For the past thirty years, Technics has been regarded as the unchallenged king of turntables thanks to the stella SL-1200 model. Since its release, it has become the most popular and greatest selling turntable of all time with few genuine updates to the original design.
Technics has finally released the SL-DZ1200, the first digital direct drive turntable, and the first ever of its kind to feature CD and MP3 playback. DJ's across the country question whether the model can imitate a genuine vinyl turntable. Since MP3 files are encoded to save disk space, they naturally have lower sound quality. There's no arguing this fact.
But is the sound quality horrible, or can a DJ ignore it and still expect to be able to play professionally with the SL-DZ1200? Isn't carrying a memory card in your pocket easier than dragging boxes and boxes of LP's to each show?
Additional Possibilities For Modern DJ's
The good news is that the SL-DZ1200 has a lot of potential that, with enough hard work, can truly reap great rewards. Bringing MP3 files and CD playback into the fold was smart, as it's bound to happen later if not now. Technics also includes many options that DJ's can use during their shows. The SL-DZ1200 emulates the vinyl sound fairly well, and is built to look and feel like an authentic SL-1200.
DJ's record loops into sample banks and can recall them whenever they feel like it, even play them simultaneously. By loading them onto an SD card, they can save their loops for the next show. DJ's can also recall and save various cues. Technics also includes the ability to freewheel, and a nice reverse switch that can add a new sound to your repertoire. When used smartly, these options will create one heck of a touring turntable that will keep your show fresh for hours.
The Down Side
Unfortunately for Technics, there are just as many downsides to this bad boy as there are benefits. First off, there is a distressing lag time when loading CD's. I've seen complaints anywhere from eight to thirty seconds. That's a lot of dead air for a beginning DJ, but if you're a professional you can work the crowd for half a minute while you get your music in gear. Even so, if you're not prepared for it, this can cause some headaches.
In addition to the lag trouble, the sound goes through a "vinyl simulation," which is obviously not a real turntable sound. The naysayers are right. The SL-DZ1200 may do a great job of emulating the sound of vinyl and it's easy to scratch, but for purists, imitation vinyl is still recognizable from authentic vinyl.
But by far the worst problem with Technics' SL-DZ1200 turntable is its sound quality. IF you're dealing with MP3 files, even at the highest bit rates, the sound quality can get sketchy at high volumes. It's never going to match the sound of a good vinyl, even if you're careful about ripping your CD's.
And then there's the backbreaking problem: its ridiculous price. The SL-DZ1200 is going for a whopping $1,199.95 according to Technics' website. Who can afford to shell out a couple thousand dollars on a turntable whose sound doesn't even equal that of machines thirty years older? Buying it simply doesn't make sense.
A Final Conclusion: SL-DZ1200 Too Little For Too Much
As great as the SL-DZ1200's features are, its skyline price and numerous performance issues make it hard to recommend. You might be able to talk a live crowd through thirty seconds of depressing silence, and you might be able to scratch like a madman and store all your songs on an SD card, but at the end of the day a digital turntable still does not sound like a good vinyl player. That being said, all the features on this monster make it fun to work over live.
But fun never paid anybody enough to afford the mortgage. Does the SL-DZ1200 live up to its Technics name? Depressing as it is to say, no, it doesn't. - 29874
Technics has finally released the SL-DZ1200, the first digital direct drive turntable, and the first ever of its kind to feature CD and MP3 playback. DJ's across the country question whether the model can imitate a genuine vinyl turntable. Since MP3 files are encoded to save disk space, they naturally have lower sound quality. There's no arguing this fact.
But is the sound quality horrible, or can a DJ ignore it and still expect to be able to play professionally with the SL-DZ1200? Isn't carrying a memory card in your pocket easier than dragging boxes and boxes of LP's to each show?
Additional Possibilities For Modern DJ's
The good news is that the SL-DZ1200 has a lot of potential that, with enough hard work, can truly reap great rewards. Bringing MP3 files and CD playback into the fold was smart, as it's bound to happen later if not now. Technics also includes many options that DJ's can use during their shows. The SL-DZ1200 emulates the vinyl sound fairly well, and is built to look and feel like an authentic SL-1200.
DJ's record loops into sample banks and can recall them whenever they feel like it, even play them simultaneously. By loading them onto an SD card, they can save their loops for the next show. DJ's can also recall and save various cues. Technics also includes the ability to freewheel, and a nice reverse switch that can add a new sound to your repertoire. When used smartly, these options will create one heck of a touring turntable that will keep your show fresh for hours.
The Down Side
Unfortunately for Technics, there are just as many downsides to this bad boy as there are benefits. First off, there is a distressing lag time when loading CD's. I've seen complaints anywhere from eight to thirty seconds. That's a lot of dead air for a beginning DJ, but if you're a professional you can work the crowd for half a minute while you get your music in gear. Even so, if you're not prepared for it, this can cause some headaches.
In addition to the lag trouble, the sound goes through a "vinyl simulation," which is obviously not a real turntable sound. The naysayers are right. The SL-DZ1200 may do a great job of emulating the sound of vinyl and it's easy to scratch, but for purists, imitation vinyl is still recognizable from authentic vinyl.
But by far the worst problem with Technics' SL-DZ1200 turntable is its sound quality. IF you're dealing with MP3 files, even at the highest bit rates, the sound quality can get sketchy at high volumes. It's never going to match the sound of a good vinyl, even if you're careful about ripping your CD's.
And then there's the backbreaking problem: its ridiculous price. The SL-DZ1200 is going for a whopping $1,199.95 according to Technics' website. Who can afford to shell out a couple thousand dollars on a turntable whose sound doesn't even equal that of machines thirty years older? Buying it simply doesn't make sense.
A Final Conclusion: SL-DZ1200 Too Little For Too Much
As great as the SL-DZ1200's features are, its skyline price and numerous performance issues make it hard to recommend. You might be able to talk a live crowd through thirty seconds of depressing silence, and you might be able to scratch like a madman and store all your songs on an SD card, but at the end of the day a digital turntable still does not sound like a good vinyl player. That being said, all the features on this monster make it fun to work over live.
But fun never paid anybody enough to afford the mortgage. Does the SL-DZ1200 live up to its Technics name? Depressing as it is to say, no, it doesn't. - 29874
About the Author:
The Technics SL-1200 and Technics SL-1210 make up the highest selling and most popular turntable series of all time -- the SL-1200 is even available today, thirty years after its initial release! Perhaps spend the money and purchase a piece of hip hop history today? Only buy from an authorized Technics supplier so you'll know you're getting genuine equipment for a fair price.
