Does the Technics SL-1200MK7 Platter Really Wobble?

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/in6ckqWjaternJY - Follow-up video, testing the platter of the SL-1200MK2

[@QoraxAudio]

Yes indeed, it's the dots that wobble not the platter itself... I don't really get why so many people are complaining about that, plenty MK2s and MK5s had that too, but no one gave a crap about it back then. Even the HiFi/High quality SL-1200MK4 and SL-1200G have that too... It's just nitpicking. Thanks for debunking this platter wobble myth 👍

[@djsd-1292]

My mk2 does it, so it’s not a total myth, and the top edge does go up n down. I think it’s cause the things been fucked from years of use. Still works, and I’ve just kinda stopped thinking about it.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@djsd-1292 If your platter actually wobbles, it means the spindle bearings are damaged or the platter is warped... it's not part of the design. Needs to be serviced.

[@djsd-1292]

@@QoraxAudio yeah, obviously not part of the design lol, but not a myth. Happens from the factory with hanpin tables due to poor QC.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@djsd-1292 Hanpin turntables are made in a different factory than technics turntables, so those have nothing to do with it. Technics turntables don't come with wobbly platters, so that's a myth. It's just that in the beginning of the technics reboot, some batches got damaged in transit, resulting in warped platters, that's probably the origin of that myth.

[@leyland9999]

@@QoraxAudio Comparing a Hanpin with a Technics is like comparing apples with pears. A Hanpin is no match for a Technics, period. Hanpin use plastic for the base, the weight of the product comes from a slab of metal on the bottom of the plinth, used for gaining weight and it acts a an internal ground for the circuitry. Which itself is another major difference with a SL-1200. Again, no match for a SL-1200.

[@leyland9999]

Both of my SL-1200‘s do that too. The surface of the platter is perfectly level when spinning. However…..I know sometimes on new units there might be small hardly visible metal particles on either the inside of the platter hole or the copper spindle base the platter sits on. Either way, nothing to be worried about. Just remove and place the platter a few times on the spindle and you’ll be fine. As a matter of fact, none of all the SL’s that I restored or fixed had any wobbling issues at all. Not even those really abused ones. If the bearing is worn though, just replace the bearing and not the platter. A bearing usually doesn’t wear out if it is lubricated with the original Technics oil and nothing else, certainly no other kind of oil or grease.

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

Need to get me some of that Technics oil

[@JFish-xj8oj]

That is a very very good runout tolerance. I’d be very happy with that!

[@oldstyleanalog6459]

The whole platter moves buddy

[@MogulProductions]

You are the best! Thanks a lot for this helpful video, recorded with a great camera quality and the two lines as reference. My MK7 platter does definitely move stronger up & down than yours does. However, Technics told me that the amount of my 'wobbly' platter is within their acceptable range. I accepted it and kept the turntable, because I'm pretty sure that neither the sound nor the quality of my records will suffer from it. I'm just very disappointed that I have this issue on my turntable after spending $900. Maybe other MK2 / MK7 owners or people that have in-depth knowledge on turntables can share their experiences on this topic too. Cheers from Switzerland!

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

You are very welcome! Perhaps my MK7 is from a newer batch after Technics received some complaints, or maybe I just got lucky. Maybe you can trade someone their platter or make an exchange at a store. Cheers from the USA

[@DJGeorgeDisco]

The platter clearly wobbles at the top line, but you would probably need to go through 10 turntables before you find one perfectly flat. It should not affect sound quality as slipmats are not perfectly flat and neither are records. My PLX-1000 has the same run out as your SL-1200mk7.

[@kennethdante]

I had about a 1/32" wobble and marked the high spot on the platter. I then used some 1500 grit paper and wrapped a q-tip and lightly sanded the opposing sides of the spindle hole. Only took one try. Of course this only works if you sand in the right places. It's the bottom of hole nearest the high side and top of the hole furthest the high side. This only works if it is the platter that is out and not spindle itself, otherwise platter will need to be placed in same every time. Clean first make sure its not debris. Do a little at a time. I true my pottery wheel same way.

