Technics SL-1500C

Manual Direct Drive Turntable

Technics SL-1500C

Manual Direct Drive Turntable
$1,299.95
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Overview

The technologies acquired through the development of the SL-1200 Series and the high-end SL-1000R model were lavishly inserted into the motor drive unit, a key part of the turntable. The motor exclusively tunes the single-rotor, coreless direct-drive motor adopted by the SL-1200GR in order to read the high rotation accuracy and high-precision signals of the record. Optimal motor control is conducted for the inertial mass of the two-layer structure platter on which the vinyl record is placed with deadening rubber on the entire back surface to eliminate unwanted resonance in the aluminum die-cast platter to eliminate the rotation irregularity called cogging. 
The High Notes
Decades of Evolution

Decades of Evolution

The SL1500C comes from a long line of Technics turntables loved by both music lovers and DJs. This precision-made turntable will last a lifetime and comes ready to go with a pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red and a built-in phono preamp. Upgrading cartridges is also super easy with its very adjustable tonearm.
Coreless Direct Drive Motor

Coreless Direct Drive Motor

Technics eliminates the cogging effect that plagues direct drive with their Coreless motor system. With this great motor and their edge-weighted highly damped platter you get great speed consistent with the fast-starting and stopping direct drive is capable of.
Rigid Frame with Great Damping

Rigid Frame with Great Damping

Technics uses a solid two-layer body with special isolation feet to reduce external resonances. The result is a very heavy turntable that works in all kinds of environments, delivering pure music where other turntables might be subject to acoustic feedback.

The Technics SL-1500C Manual Direct Drive Turntable offers some degree of automation for those who want a little more than a manual turntable and it happens to be an excellent turntable on its own.

Technics has been making great turntables since 1970 and their 1200 model introduced in 1972 is still a classic. The SL1500C is based on that same great design. It is a direct drive model which offers instant start-up and the tonearm is first-rate and highly adjustable, allowing you to add a better cartridge down the road. The heavy chassis is very well damped and the whole table is just built like a tank. It comes with the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, which allows you to upgrade the sound just by changing the stylus to the Ortofon 2M Blue stylus, and the built in phono preamp perfectly matches the Ortofon, but you can defeat it if you wish. The icing on the cake is the auto lift at the end, which is pretty cool.


Reviews

Customer Reviews

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Dave I
Love it

This is a lot of bang for the buck. I have a AT33sa MC mounted to it and it sounds fantastic. I don't use the MM pre within the unit, though I tried it with the Ortofon Red that came with the table and it was fine. The arm lift feels fragile but works perfectly with over a year of use. The automatic lift at the end of an LP works perfectly - frankly this feature being missing says more about HiFi snobbery than anything I can think of. It saves your needle when you step away or go to sleep and has zero interaction with the arm when playing. Compared to my old belt drive, piano passages, especially on inside tracks of an LP sound much better. I attribute that to the low W&F of the unit. The cover is a notable feature too. It removes instantly and suspends itself when open very smoothly. Adjustments on the tonearm can be made to every axis easily. The arm characteristics are middle of the road so that matching a cartridge is easy and you have many to choose from.

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Wild Bill in Cincy
great turntable

built like a tank. upgraded to the ortafon blue. well worth it. replaced a Bang & Orlufson about 20 years old. difference was ama zing!! rediscovering all my vinyl albums. if you are an old vinyl lover upgrade your equipment it is well worth it!!

J
Jimbo
Outstanding turntable, great service from Audio Advice!

Spent a few hours scouring reviews, weighing different features against my interests and narrowed down to this and another turntable. spoke with the rep at Audio Advice and chose this Technics, and am very glad I did. amazing sound, total quality construction, very easy to set up and use. I literally received it the next day and had it up and running soon after. I am a happy listener!