1st generation of Technics Sl 1200

Technically speaking, the "GLD" in the ad description is out of place as this is not the Gold edition of the MKII, but the MK Nought, if you will, the predecessor of the MKII. Arm settings are fiddly, but once it gets going, this turns out to be a well-balanced and reliable performer. It doesn't have the pitch slider of the MKII nor the quartz-lock direct drive, and its arm is noticeably different (resembling those of automatic or semi-automatic decks, which this is not). Its looks aren't great either, as it is essentially a square box with a big bottom on rather ugly legs. But the performance, almost forty years down the line, is still astonishing. With a heavier cartridge, it will provide a lot of pleasure, and notwithstanding audiophile gibberish, this table has much more to offer than your average "entry-level audiophile turntable", which is likely to consist of a piece of MDF and some string and won't be around in 2050. If you want a direct drive and an alternative to the layman's MKII and heirs, this is worth looking at, especially considering the ridiculous price. Don't let its DJ pedigree scare you off. This is a solid state turntable.Read full review