately (for me, anyway) the manufactures seem to be about the choice between those two. Excellence of function beats aesthetics.
But, if they can provide both, I am willing to pay somewhat more to have both in the same package.

 

[DSJR]

Just look out for an original good condition SL120 or the slimmer 150, take the lid off when playing, add a cork or similar mat to the rubber original and site the bloomin' thing as far away from room corners and the speakers as possible. You don't *need* the Quartz locking on the speed (the top Technics decks from the earlier 70s had reference W&F and potential rumble figures if sited or mounted carefully...

This one sounded amazing I remember - The Grace was temporary and simply mounted to the SME arm slot..

I bought an original techie tonearm for the 1500 and fitted it (higher mass than the later ones I think). This really DID sound good, the Supex reminding me why we loved it so much, with it's slightly U-shaped response.

 

[mike70]

Now that I have a 1300G and have set up the arm, I understand my preconception was incorrect. The arm may not be as "fancy" as my Sorane SA-1.2 arm, but it is quite nice. With the 2 auxiliary weights combined with different weight headshells I can achieve a wide range of effective mass. In short, I didn't know the arm was actually quite nice.

i told you ... technics tonearms are very good
bad marketing from the belt drive manufacturers at the 70s continues as urban legends today.

... and the real difference with a higher end model, needs a proof digitalizing the output with the same cartridge / preamp

 

[Eric Natural]

i told you ... technics tonearms are very good ...

Is Technics still Panasonic . . . ?

 

[mike70]

Is Technics still Panasonic . . . ?

Technics US web page, at the bottom, says "2025 Panasonic Corporation of North America" ... and the literature in the web says so (headquarters in Osaka, Japan), Technics still Panasonic.

 

[Bob from Florida]

i told you ... technics tonearms are very good
bad marketing from the belt drive manufacturers at the 70s continues as urban legends today.

... and the real difference with a higher end model, needs a proof digitalizing the output with the same cartridge / preamp

I was judging the “book” by its cover. Having the “book” in front of you is always revealing. The deep dive video got me to the point of testing it.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Technics US web page, at the bottom, says "2025 Panasonic Corporation of North America" ... and the literature in the web says so (headquarters in Osaka, Japan), Technics still Panasonic.

I now own a shaver and turntable made by separate companies under the Panasonic Corporation umbrella.

 

[watchnerd]

I now own a shaver and turntable made by separate companies under the Panasonic Corporation umbrella.

I've got tubes with the OG Matsushita label.

 

[JeffS7444]

Just look out for an original good condition SL120 or the slimmer 150

Those look like solid alternatives, though in the USA, I think it would be far easier and likely less expensive to get an SL1200 Mk II or newer.

 

[Eric Natural]

This AT model looks near perfect w/cart premounted & set level. When I think about the thousands I(& prolly you reader) spent chasing better LP sound in the 1980s & 90s for Christ sake . . . I guess I'm envious of how easy the young folk have it to play the records. And how cheaply these days.
Cheers

 

[RoA]

Got myself an SL100C recently. Rock solid turntable with a feel of heft and precision my (latest) Rega P3 lacked. The platter spins close to it's surround/case with absolutely no unevenness/noise. Different cartridge so I wouldn't dare compare but I thoroughly enjoy it. Added bonus, it looks great without the DJ adornments.

 

[watchnerd]

Got myself an SL100C recently. Rock solid turntable with a feel of heft and precision my (latest) Rega P3 lacked. The platter spins close to it's surround/case with absolutely no unevenness/noise. Different cartridge so I wouldn't dare compare but I thoroughly enjoy it. Added bonus, it looks great without the DJ adornments.

I've liked the sound of all the Regas I've heard, but to me the mass market versions occupy a weird no-man's land between chunky direct drives and fully suspended belt drives like Linn and Michell in terms of engineering objectives.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Just finished listened to a Goodwill store bargain LP - George Winston Autumn. Not mark on it -acquired for the princely sum of $1.18! Solo piano - perfect pitch on the Technics.

 

[Lonescout]

I have been using an At-LP8X for just over 2 months now, it replaced an AT-LP120XUSB which in turn replaced my original SL-Q300 that I had been using since I bought it new in 1984.
I had already upgraded my amp to an SU-V90D and my EQ to an SH-8066 and, whilst the sound from the 120 was excellent (AT-VM95E cartridge), I found myself on tenterhooks towards the end of a record waiting to jump up and lift the arm. I found that I didn't use the pitch slider, unsurprising really as I am no DJ, and would find the ability to adjust the VTA useful. I used the USB out rarely so a separate converter connected to 'Tape 2' on my EQ would work and actually be more flexible allowing me to digitise cassette tapes and radio programmes.

