If you’ve ever owned a Technics turntable, then you know that chances are they’ll perform for you without a hitch for years, possibly even a decade or more, before requiring any kind of major work.

Of course, I’d love to be able to tell you without a doubt that you will have the same kind of luck, but this is the real world we’re living in, and there’s bound to be one or two mishaps along the road, particularly if you’re working your Technics on a regular basis.

Thankfully, there are plenty of amazing websites that can help you not only find parts but even repair the machine. Let’s take a look at a few of these great websites and what they can offer a budding Technics DJ.

1200s.com

This website is pretty comprehensive, and the title should tell you what to expect here. Not only are there tons of parts and accessories you can order, but there’s a link to a very special “DIY DJ Repair” section where you can watch videos that can help you do all sorts of maintenance work on your Technics turntable. Need to disassemble your SL-1200MK2, or maybe just curious to find out how it’s done? Watch the video. There are also several articles and tutorials on how to DJ.

TurntableBasics.com

This is a great little website, very bare bones in terms of content but there’s a really nice advice page on how to get the most out of your turntable and keep your sound consistent. On top of that, TurntableBasics.com offers a wide variety of parts, preamps, damping fluid, cartridges and much more. If you need something replaced, more than likely you’re going to find it here – a quality website that’s fairly easy to navigate and down to earth.

DJ-Tips-And-Tricks.com

This is perhaps the big daddy of them all – this site’s got tons and tons of information on working as a DJ, improving your skills and even promoting yourself through producing a mix tape of your stuff. There’s a great article specifically written for DJ’s trying to master their Technics turntables, with tons of great tips for new and old users alike, and a great article for the experienced covering advanced mixing. Definitely worth checking out.

TurnTableTech.com

This is one last website you won’t want to miss, as it carries loads of Technics parts for competitive prices. There’s a pretty detailed do-it-yourself section here as well, though it’s dry and 100% text – a lot of good information there if you are determined enough.

There are plenty of great websites to help you on your way to DJ stardom. With these sites in tow, you’ll be that much closer to getting back on the road and working the crowds.

The legendary Technics is unquestionably the creator of the most intensely durable turntables of the last thirty years. So when it came time to release a quality mixer, it’s interesting that rather than piling on innovative features, knobs and meters, they’ve taken a turn in the opposite direction and released a back to basics style mixer perfect for battle and club DJ’s looking for a simple way to keep the beats loud and proud with the tried and true Technics sound.

So let’s take a look at the “official DMC world championship mixer” and figure out if it’s what you’re looking for, shall we?

Simplicity is Beautiful

The goal with this mixer is to make the DJ experience as easy and hassle free as possible, and Technics delivers on all counts. The features have definitely been pared back – there’s literally a crossfader, a reverse button, a gain and EQ for each of two channels, and finally five inputs and two outputs.

The crossfader is specifically crafted to be ergonomic, and rest assured that it provides a very smooth ride from the lowest setting to the highest. And since this is developed for battle DJ’s, there is a second crossfader included so you have a backup in case you pound the snot out of your first one. The reverse button lets you add a little backwards style to your sound, and can buff up your scratching.

The two channels sound great, especially considering with the lack of features. The EQ controls the sound with authority. Honestly, it’s enough to make you wonder why some DJ’s invest thousands of dollars in additional equipment when you can craft your sound into a powerhouse with this simple mixer.

The SH-EX1200 weighs in at under eight pounds – startlingly small and easy to carry, but still made to take a beating. There are many reports of these models lasting well over five years with little or no maintenance. It’s got the Technics logo on it, and it definitely carries along that “built like a tank” feel.

Www.getinthemix.co.uk lists this mixer at £287.62, and www.bananadj.com prices this bad boy at £339.25. In the USA, www.panasonic.com says this mixer’s worth $499.95. Considering the quality of the sound and its durability, the SH-EX1200’s a great buy.

