The Technics SL-1210MK7 Direct Drive Turntable has been unveiled today in Australia.
2019 sees the return of the Technics brand to Australia after nine years. At launch, the SL-1210MK7 will be available at DJ audio specialist Store DJ.
Aaron Waters, Product Marketing Manager – Audio & Video, Panasonic, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Store DJ. Their passion and industry expertise makes Store DJ the ideal launchpad for the return of the Technics DJ turntable to Australia.”
Luke Bowditch, Marketing Manager, Store DJ, said: “We are proud to be offering the SL-1210MK7. Technics turntables are the most iconic piece of DJ technology ever, and this latest incarnation is the best one yet.”
The SL-1210MK7 will be available from November 2019, priced at $1749RRP via Store DJ in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
About the Technics 1200 Series
The SL-1200 was launched as a popular direct drive turntable in 1972, becoming a best-selling model with cumulative sales of 3,500,000 units. It was supported by powerful torque, easy operation, and high durability. It became greatly admired by both audio enthusiasts and DJs who helped to unleash the DJ culture in areas such as electronic dance music. The series is still highly acclaimed by DJs worldwide today.
The Technics SL-1210MK7 inherits the traditional design of the same series and maintains the same operating ease, reliability and unrivalled durability, while adding a coreless direct drive motor and other sound-enhancing technologies. It also features new DJ play functions, such as reverse playback.
All you expect from Technics and more
Coreless Direct Drive Motor achieving stable rotation and powerful torque
The direct drive system uses a slow-rotating 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. However, the direct drive system was said to occasionally produce a rotation irregularity called cogging. For the SL-1210MK7, a new coreless direct drive motor was developed. This motor employs a coreless stator. The removal of the 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 optimised, thus achieving high torque performance equalling that of the SL-1200MK5. Boasting smooth rotation and powerful torque, this motor accurately and faithfully reproduces sound from the groove on an analogue record.
Reverse Play function expands the breadth of DJ play styles
The platter rotates in the reverse direction when the speed selector button and Start/Stop button are pressed simultaneously, expanding the breadth of possibility for DJ play styles.[i]
Starting Torque/Brake speed adjustment function
The SL-1210MK7 employs the newest motor control technology, refined through the development of Panasonic Blu-ray disc products. Utilising a microcomputer, this advanced motor control technology ensures high performance in normal rotation and also responds accurately to a wide range of DJ play styles, such as scratching. The starting torque and brake speed can be adjusted individually to suit the user’s preference.
Stylus Illuminator featuring a high-brightness and long-life LED
The stylus illuminator features a new push-type structure 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 compared to previous models, even in a dark environment.
Improved tracking performance and accuracy for high-quality sound reproduction
Highly sensitive tonearm accurately reads the signal stored in the record groove
The tonearm, which is responsible for accurately reading the signal by tracking the groove on the record, is a static-balance universal S-shape tonearm, another Technics tradition. The tonearm tube is made of lightweight, high-rigidity aluminium. The bearing section of the gimbal suspension construction tonearm consists of a machined housing and high-precision bearing to assure excellent tracking performance with minimum stylus jumping, even in harsh playing conditions such as scratching.
Two-layer structure platter with improved vibration damping performance
The platter on which a vinyl record is placed features a two-layer structure with deadening rubber on the entire back surface to eliminate unwanted resonance in the aluminium die-cast platter. The platter offers high rigidity and outstanding vibration-damping characteristics to prevent harmful vibration from being transmitted to the record and delivers clear sound.
High rigidity cabinet and high damping insulator for thorough shut-out of all vibrations
The chassis, an essential part for reducing external vibrations, inherits the audio quality enhancement technology fostered through the development of high-end turntables. The aluminium die-cast chassis is rigidly integrated with a special material consisting of ABS mixed with glass fibre 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, realising 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.
Detachable Power/Phono cable terminals prevents cable discontinuity
The power and phono cable terminals allow detachment of the cables. They are gold-plated to minimise sound quality degradation. Maintenance of the cables is easier, and your preferred phono cable can be used for optimum personal enjoyment.
Pitch control function enables accurate and stable pitch adjustment
The rotation speed can be set to 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm or 78 rpm[ii]. The pitch control function allows fine adjustment of the rotation speed within ±8%/±16%. This function achieves accurate and stable pitch control thanks to full digital control with improved tracking performance and accuracy.
All black design
The SL-1210MK7 sports black buttons and a black tonearm while retaining the SL-1200 Series’ button layout. With a striking matt texture, the new all-black design presents an attractive, refined appearance. The LED light can be set to illuminate in either red or blue, further enhancing the DJ play environment.
[i]To use the reverse play function, the switch on the main unit must be turned on. The phono cartridge used must support scratch play.
[ii]To use the 78 rpm speed, the switch on the main unit must be turned on