So, to the LP8X. Straight out of the box I added the AT-VM95ML stylus (I've never listened to the AT-VM95E as supplied) and within a week or so I added a RigB 9 CNC machined aluminium (yes I'm UK based ) body upgrade.
The set up, as expected, is very straight forward and I noted the supplied RCA leads are a step up from those supplied with the 120. The deck is reassuringly heavy and sits foursquare atop my 1980s Technics cabinet, this in turn sits on laminate flooring on a solid concrete floor. The cabinet is weighted down by my amp, EQ, tape deck, CD player, tuner and vinyl. I have removed the castors, in deference to the weight! There is ample adjustment in the LP8Xs feet to level the deck. The platter is also weighty and heavily damped with rubber, it slips straight onto the spindle (no screws) with the rubber mat on top. The original cartridge is pre-fitted to the headshell, so it was just a matter fitting the headshell and counterweight to the tone arm, balancing the tone arm, dialing in the stylus weight and anti skate and you're ready to go. Retro-fitting the RigB required a little more application, but that was my choice.

I listen to my music via two vastly different speaker sets. The first will make any audiophiles reading this teeth curl! In my living room I have a pair of Edifier R1700BTSs and subwoofer driven by an Avantree Oasis Plus BT transmitter wired, in parallel with an 8ohm resistor per channel, to the main speaker output of my amp. It's a compromise, I know, but I don't want to trail wires across the floors of two rooms. The sound, to my British Army veteran tinnitus riddled ears, is more than acceptable at lower volumes. As the volume is increased to the point where conversation becomes difficult, distortion sets in but that is academic as I have no need to listen at those levels. The other speaker set is in the same room (dining room) as my stack, so is hard-wired to the remote speaker output of my amp. These are Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 bookshelf speakers with subwoofer and the sound is sublime. Immense detail and range, the sub woofer really helps here, and the ability to take all the power I dare push into them.

The first thing I note when powering up the LP8X is the power switch is located, awkwardly, at the back out of sight, it is a fumble to find and a little disappointing. I'm used to it now and find it straight away and, I guess, incorporating it on the top of the plinth would detract from the design aesthetic. The rest of the switches on the plinth have a good 'feel' to them and add to the user experience. Another one to 'get used to' though is the cueing switch, no manual cueing lever here. To be fair, it doesn't take long, it does mean I concentrate harder on where the stylus is as I can no longer quickly lift the arm if the stylus it a risk of missing the record. This is a small price to pay though for the amazingly (compared to reports from other manufacturers products) efficient auto lift which, I presume, is integrated into the whole cueing system. Powering up the platter is met with........................ silence, the only clue to it being powered up is I can no longer read the record label. It is spookily quiet, no clicks, no hums, no whirrs, no dramas just movement. Lower the stylus and there are very few pops and clicks (bearing in mind the majority of my vinyl hails from the 80s and has led a hard life) down to, no doubt, the ML stylus tracking deeper into the groove beyond the surface damage. The music is lively, defined and has a depth to it that I had not experienced before, a real listening pleasure. Can I hear the difference between the vinyl and CD? In truth, not really, and this is most likely increased due to the addition of the RigB. I think that I may 'perceive' a difference due to the process of using vinyl, it is an involving, tactile and immersive experience made complete by not having to anticipate the end of the record.

Bottom line; would I recommend the Audio Technica AT-LP8X? The answer yes and yes again! With the caveat - replace the supplied VM95E stylus with a VM95ML.

 

[mike70]

I have been using an At-LP8X for just over 2 months now, it replaced an AT-LP120XUSB which in turn replaced my original SL-Q300 that I had been using since I bought it new in 1984.
I had already upgraded my amp to an SU-V90D and my EQ to an SH-8066 and, whilst the sound from the 120 was excellent (AT-VM95E cartridge), I found myself on tenterhooks towards the end of a record waiting to jump up and lift the arm. I found that I didn't use the pitch slider, unsurprising really as I am no DJ, and would find the ability to adjust the VTA useful. I used the USB out rarely so a separate converter connected to 'Tape 2' on my EQ would work and actually be more flexible allowing me to digitise cassette tapes and radio programmes.