Extremely Limited

There’s a lot of good to be said about the SH-EX1200 mixer, but then there’s the one problem that simply won’t go away: it’s unbelievably limited. Production values are going to suffer as a result, and as good as it sounds more expensive mixers could definitely improve. Even so, for the cash you’re spending and considering what you’re working with, the sound is incredible.

The EQ is somewhat limited as well, as there is no mid-range, and there is no way to noodle with the crossfader curve, which might get on the nerves of some DJ’s used to more options.

Conclusion: For the Money, There’s None Better

It’s basic and limited, sure, but that’s the appeal. Ideal for battle DJ’s, the SH-EX1200 will endure your worst and keep the sound pure for years with little maintenance.

If you’re looking for something that’s simple and sounds good, this is the mixer for you. If not, then you’d better look elsewhere.

Technics is the unchallenged master of turntables – since the SL-1200 came out thirty years ago, it’s become the most popular and best selling machine of its kind. Though Technics has tweaked the SL-1200’s features slightly over the years, it’s never dared to change too much.

That all changes with the SL-DZ1200, their new and first digital direct drive turntable sporting MP3 and CD playback. Most DJ’s are skeptical at best about this new direction; many argue that nothing will ever sound as good as vinyl. It’s hard to argue this point, as MP3 files are encoded to save disk space, and therefore lower sound quality.

Is the SL-DZ1200 an innovation worthy of the Technics name, or is it the first misstep by a company previously beloved for its high quality turntables?

More Options For the Modern DJ

There’s a lot of potential in this turntable. The addition of CD and MP3 usage was a long time coming, but it clearly had to happen; Technics had to adapt with the times. The positive side of this – and the one that’s most likely to make you fall in love with this turntable at first touch – is that the number of options you have as DJ have ballooned. Seriously. Not only is this puppy equipped with vinyl simulation effects and built to feel and look like its older vinyl loving editions, but it’s capable of saving loops into sample banks that can be recalled at any time and played simultaneously – even store them on an SD card and recall them at your next gig. Add to that a reverse switch, cues you can save and recall on the fly and the ability to do some freewheeling and you’ve got one mean machine that’ll make you the life of any party.

For Every Pro, Its Con

Now here’s where the groans will begin. First off, there’s some lag time when loading CD’s. I’ve heard anywhere from eight to thirty seconds, neither of which is particularly good for your average DJ. That being said, if you can’t work the crowd by yourself for thirty seconds, then you should probably find another line of work. Even so, it is a drag and could cause some headaches if the lagtime catches you unaware.

Next, purists will scream that anything that has “vinyl simulation” is not a real turntable, and honestly, they’re right. The SL-DZ1200 does a very good job of emulating the vinyl sound and the scratching is addictively easy, but an imitation of vinyl does not sound like authentic vinyl.

The loss of audio quality is noticeable as well if you’re not careful with your MP3 files. Even at higher bit rates, MP3 songs simply aren’t as fresh as when they’re served piping hot off your vinyl.

All very well and good, but the straw that’s likely to break your wallet is the high, high price. Technics’ website lists this powerhouse at $1,199.95. That’s a lot of money to shell out on a model that is as far from perfect as this one.

Conclusion: A Mixed Bag

There’s a lot to like about the SL-DZ1200, but there’s a lot to detract from your experience too. Even though you can ad lib with a crowd for thirty seconds, it’s not OK to have to wait every time you load a new CD on your turntable. That being said, when it loads, there’s a whole lot of opportunities for a DJ to shine and show his or her own original style. There’s simply no other turntable out there that empowers DJ’s like the SL-DZ1200.

Forty years have passed since the revolutionary Technics line was created by Panasonic. Since then, Technics has released tens of turntables and numerous accessories, all of which have combined to form the backbone of modern dance music and the foundation of hip hop.

Beginnings

It all started in 1969, when Panasonic created the Technics brand and released the very first pro turntable utilizing the direct drive technology. Back in the day, belt drive motors were all the rage – mostly because the belt drive was much more affordable to produce. The SL-1100 was the turntable that caught the public’s eye thanks to Matsushita’s marketing and it’s appeal to typical consumers. The unique functionality of the SL-1100 brought about the crazy moves DJ’s pull out on a daily basis in today’s world, such as scratching records.

