Technics SL-1200 to be discontinued in February?

[R-E-M]

......

In fact, does anyone know what models are currently in production? I know the website shows the MkVs, but these could be old production.

Sorry can't find the link but I was under the impression that the Mk6 was the only variant still in production and that in itself was an attempt to maintain the t/ts profitability and indeed viability regarding parts availability etc.

Sadly it seems as though this is the end of the line, shame.

regards, R.

[scho2684]

Posted on this elsewhere, but all the stories on this seem to come from a single source.

Mk6 was the only variant still in production and that in itself was an attempt to maintain the t/ts profitability and indeed viability regarding parts availability etc.

Sadly it seems as though this is the end of the line, shame.

I think we find the source

[DiamondWindow]

The is pretty funny on several levels, especially if prices do jump.

Imagine the audiophile who outwardly scathed on the 1200 and bashed it in forums (yet, secretly planned to lay hands on one for a pittance). Ooops, too late now.

Someone once posted that you should look past the 1200's and get "an $1100 turntable", since higher price obviously dictated a better turntable. It's going to be hysterical if the gauging takes the price of the 1200 over $1100. Then what will he say?

DJ's, often the butt of audiophile jokes, will be laughing all the way to the bank as they peruse their waiting lists and sell their tables to prospective buyers.

No, I'm not a "Technics only" guy by far; but, the irony here is too delicious. If they do or already have gone out of production it's near perfect timing. Just in the past few years, folks have been realizing that this table is a pretty darn good buy, upgrades are coming out of everywhere... ooops... discontinued.

Maybe, I just have a twisted sense of humor...

[R-E-M]

I think we find the source

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1286203675&read&keyw&zztechnics

[chris@panteg]

It clearly states the Mk6 and as that's the version on sale in Japan.

We should get a separate statement for Europe and the US surely ? until then it appears the mk2 and Mk5g are still for sale .

[rocker65]

Hi All,
This sounds like an opportunity for someone with a bit of initiative and some cash to step in and take over production.
Anyone interested?

[scho2684]

I think we find the source

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1286203675&read&keyw&zztechnics

R-E-M, I misused your posting to make a joke, I hope I did not offend you...
The page you are refering to is not the source and reeds more like hear say, never the less it looks like the MK6 is out of production, the MKII and 5 are still there. It would not surprise me that even the MK5 wil go to early retirement. If the MKII is going down than Panasonic must be really in trouble...

Marco

[analogaudio]

Hi All,
This sounds like an opportunity for someone with a bit of initiative and some cash to step in and take over production.
Anyone interested?

Sorry to rain on your parade, I love the quality of fit and finish of the 1200mk2s as much as the next guy. Looking at how they are made, the base, the main plinth, the cover, much internal trim and parts, the tonearm parts, rubber mat, are all made by precision injection moulding. You would need a crane to lift the mould used to cast the platters and an aluminum foundry to make them. Think of the tool used to make the clear covers. I take my hat off to Panasonic for getting so much about this TT right and keeping it alive, if it does get discontinued and even if you could buy the tools, which you can't, you would need the know how that makes them work, do you speak Japanese? And we haven't even begun to consider the custom logic ICs needed for the motor drive......

Ted

[pfigg]

I bought a Mk II on eBay a few days ago for $300. Light use and not by a DJ. It looks like it's in great shape. I couldn't resist. I'm going to pick up a few parts for it as well, just to keep around.

Funny thing is I bought two 1200 Mk II's in Brooklyn in 1981 after seeing them in the booth at Studio 54 in Manhattan. At the time they were $300 each. I'm sorry I sold them some three years later. I never forgot how impressive the build quality was compared to the SL-D2 that I was using for home use.

I'm looking forward to owning one of these again ...

-paul.

[cafe latte]

I emailed Kab to ask if he had heard anything.. This is the reply

The specific report relates to the Japanese market and it applies only to
the MK6.

People should know that when they stopped offering the 2 belt drive tables
in Japan, they continued to sell in the international markets for 5 more
years.

Since the MK6 was strictly a Japan market only product, it seems to make
sense to me that they would drop that out first.

I think the telling comment in the press release is that the "current sales
are 5% of what they were 10 years ago".
Now we know that the peak worldwide sales in 1985 were 2000 units/month and
have been falling ever since.

But if the press release was talking about the world market, then the
interpretation is that sales are way less than 100pcs/month worldwide and I
highly doubt they are that low.

Japan only however would be another story.

I hope that lends some insight into this whole thing.

Kevin

[rocker65]

Hi All,
This sounds like an opportunity for someone with a bit of initiative and some cash to step in and take over production.
Anyone interested?

Sorry to rain on your parade, I love the quality of fit and finish of the 1200mk2s as much as the next guy. Looking at how they are made, the base, the main plinth, the cover, much internal trim and parts, the tonearm parts, rubber mat, are all made by precision injection moulding. You would need a crane to lift the mould used to cast the platters and an aluminum foundry to make them. Think of the tool used to make the clear covers. I take my hat off to Panasonic for getting so much about this TT right and keeping it alive, if it does get discontinued and even if you could buy the tools, which you can't, you would need the know how that makes them work, do you speak Japanese? And we haven't even begun to consider the custom logic ICs needed for the motor drive......

Ted

Spoil Sport

[fscl]

Is it true?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2010 ... in-the-sky

Fred and cueing up The End Doors....

[cafe latte]

As far as i am aware it is not the MK2, only the mk6

[flattedsixth]

i e-mailed the fella from KAB yesterday, and he said it's STILL just the MK6, which only pertains to the japanese market anyways. also stated the plant in osaka will continue to supply em as long as the market, worldwide, is large enough to sustain profitability.