[@manukkee]

Welcome to the ANALOG world, this is analog gear, it is not perfect like digital. I never look like this at my sl 1200, i check if the platter has some play with both hands placed on opposite parts of the platter, if it has some play, switch one platter with another platter from other sl 1200 and it should solve it usually, there are small tolerances. What do you expect from a made in Malaysia Technics ? pure perfection ? If you had a GR then yes, you could nitpick it more, but even that will have tolerances. You cannot expect Analog gear to be perfect in every way, this is the charm of Analog.

[@marcoanfuso9492]

Ora tutta la produzione di giradischi technics si è spostata nella nuova fabbrica panasonic in malesia..il problema di questa cosa che i pallini non sono allineati lo facevano anche gli mk2 e m5g e tutto il restante della serie non c'entra nulla dove sono assemblati quest ultimi..c'è gente che lamenta del wobble anche con i primi G GAE che erano ancora assemblati in Giappone..cmq apparte alcuni che sono fuori tolleranze questo "gioco di fluttuazione " lo avevano tutti i modelli sl 1200/1210 dall mk2 al mk6

[@stanbarvinsky1011]

I've got a 1500c and the platter does wobble quite a bit. One can see it clearly by looking at the top of the platter. I wish I'd noticed that earlier, so I could send it back. As I've read they don't repair / replace parts in such cases.

[@jamesdavis5517]

Are the platters turned or cast. That will tell you if it moves.

[@yorkemar]

I think its the patterns etc that is not perfectly straight. The top seems pretty flat here. My sl1210mk2 pattern was slightly off.,,but top is flat. I accepted it as being ok.

[@FeeLtheHertZ]

IDK, to me it looks like it's Sall Goodman ;)

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

Shoutout to MogulProductions for the question which led to this video. Also to AllCreaturesCount for the idea mentioned towards the end of the video

[@CSdjcdog]

Looking good to me

[@djseasick]

You have to put your hands on the decks. When you're performing beat juggles, the wobble will show because your needle will bounce. I also have a pair of Pioneer PLX 1000s, Their decks don't wobble. I just thought it was weird that these decks are considered "battle ready", but the platters are not stable enough for hand pressure...

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

If I can do a backspin of about 3 or 4 rotations quickly without the needle jumping, would that be a good enough test to qualify/disqualify this for juggling?

[@djseasick]

@@DJFeelsGoodman It could. If you're heavy handed, it will DEFINITELY show. Probably the first time. I suggest that you get a pair of vinyl record (not the ones for battling, but normal records) and beat juggle from them. It will be a more accurate test. I'm light handed and the needles still bounced on me. 🤷‍♂️

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

@@djseasick Gotcha gotcha. I have some vinyl records but I don't know how to do those slick beat juggling patterns, so I was thinking maybe there was another way to test that out. There was another guy who posted about the wobbling, and he said he units have noticeably more wobble than the one I put in the video. Maybe there's a discrepancy there I wonder... Thanks for the reply by the way; definitely something I'll try to get to the bottom of. And if there's anybody else here who has done (or can do) a juggling test with real vinyl, let us know!

[@djseasick]

@Jayo Delaware You know the Technics mk7s aren't made in Japan, as the previous 1200 models?

[@bikdav]

I've used turntables much "worse" than this and I've had no problems with sound.

[@anabelpelayo8825]

mis mk5 estan a la perfeccion, en el video efectivamente el plato en su parte superior no bambolea, pero en los acabados de los circulos SI!. Aqui el punto es que Technics ha decaido en la calidad de sus productos sobretodo tratandose de esta mitica tornamesa!

[@george78779]

You need to compare with the old mk 2

[@DJFeelsGoodman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/in6ckqWjaternJY

[@mariorainy]

clearly wobbles on the left side, slightly but wobbles, RETURN

[@NiiOnLood]

Since when do round things have left and right sides?:D:D This wobble is so tiny, even my old SL-1700mk2 from 70s wobbles very slightly.

[@DJGeorgeDisco]

your SL-100C apparently also wobbles

[@mariorainy]

Not wobble just inacurate lines on platter, was measuring with laser level

[@DJGeorgeDisco]

@@mariorainy You should use a dial gauge on the outer edge of the platter.

[@mariorainy]

I think you need to have very good precise lens to measure like this

[@sylvainbiensur7370]

I will keep my straight rega, this is scarry