Questions about Technics kit
 

Hi,

Is there any real difference between Technics model numbers ending A and D,
for example, the CD players SL-PS670A and SL-PS670D (except the years they
we produced)?

What is AA all about (my ST-GT550 tuner apparently has AA output)?

Has Technics stopped making hi-fi separates? Looking at Panasonic/Technics
sites I can only see complete hi-fi systems.

Thanks for any info.

John.

Questions about Technics kit
 

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Is there any real difference between Technics model numbers ending A and
D,
for example, the CD players SL-PS670A and SL-PS670D (except the years they
we produced)?


No idea, but this site might give you a clue:

http://www.vintagetechnics.com/menu.htm



What is AA all about (my ST-GT550 tuner apparently has AA output)?


Interestingly, this was my first post to this group - I asked the same thing
and got no response. (Usually the way - I've got another unanswered question
hanging in the breeze, as I type!)

The best explanation I got was from the manual that came with a Technics amp
I had a while back. It appeared to come from the fact that the amp was
described as being split into two halves with mosfets in the 'signal
section' and bipolars in the output section, both of which were describes as
running in Class A, at least for a while in the Output section. Don't really
know what it was all about, the amp was most definitely not a Class A amp
and was very bland-sounding and disappointing for Technics kit!



Has Technics stopped making hi-fi separates? Looking at Panasonic/Technics
sites I can only see complete hi-fi systems.


I believe so - I was told by a local repair technician that Technics stuff
had recently been dropping lower and lower in quality until Technics no
longer wanted to play the 'cheapjack' game and finally rolled over!! If
true, it's a shame because I suspect there's a greater following for good
Technics gear than they perhaps might realise - but for decent kit, not the
'flyaway' empty boxes that are standard issue nowadays....??

Questions about Technics kit
 

Keith,

You are right about the following that older Technics has but the build
quality has been going down since the 80s. I could use my old 671
cassette deck as an anchor or to knock nails in. However the sound
quality has stayed good. My ST-GT550 tuner looks and sounds excellent
but it is 80% empty box. My RS-TR474 cassette deck is similar.

Technics only seem concerned now with their DJ following even though
they acknowledge their past triumphs. See page

http://www.panasonic-europe.com/tech...?s=1&mode=long

for a look back at what they call their 'legacy' range.

Regards,

John.

Keith G wrote:
"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Is there any real difference between Technics model numbers ending A and
D,
for example, the CD players SL-PS670A and SL-PS670D (except the years they
we produced)?


No idea, but this site might give you a clue:

http://www.vintagetechnics.com/menu.htm



What is AA all about (my ST-GT550 tuner apparently has AA output)?


Interestingly, this was my first post to this group - I asked the same thing
and got no response. (Usually the way - I've got another unanswered question
hanging in the breeze, as I type!)

The best explanation I got was from the manual that came with a Technics amp
I had a while back. It appeared to come from the fact that the amp was
described as being split into two halves with mosfets in the 'signal
section' and bipolars in the output section, both of which were describes as
running in Class A, at least for a while in the Output section. Don't really
know what it was all about, the amp was most definitely not a Class A amp
and was very bland-sounding and disappointing for Technics kit!



Has Technics stopped making hi-fi separates? Looking at Panasonic/Technics
sites I can only see complete hi-fi systems.


I believe so - I was told by a local repair technician that Technics stuff
had recently been dropping lower and lower in quality until Technics no
longer wanted to play the 'cheapjack' game and finally rolled over!! If
true, it's a shame because I suspect there's a greater following for good
Technics gear than they perhaps might realise - but for decent kit, not the
'flyaway' empty boxes that are standard issue nowadays....??

Questions about Technics kit
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
Keith,

You are right about the following that older Technics has but the build
quality has been going down since the 80s. I could use my old 671
cassette deck as an anchor or to knock nails in. However the sound
quality has stayed good. My ST-GT550 tuner looks and sounds excellent
but it is 80% empty box. My RS-TR474 cassette deck is similar.

Technics only seem concerned now with their DJ following even though
they acknowledge their past triumphs. See page

http://www.panasonic-europe.com/tech...?s=1&mode=long

for a look back at what they call their 'legacy' range.