So, to the LP8X. Straight out of the box I added the AT-VM95ML stylus (I've never listened to the AT-VM95E as supplied) and within a week or so I added a RigB 9 CNC machined aluminium (yes I'm UK based ) body upgrade.
The set up, as expected, is very straight forward and I noted the supplied RCA leads are a step up from those supplied with the 120. The deck is reassuringly heavy and sits foursquare atop my 1980s Technics cabinet, this in turn sits on laminate flooring on a solid concrete floor. The cabinet is weighted down by my amp, EQ, tape deck, CD player, tuner and vinyl. I have removed the castors, in deference to the weight! There is ample adjustment in the LP8Xs feet to level the deck. The platter is also weighty and heavily damped with rubber, it slips straight onto the spindle (no screws) with the rubber mat on top. The original cartridge is pre-fitted to the headshell, so it was just a matter fitting the headshell and counterweight to the tone arm, balancing the tone arm, dialing in the stylus weight and anti skate and you're ready to go. Retro-fitting the RigB required a little more application, but that was my choice.

I listen to my music via two vastly different speaker sets. The first will make any audiophiles reading this teeth curl! In my living room I have a pair of Edifier R1700BTSs and subwoofer driven by an Avantree Oasis Plus BT transmitter wired, in parallel with an 8ohm resistor per channel, to the main speaker output of my amp. It's a compromise, I know, but I don't want to trail wires across the floors of two rooms. The sound, to my British Army veteran tinnitus riddled ears, is more than acceptable at lower volumes. As the volume is increased to the point where conversation becomes difficult, distortion sets in but that is academic as I have no need to listen at those levels. The other speaker set is in the same room (dining room) as my stack, so is hard-wired to the remote speaker output of my amp. These are Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 bookshelf speakers with subwoofer and the sound is sublime. Immense detail and range, the sub woofer really helps here, and the ability to take all the power I dare push into them.

The first thing I note when powering up the LP8X is the power switch is located, awkwardly, at the back out of sight, it is a fumble to find and a little disappointing. I'm used to it now and find it straight away and, I guess, incorporating it not the top of the plinth would detract from the design aesthetic. The rest of the switches on the plinth have a good 'feel' to them and add to the user experience. Another one to 'get used to' though is the cueing switch, no manual cueing lever here. To be fair, it doesn't take long, it does mean I concentrate harder on where the stylus is as I can no longer quickly lift the arm if the stylus it a risk of missing the record. This is a small price to pay though for the amazingly (compared to reports from other manufacturers products) efficient auto lift which, I presume, is integrated into the whole cueing system. Powering up the platter is met with........................ silence, the only clue to it being powered up is I can no longer read the record label. It is spookily quiet, no clicks, no hums, no whirrs, no dramas just movement. Lower the stylus and there are very few pops and clicks (bearing in mind the majority of my vinyl hails from the 80s and has lead a hard life) down to, no doubt, the ML stylus tracking deeper into the groove beyond the surface damage. The music is lively, defined and has a depth to that I had not experienced before a real listening pleasure. Can I hear the difference between the vinyl and CD? In truth, not really, and this is most likely increased due to the addition of the RigB. I think that I may 'perceive' a difference due to the process of using vinyl, it is an involving, tactile and immersive experience made complete by not having to anticipate the end of the record.

Bottom line; would I recommend the Audio Technica AT-LP8X? The answer yes and yes again! With the caveat - replace the supplied VM95E stylus with a VM95ML.

The vm95ml is the greatest price / performance cartridge today, no doubt. Microline stylus is killer.

You can test manual cleaning your records with a homemade formula (distilled water / tergikleen surfactant), a label proyector (you can find it on ebay / Amazon for 20 bucks) and then tell me what happens

 

[Neil74]

Slight bump....

I have been curious as to how the AT-LP8X compares to say the 100c or 1500c, but mostly as someone considering the AT as a second deck to go with my GR2 I wonder if the overhangs are the same? The AT site seems to indicate that they may be, but could you for example take a shell off of a Technics deck and put it straight onto the AT without the need for adjustment?

It was the concorde music cart that got me thinking as they cannot be adjusted of course, so unsure if the concorde music would work well on the AT deck.

 

[watchnerd]

Slight bump....

I have been curious as to how the AT-LP8X compares to say the 100c or 1500c, but mostly as someone considering the AT as a second deck to go with my GR2 I wonder if the overhangs are the same? The AT site seems to indicate that they may be, but could you for example take a shell off of a Technics deck and put it straight onto the AT without the need for adjustment?

It was the concorde music cart that got me thinking as they cannot be adjusted of course, so unsure if the concorde music would work well on the AT deck.

You should be able to derive this from the pivot to spindle of the arms.

 

[Steven Holt]

I now own a shaver and turntable made by separate companies under the Panasonic Corporation umbrella.

no wonder the wow and flutter on my shaver is so damn high!

 

[Neil74]

You should be able to derive this from the pivot to spindle of the arms.

Unsure if they are reporting the specs the same, but they look to be quite different (230mm vs. 247mm)