Technics SL-D2

[shane]

So I've been wanting to buy a turntable and I really don't want to spend a ton. I'm looking pretty hard at the new P1 from Rega. My only issue is if I get into vinyl more I'm going to want a better tt so. So I got a Technics SL-D2 from my Dad. I figure if I like it I'll better somethingn better than the P1. So can anyone give me some info on the SL-D2? Setup & performance tips, maintenance, cartridge replacement etc? My Dad has had it for years and it hasn't been used in a long time? Thanks.

Shane

[Kent Teffeteller]

Hi,

I used to own an SL-D2 myself! It is an auto-return machine and very good speed control and is reliable. It has a decent tonearm on it and prefers low mass cartridges. The pitch control is occasionally known to glitch. Usually it means that it's dirty. The machine was made in 1980. The Shure M 97xE or Audio-Technica AT 440 MLa will work nice on it. This machine cost $199 new then. I liked mine! I upgraded to a modded Technics SL-1600. It is DD too and has suspension and is fully automatic if you like. Gentle on records and my daily driver.

[paul cbc]

Hi,

I used to own an SL-D2 myself! It is an auto-return machine and very good speed control and is reliable. It has a decent tonearm on it and prefers low mass cartridges. The pitch control is occasionally known to glitch. Usually it means that it's dirty. The machine was made in 1980. The Shure M 97xE or Audio-Technica AT 440 MLa will work nice on it. This machine cost $199 new then. I liked mine! I upgraded to a modded Technics SL-1600. It is DD too and has suspension and is fully automatic if you like. Gentle on records and my daily driver.

Good advice!

Stick with what you've got and enjoy. Pick up one of those cartridges and play some records. If you decide to upgrade, take the cartridge with you.

Good luck!
Paul

[shane]

Good advice!

Stick with what you've got and enjoy. Pick up one of those cartridges and play some records. If you decide to upgrade, take the cartridge with you.

Good luck!
Paul

If I were to decide to purchase a P3 later would one of those cartridges work fine with that? I'm rather new to the analog end of hifi so I have no idea. Beyond MC and MM are cartridges fairly universal?

Shane

[vinylrec]

Keep it and use it. I've got an SL-1500 with an Audio Technica 440MLa cart and it sounds great! That Technics will last you many years.
Enjoy!!

[filper]

I have the D1. At the time I bought it I decided not to opt for the auto-return feature of the D2 (one less thing to go wrong).

It sat in the basement for 20 years. When I resurrected it a few years ago, it fired right up and much to my surprise, the counterbalance weight was bang on.

The stylus on my original cartridge didn't fair as well... it broke.

All I had to do was pick up a new AT cartridge and I was good to go (after a quick cleaning).

See if your dad still has the cartridge alignment tool that came with it.

[vinyl anachronist]

This TT cost $200 when new, but that is over $500 in today's money. That's comparable to a P3 or another modern TT.

Whoa, whoa, whoa...WHOA!

I owned the SL-2D for less than a year, and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. To compare it to a Rega Planar 3 in any way, shape or form is crazy!

[Jeff Wong]

Years ago, I used a Technics SL-D202, and it was easily bested by an ancient AR-XA belt drive rig, even with its crappy arm. I'm sure there are people getting good sound out of vintage turntables like Garrard and Thorens with modern arms mounted on them, but, generally speaking, the performance of modern turntables is better than the old stuff.

[vinyl anachronist]

Well, I have never heard a Rega. I was just comparing the price.

If you actually took the time to compare the turntables, you'd see huge differences in build quality, performance, and value. There is no way the Technics could possibly retail for $500 now. Most of the cheap, plasticky Japanese mass-market 'tables have pretty much stayed the same price over the last couple of decades...that's the only way there's a market for them!

[slinkyfarm]

I have an SL-D2 on my secondary system. Pitch control is more reliable than my 1200, but the 1200 is an early one (knobs instead of a slide for pitch) and both could use a good cleaning. When I switch from 33 to 45 and back on the SL-D2 I need to make a minor pitch adjustment, but it holds true from one record to the next if I don't change speeds.

[John Carsell]

Keep it and use it. I've got an SL-1500 with an Audio Technica 440MLa cart and it sounds great! That Technics will last you many years.
Enjoy!!

That's right. :thumbsup:

I'm on year number 27 with mine.

Like Kent said earlier, it works very well with the Shure M97Xe cartridge.

