shhh...listen

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $130.00 from Custom Hi-Fi

Summary:
I have owned the SL-D2 since I bought it new in 1979. It has performed flawlessly.
Not a top of the line for sure but a very decent performer for your average Joe the plumber. Since I also own a Technics SL-1400 which is direct offshoot of the famous SL-1200s, I will compare the two. Yes, the SL-D2 in not made for DJ use. It is aimed for home use. It has a plastic top plinth instead of metal like the 1400. The platter isn't as massive but the motor and tonearm seem to be essentially the same. I don't think that there is a significant difference in sound quality between the two. A couple of simple mods can help either turntable: 1. apply some sort of damping like plasti-clay to the underside (inside) of the turntable to reduce motor vibrations from reaching the tonearm and 2. experiment with different record mats.

Strengths:
Speed is very stable. Decent tonearm

Weaknesses:
Resonant base (plinth) and platter somewhat lightweight.

Similar Products Used:
Technics SL-1400
Rega P2

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Friendly Frost

Summary:
I bought this turntable way back in the late 70's and it is still playing great.I was going to buy a new direct drive turntable because i was having a problem with the speed drifting really bad,it just would not stay locked in.I read another review of this turntable,and he said to spray the strobe locking mechanism with some contact cleaner,which i did.Now it plays like the day i bought it.I just installed a new audio technica cartridge,and my old record collection of about 100 lp's never sounded better.This is not a high end turntable like the SL-1200 that the DJ'S use,but for home use i think it might last another 25 years.What a bargin.

Strengths:
GREAT SOUNDING TURNTABLE-DIRECT DRIVE-SEMI AUTOMATIC OPERATION-GREAT CUEING MECHANISM.

Weaknesses:
NOW THAT THE STROBE SPEED IS CURED,NOTHING AT ALL.

Similar Products Used:
NONE-THIS IS THE ONLY TURNTABLE I EVER OWNED.

Price Paid:  $60.00 from eBay

Summary:
The Technics SL D2 has always been an under rated turntable. Lost behind the glamour of the 1200 series the SL offers the budget minded audiophile a solid, ruggedly simple, well performing turntable. The SL is not a DJ table and attempting to compare it to the 1200 is ridiculous. The SL is a non-professional turntable but one that gives up little in the performance parameters most important to the home audiophile. The SL has a good tone arm, supports light tracking cartridges and offers rock steady speed. The SL is a manual start turntable and is augmented by one of the most smoothly damped cueing mechanisms I have seen on a turtable. My original SL D2 met an early demise (after 20 years of use) during a power spike caused by an electrical storm. I purchased a Dual 1229 as a replacement (because I always wanted to own a Dual) but after 18 months of use I longed for the simplicity and performance of my old SL....the opportunity came with a "Buy It Now" option for this "new" SL D2.

Strengths:
Simplicity and best performance for the dollar

Weaknesses:
Interconnect cable permanently attached

Similar Products Used:
Dual 1229 and prevously owned SL D2

Price Paid:  $10.00 from private

Summary:
I've been spinning vinyl for around 35 years. Own 2 other Pioneer turntables and 2 other Technics turntables. They are all belt drive. Saw this at a friends garage, said he'd take $10 for it, brought it home. Left side didn't work, turned out to be a bad RCA connector. Found it by removing the bottom, and checking both cables with a cheap Radio Shack multimeter I have. Took the connector apart, the center wire was broken off the solder on the plug end. Cut it off, spliced a new connector on. Presto. Plays great. It had a cheapo needle/cart on it, so I plugged in the high-end headshell/cart/needle assembly from my "best" table, a Pioneer PL-516. Guess what, every bit as good sound as any of my other turntables. AND GET THIS, MUCH MORE STABLE on the speed than my other tables. Rock solid actually. The belt drive tables I have walk around pretty much, and will never be rock solid. Also the belts melt away after 5+ years, esp. if stored in hot attics, etc. And belts aren't cheap, either. I consider myself a low-end audiophile. This fills the bill nicely. Having a good ear, and can hear things in music most others can't, this is a great turntable. Will most likely be selling all but 1 of my other belt drive turntables now, no need for them, that's just how good this is.

Strengths:
Rock solid speed, dead nuts on. Zero variation of strobe walk. Set it and play away. Cheap as dirt used now. Not as nice looking as a Pioneer, but every bit as good. Accepts the Pioneer screw-on, 4-pin headshell, easily, which looks a little nicer actually.

Weaknesses:
This one had a broken RCA jack, and was only playing out of one channel, which is most likely why I got it so cheap, and why it was retired at one time. Easy fix though.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer PL-516, 2 other Technics, one other Pioneer.

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Flea Market

Summary:
To the guy above me, Please never write a review agian, Thanks. I picked this up for really cheap at a flea market, no problems with it, except it sends an especially quite signal to my amp, I think it might be loose phono cable, or the needle. Other than that these tables are great for me, wouldnt pay over $35 for them though