Vintage Linear Trackers anyone a view on these

[alphatoner]

Fancy trying one of the old Linear trackers (Technics/Panasonic etc.) Now I realise they are not that great in terms of SQ and unlikely to be repairable if they break. But they are dirt cheap and thought I might give one a try. the Technics SL7/SL10 seems quite well regarded as does the Panasonic PL-L1000 although that is a bit more expensive.

A few people have owned these on here I'm sure but which are the best ones and which to avoid.

 

[smegger68]

I've got a Technics SL-DL5 which I currently have in storage, though I plan to use it in my bedroom system eventually. It's actually not that bad sounding, oncie I fitted a decent cartridge. It's certainly not as good as my other decks but it doesn't disgrace itself at all.

 

[johnniebaby]

Hi Ian, Kevin (Aural Flea) has been using a couple, I would drop him a PM.

 

[avole]

I have an SL-10 with the EPS 310 cartridge which is pretty good. Only problem is that prices have risen considerably, and it only takes p mount cartridges.

If you want to try something more elegant, there's the Revox B795 linear trackers. They are built superbly - but are pains if you want to swap cartridges, and nearly impossible to fix if they go wrong. You can get them for decent prices at the moment.

 

[alphatoner]

Hi Ian, Kevin (Aural Flea) has been using a couple, I would drop him a PM.

Cheers JB

I have an SL-10 with the EPS 310 cartridge which is pretty good. Only problem is that prices have risen considerably, and it only takes p mount cartridges.If you want to try something more elegant, there's the Revox B795 linear trackers. They are built superbly - but are pains if you want to swap cartridges, and nearly impossible to fix if they go wrong. You can get them for decent prices at the moment.

Always liked the look of the old revox kit and wanted to try one of the TT's trouble is they hardly ever come up for sale at least not compared to the volume of the Panasonic and Technics TT's

 

[RobHolt]

I've used the SL10 and liked it, though I couldn't help thinking it was more an effort for Technics to demonstrate just how far they could shrink a high quality TT than an attempt to create a great sounding one. It does sound very nice especially with the superb Technics cartridges but compared to the better conventional TT/arm combos it sits on dynamics just a tad. You can also sometimes hear the arm drive motor shunting the arm position every 30 seconds or so. But a lovely thing and stunning build.

 

[alphatoner]

Thanks Rob, SL10 always seems to get the vote and as I say I don't expect it to compete with my GyroDec or at lease I hope it wont. But for a very small outlay It should be fun to have a play around, even if I then sell it on after a few months.

 

[alphatoner]

Just picked up a nice recently serviced SL-10 with a new cart for £200 delivered. Works very nicely, but the built in MM/MC preamp still needs to go into my phono stage to get any sort of volume out of it which is a bit odd. Anyone know if this is normal?

 

[f1eng]

I had an SL-15 and it was very unreliable. I threw it away in the end. I wish I had kept the cartridge though, it was excellent. I hadn't realised a P mount to 1/2" adapter would become available.

- - - Updated - - -

Just picked up a nice recently serviced SL-10 with a new cart for £200 delivered. Works very nicely, but the built in MM/MC preamp still needs to go into my phono stage to get any sort of volume out of it which is a bit odd. Anyone know if this is normal?

I imagine the phono stage in the SL-10 must have been bypassed at some date, otherwise the sound would be dire going twice through RIAA correction.

 

[alphatoner]

I imagine the phono stage in the SL-10 must have been bypassed at some date, otherwise the sound would be dire going twice through RIAA correction.

The manual is none to clear, but in the diagram it does show the leads from the TT going into sockets marked phono and on audio karma someone suggested that there is no RIAA within the SL-10 just a bit of gain to boost the signal so still needs to go through a RIAA phono stage.

 

[avole]

The phono stage in the SL10 boosts MC only output up to MM level, so it still needs to go into a phono preamp. The original cart was the EPC310, which was a low output MC.

 

[alphatoner]

That's sort of what I was getting. Mine is fitted with an MM cart. When the SL10 is set to MM and output is connected to line level inputs the volume is very low (but higher than would be if connecting a standard TT to Line input), only when I connect it to my own MM stage do I get decent volume.

 

[Setting Son]

The SL-10 would be a good starting point. It's worthwhile checking the belt on the arm drive as the original will be well past it's prime - replacements are available. That and a bit of a clean and lube of the arm running bar should be all it needs. The 310 cartridge is very good indeed if you can find a decent one but there's plenty of new p-mounts available too.

 

[Hornucopia]

When I was a Music Librarian in.....1974, the library had invested in a B+O Set-up with // tracking deck!

 

[avole]

That's sort of what I was getting. Mine is fitted with an MM cart. When the SL10 is set to MM and output is connected to line level inputs the volume is very low (but higher than would be if connecting a standard TT to Line input), only when I connect it to my own MM stage do I get decent volume.

Yes, that's correct. The MM setting actually bypasses the amp altogether, meaning you have to use the phono input on your amp. It isn't a built-in preamp as such, merely a boost to get the low-level MC output up to MM level if your phono preamp can't take MC cartridges.Incidentally, the SL-10 usually came with an EPC 310. If you ever see one at a good price, grab it as it lifts the deck to another level. Problem is they often cost as much as the turntable itself.

 

[alphatoner]

Yes, that's correct. The MM setting actually bypasses the amp altogether, meaning you have to use the phono input on your amp. It isn't a built-in preamp as such, merely a boost to get the low-level MC output up to MM level if your phono preamp can't take MC cartridges.Incidentally, the SL-10 usually came with an EPC 310. If you ever see one at a good price, grab it as it lifts the deck to another level. Problem is they often cost as much as the turntable itself.

Thanks for the confirmation, Nice to know I occasionally guess almost right. I only bought it as a fun thing so I doubt I'll keep it too long anyway. The guy I bought it from was a Technics approved engineer and had just given it a service. So far I'm very pleased with it.