If yours still runs good, I say keep it.

[vinylrec]

That's right. :thumbsup:

I'm on year number 27 with mine.

Like Kent said earlier, it works very well with the Shure M97Xe cartridge.

If yours still runs good, I say keep it.

The Shure 15 Type VxMR was also a great match with my SL-1500! Too bad they no longer being produced :(


John, do you have a SL-1500?

[apileocole]

Well Shane I'd guess the Technics is a great table for the moment. Get a good cartridge, like the Shure listed above. Remember never to use a worn out stylus (needle), that and bad alignment/weight/anti-skate adjustment is what wears out and ruins records. Enjoy some imperfect records as you learn up on getting alignment just so and about cleaning and caring for records. By the time you're hep to the vinyl jive and ready to get into collecting some real good discs, then you can consider getting a better rig. If you get a real good cartridge, you can keep the cartridge for a better table if you wish. I'm not impressed by the Technics sound wise, I think they're well built and more suited for heavy use applications or for a second system (I have tried a Technics against my early '80's Pioneer table in my 2nd system; the Technics was built more ruggedly but the Pioneer blew it away sound wise).

[parker63]

I've been lurking around these forums for the last few weeks with a renewed interest in vinyl. I wasn't sure if I still had my old turntable up in the attic so I did a check tonight and there it was...a Technics SL-D2.

Now this has been sitting in a cardboard box for at least 20 years unused. I checked out the cartridge (the stylus was broken off) and it's an Audio Technica AT96E. I also found another cartridge in the box which looks brand new: appears to be a Shure R25XT. I don't know if either of these cartridges are any good, or whether they're both crap and I should trash them and get one of the cartridges mentioned above. So I'm looking for anyone's expertise in this area. I couldn't find a manual for the table anywhere in the box, so I may need some direction towards an online PDF on this puppy anywhere in order to know how to properly set the tonearm weight, speed pitch, etc, if such a thing exists.

My main reason for digging this out is the possibility of doing some LP to CD transfers of some stuff that was never released on CD. And, if that goes well, possibly doing a search for some of the good Zeppelin LP's and transferring them, too. I don't think I would be playing vinyl every day, just every once in awhile for some hard to find stuff.

One more thing: as my memory serves, I faintly remember that there was some type of "buzz" that would come up now and again from the wires connecting from the cartridge to the tonearm head (? I don't know what you call it) When I would tap on one of the wires, the buzz would go away. Does this sound like the symptom of a bad cartridge, or a bad tonearm headpiece? Here is a pic of the part I'm talking about:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6365/atcartridgeat8.jpg

Anyway, if anyone can be of assistance to any or all of these questions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks very much.

[Rolf Erickson]

I've been lurking around these forums for the last few weeks with a renewed interest in vinyl. I wasn't sure if I still had my old turntable up in the attic so I did a check tonight and there it was...a Technics SL-D2.

Now this has been sitting in a cardboard box for at least 20 years unused. I checked out the cartridge (the stylus was broken off) and it's an Audio Technica AT96E. I also found another cartridge in the box which looks brand new: appears to be a Shure R25XT. I don't know if either of these cartridges are any good, or whether they're both crap and I should trash them and get one of the cartridges mentioned above. So I'm looking for anyone's expertise in this area. I couldn't find a manual for the table anywhere in the box, so I may need some direction towards an online PDF on this puppy anywhere in order to know how to properly set the tonearm weight, speed pitch, etc, if such a thing exists.

My main reason for digging this out is the possibility of doing some LP to CD transfers of some stuff that was never released on CD. And, if that goes well, possibly doing a search for some of the good Zeppelin LP's and transferring them, too. I don't think I would be playing vinyl every day, just every once in awhile for some hard to find stuff.

One more thing: as my memory serves, I faintly remember that there was some type of "buzz" that would come up now and again from the wires connecting from the cartridge to the tonearm head (? I don't know what you call it) When I would tap on one of the wires, the buzz would go away. Does this sound like the symptom of a bad cartridge, or a bad tonearm headpiece? Here is a pic of the part I'm talking about:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6365/atcartridgeat8.jpg

Anyway, if anyone can be of assistance to any or all of these questions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks very much.

A loose wire in the headshell will exibit this symptom. Try pulling them off and putting them back on, one at a time to see which one is the "hummer".. They may require some "squeezing" to tighten up... Best of luck. Rolf.

