Interesting Technics turntables
TurntablesHaving been in the turntable game for over 30 years, Technics put out a wide range of interesting and iconic pieces from the late 1970s through the 1980s.
On the interesting side, we have this SL-15 from 1981, with an MSRP of $850. The SL-15 had some features that made it really stand out.
Linear tracking - the tonearm travels along the top of the record player in a horizontal line as opposed to the traditional pivoting tonearms we are used to.
Programming / automation - the turntable allowed you to select and program which tracks you wanted to hear. To the left of the view window, you'll see a series of buttons. These allowed you to directly access tracks
Hang on the wall - the linear tracking and cover allowed this turntable to be hung on a wall. In the advertisements, they even touted that you could hang it on the ceiling. Ahh the 80s...
Another interesting model was the SL-V5 from 1983. Although it didn't come with the fancy programming features of the SL-15, it's vertical design made it incredibly convenient for those looking for a turntable with a small footprint. Its design was in line with the trend of vertical CD players that were just hitting the market. Even today, 25 years later, it has a simple, elegant aesthetic to it.
Both of these models are pretty rare but every now and then, you'll see one pop up on eBay.
In doing the research on these two, I came across lots of other models and was amazed at just how many they released in the early to mid 1980s. Today, when we think of Technics, the iconic 1200s probably comes to mind. If you dig a bit deeper, you can find some really interesting pieces.
If you're looking for more information about vintage Technics, be sure to stop by this site. They have a comprehensive list of all of the models that were released and it's a good starting point if you want to learn more about that old Technics you have in the attic.
Also, if you have an interesting old turntable that you still use today, feel free to let us know about it in the comments!
Reader Comments (1)
Sansui also had a linear tracking /programmagle turntable . FYI