As effective as this early model was, Technics’ true innovation was right around the corner.

Creativity and Functionality: The Peak

Technics’ main claim to fame revolves around the SL-1200, a turntable so amazingly popular it has ascended into turntable legend. Originating in 1972, the Tec 12 became the most popular and best selling turntable of all time, moving over three million units in over thirty years of release – that’s right, it’s still available after all this time. The SL-1200MK2 turntable became the machine by which all other systems were judged thanks in part to its innovative pitch control features.

The Tec 12 was a hard act to follow, though. Technics produced many other electric appliances, but ultimately Panasonic shelved everything else and limited Technics to turntables and accessories only. They tried their hand at new lines beyond the SL-1200MK2, but none picked up like the Tec 12.

Today

Technics hasn’t released a genuine new turntable in many years, completely satisfied to continue improving on the basic foundation of that SL-1200MK2 model. Even without much in the way of technical advancements, the new releases continue to sell and perform well for professional DJ’s around the world.

Most recently, Technics has incorporated the digital music revolution into its stellar SL-1200 series turntables. Utilizing MP3 technology, DJ’s can now store hundreds of high quality recordings on tiny SD cards. Enthusiasts aren’t thrilled with this development – Technics’ own website admits that using encoded music results in a loss of sound quality. Even so, Technics is revered the world over as the creator of the most enduring quality turntables, and likely will continue to be for many years to come.

The Technics brand is the best known turntable name, and without question it’s been copies and imitated, but not other company has come close to the kind of popularity and durability of the SL-1200MK2. Released in 1978, it is still available for purchase in some form even today. Sure, there have been advancements since then – as of this publication, Technics has gone digital and embraced the MP3 revolution. Three million units later, is popular opinion correct? Or is the Tec 12 an overblown victim of its own hype?

Durable Stand, Mindblowing Sound

Probably the biggest compliment you’re going to hear about the SL-1200 is its ridiculous durability. Honestly, beyond casing the whole thing in sheet metal, there’s no way you could make a more reliable machine. The deck is super heavy, as is the plinth, and it sits on four feet that are adjustable for height. There are literally hundreds of stories of DJ’s dropping their Tec 12 on the floor by accident, heart stopping because surely the turntable is broken – only to find that their machine is perfectly fine without so much as a blemish.

This is a direct drive motor turntable with a big “Start/Stop” button that controls the action. Cartridges are easy to swap in and out thanks to the headshell, which is separate. The tonearm is smooth enough in action and even adjustable.

The turntable comes with the one headshell, a metal plate and alignment gauge for the headshell, and of course the screws to put it all together.

The sound is nothing short of amazing. Your beats will erupt from this machine full and round and precise. Even the old models can pound out with the best of them, though there are definite limitations to the dynamics and the sound can be a bit warm at times. Still, especially for the price, the noise this puppy can make is mindblowing.

Amazon.com lists the SL-1200MK2 at $583.31 and Ambient Weather has it for $565.45. That’s chump change as far as turntables go.

Limitations . . .

The SL-1200 has its fair share of detractors, who have criticized everything from its aluminum platter to its included mat. Some feel the felt padding unnecessarily limits the tonearm. New models offering the MP3 capabilities are also easy targets: as an MP3 involves compressing data, unavoidably the sound quality is going to be reduced. This is not acceptable for audiophiles and purists.

Everyone can find something to complain about if they look hard enough, right? But what’s the honest, objective truth?

Conclusion: Affordable, Built Like a Tank

The Tec 12 is built like a tank, as durable as any turntable can be, and it can power a mean sound that still keeps the world’s dance grooves hopping thirty years after its introduction. Though nitpickers can whine as much as they want, no other machine in the market supplies a DJ with as solid a foundation as the Tec 12 – which is all you could want from a turntable.