[Plan9]

I thought I'll revive this thread because I have a Technics SL-D2 too and it serves me well. I have had no problems with it.

I currently have a Grado Prestige Gold cart installed on it. I know nothing about tonenarms effective mass or high/low compliance carts.
Could someone explain to me what it's about and if my current cart is a good match for my turntable? I mean I love the sound of it but if another cart could possibly be a better match I'd like to know!

[Plan9]

Bump?

[Daniel Thomas]

I dropped by Hymie's in Mpls today to see if that Hardan Kardon 330c was still there (yes!), and saw a MCS 6603 sitting on the shelf for $17. This MCS model is a refurbished Technics SL-D2, sold by JC Penny. The deck appeared to be in good shape, but needs a good cleaning; I'm shocked every time I see vintage hi-fi gear that's just caked in dust and grime. Didn't anyone take care of their stereos and turntables?

Anyway, I am sorely tempted to grab this turntable this weekend, and grab the Harmon Kardon while I'm at it. My plan is to give it to family as a gift, and I'm sure they'll enjoy it. For the price, you really can't go wrong, and I have a few tricks for improving the performance of the table.

On the downside, yeah, it's plastic. I really don't like plastic turntables. But I've found that these decks respond very favorably to 5-8 lbs. of modeling clay packed inside.

[Plan9]

On the downside, yeah, it's plastic. I really don't like plastic turntables. But I've found that these decks respond very favorably to 5-8 lbs. of modeling clay packed inside.

I have read that too, but don't worry a bit, for that price, I wouldn't think you can buy a better turntable! It won't sound like $17! :righton:

[McGruder]

I have the D1. At the time I bought it I decided not to opt for the auto-return feature of the D2 (one less thing to go wrong).

It sat in the basement for 20 years. When I resurrected it a few years ago, it fired right up and much to my surprise, the counterbalance weight was bang on.

The stylus on my original cartridge didn't fair as well... it broke.

All I had to do was pick up a new AT cartridge and I was good to go (after a quick cleaning).

See if your dad still has the cartridge alignment tool that came with it.

I also had the SL-D1. I used that table with a solid state Heathkit receiver through high school and college, and loved it. I ended up giving it to my nephew around 20 years ago, and he still has it. Now I have a 1210.

[Rolf Erickson]

Yeah, most old stereo stuff has been sitting for a decade or two in a dirty place like a garage or storage area.. So they come with dust and grime... It cleans off quickly with some 409 or windex.. And you have a nice shiny item to play with... For $17.00 it's a NB'er... Clean it and put it up on Craig's List and make $30.00 fast..

Get it.

[McLover]

The MCS mentioned and the Harmon-Kardon 330c are both good buys. That model is one of my favorite receivers of that era. That MCS is one of the better ones and is definitely Technics built. Will serve you well. The Grado Gold is also a fine bet on that tonearm. I now use a SL-1200 Mk II (paid $50 for it at a pawnshop in good shape except needing cleaning).

[Daniel Thomas]

Thanks to everyone for the input. And anybody in the Twin Cities MUST get to Hymie's Records. The new owners have told me they have around 30 turntables buried in the basement, and they intend to bring those out and sell every one. And as you can see, the prices are exceptional. So give them a visit and see what they have in storage.

Anyway, I'm back with the turntable and receiver, and tried out the table. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The platter spun for a while, but for the most part, no spinning. I'm in the process of cleaning all the gears and parts out, which are very greasy, so I'm hoping it's this.

Here's a couple screenshots from the underside. I'm going to plug it in again and see if anything happens. Any ideas would be helpful. I don't have any Deoxit, so I'll have to pick up a can on Monday.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/takahata1973/IMG_0001-3.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/takahata1973/IMG_0002-4.jpg

[Daniel Thomas]

Okay, the platter and engine are working fine. The scrubbing did the trick. The only catch now is that the auto-return kicks in too soon, but that can easily be fixed by turning that concealed screw to the side of the tonearm. After I make sure that everything works properly, I can scrub down the tonearm and the outer board, and then get to work on the modeling clay. The speed control definitely needs some Deoxit. For $17, a real bargain!

Again, I know I'm always repeating myself here, but pay a visit to Hymie's Records in Minneapolis. Here's their new website, which I hope they can take advantage of:

http://www.hymiesrecords.com/

[steve622]

I have not used this turntable in a while. When I do now sound is not comming out of one of the speakers. Just a humm. The other speaker is working?