It’s no secret that the vinyl industry has been booming over the past few years. However, that doesn’t mean that the turntables today are better than the ones back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In fact, there’s a case to be made that as a whole, record players are actually worse than they used to be.
That won’t be the case for Technics, a Japanese audio company founded in 1965 (now owned by Panasonic) that’s maintained a level of supreme quality all these years later. It’s now introducing a new model, the SL-1300G.
A Turntable Icon
Only a few years into existence, Technics debuted its legendary SL-1200 turntable in 1972, revolutionizing the burgeoning DJ industry and quickly becoming the standard for professionals. While the game is a bit more crowded than it was in the early ‘70s, the SL-1200 remains a favorite for its powerful direct-drive motors that make mixing and scratching easier than on most others.
Technics SL-1300G Basics
Last year, Technics debuted its ΔΣ-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive) motor control technology in the SL-1200GR2 model. Helping to eliminate minute motor vibrations for a smooth rotation yielding improved sound performance, this drive should eventually make its way through the rest of the brand’s turntable lines, with the SL-1300G being the next step up, sitting in the Grand Class range.
Eliminating Vibrations
The SL-1300 series already boasts a sophisticated iron-coreless direct-drive motor (along with a higher price tag), which now yields an even cleaner listening experience when combined with the ΔΣ-Drive. The company states, “We have been extremely impressed during our development process by the sonic impact of [implementing the drive].”
Not only is its motor more powerful but the SL-1300G pairs two rotors with a single stator as opposed to the single rotor of the SL-1200GR2. Vibration was eliminated even further by giving the motor’s circuit board an updated reinforcement. Made from aluminum die-cast, 2mm of brass, and rubber, the triple-layer platter is larger and heavier here, which helps even more by increasing rotational accuracy.
Lastly, the S-shaped aluminum tonearm comes with high-precision bearings and is very similar to the one on the SL-1200GR2. Although, you’ll have to provide your own cartridge.
Like all of Technics’ turntables, you can expect a classy visual appeal with the SL-1300G as well, available in either black or silver housing with a gold color covering the brass top of the platter.
Spec Sheet
Model: SL-1300G
Motor: Coreless direct-drive motor
Platter: Triple-layer with aluminum, brass, and rubber
Tonearm: S-shaped aluminum
Pricing & Availability
Over a grand more than the SL-1200GR2, the SL-1300G will be priced at $3,300 when it lands this December. Head over to Technics’ website to learn more.
Recap
Technics SL-1300G Turntable
Technics put its superb ΔΣ-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive) motor drive technology in its new SL-1300G, designed to remove vibrations for a cleaner listening experience.