John, I have always particularly liked Technics gear and, for one, would
rather see the name die honourably than try to compete unsuccessfully with
the ubercheap, flyweight offerings that pass as 'hifi kit' today!! Too many
*names* tried to hang on producing cheap crap for chain stores (Sansui?
Aiwa? Grundig?) and too many names are becoming no more than 'badge
engineering' by the Chinese! (Apart from anything else, I would prefer the
new manufacturers to have the balls to use their own names and earn a
reputation for themselves!!)

I know technology is getting smaller and lighter, but *substance* is
important for me to take a piece of kit seriously and I have a strange view
that anything you can lift with one hand simply doesn't count as 'real
hifi'!! ;-)

Questions about Technics kit
 

Keith G wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

Keith,

You are right about the following that older Technics has but the build
quality has been going down since the 80s. I could use my old 671
cassette deck as an anchor or to knock nails in. However the sound
quality has stayed good. My ST-GT550 tuner looks and sounds excellent
but it is 80% empty box. My RS-TR474 cassette deck is similar.

Technics only seem concerned now with their DJ following even though
they acknowledge their past triumphs. See page

http://www.panasonic-europe.com/tech...?s=1&mode=long

for a look back at what they call their 'legacy' range.




John, I have always particularly liked Technics gear and, for one, would
rather see the name die honourably than try to compete unsuccessfully with
the ubercheap, flyweight offerings that pass as 'hifi kit' today!! Too many
*names* tried to hang on producing cheap crap for chain stores (Sansui?
Aiwa? Grundig?) and too many names are becoming no more than 'badge
engineering' by the Chinese! (Apart from anything else, I would prefer the
new manufacturers to have the balls to use their own names and earn a
reputation for themselves!!)

Right. The worst for me was seeing the name AKAI on an obviously
rebadged MP3 player. Check out their website and ponder on their good
old days of making Tape Decks, especially domestic reel-to-reel.

--
Adrian C

Questions about Technics kit
 

Hi Keith

Even Mark Baker of Origin Live fame acknowledges that 'the technics
sl1200 turntable and derivatives are surprisingly good decks' but he
goes on to say that you really need a silver arm of course! (see
http://www.tonearm.co.uk/dj-technics-arm.htm)

Since purchasing an SL1210 MK3 on Ebay, I have been amazed at how good
it is for the price and how convenient it is to use - just love the
stylus light! As a previous owner of an Origin Live kit deck, the major
advantage the Technics has is the lack of messing about one needs to
engage in to get optimum performance.

Regards

David

Questions about Technics kit
 

"David Houpt" wrote in message
k...
Hi Keith

Even Mark Baker of Origin Live fame acknowledges that 'the technics sl1200
turntable and derivatives are surprisingly good decks' but he goes on to
say that you really need a silver arm of course! (see
http://www.tonearm.co.uk/dj-technics-arm.htm)

Since purchasing an SL1210 MK3 on Ebay, I have been amazed at how good it
is for the price and how convenient it is to use - just love the stylus
light! As a previous owner of an Origin Live kit deck, the major advantage
the Technics has is the lack of messing about one needs to engage in to
get optimum performance.



Yes, when all the 'audiophile' palavering is left behind it's good to just
get down to some *good music*!! A good, solid deck you can rely on
(unfailingly) beats a temperamental bitch that needs constant tuning by a
million miles in my book!

(No longer an owner, but still a fan!! ;-)

Questions about Technics kit
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

Totally agree. Aiwa used to make good stuff but moved to plastic boxes
with lots of flashing lights. They at least acknowledged this by
changing the logo from AIWA (all uppercase) to aiwa (all lower case). I
have a late AIWA system (1993) and the amp (even though it is a mini
system) passes your difficult to lift test. It would be lighter if the
case was full of bricks. I have an early 80's Akai cassceiver where the
mains transformer is bigger and heavier than the one in my Quad 303
amps. It has 4 separate regulated power supplies, one each for the
stereo output stages, one for the radio stage and an AC supply for the
cassette section. They don't build them like that anymore :-) .



They sure don't - take a look at the 70s Aiwa LP3000 deck that has made its
way back to me:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/aiwa...aiwalp3000.htm

I haven't weighed it yet, but the platter weighs 3.5 kg on it's own!!