DJ Equipment Reviews

The SL-1210 M5G could easily be called the grandmaster of the 1200s

One can never go too far in expressing the admiration and loyalty working DJs have for Technics, in particular for introducing the 1200 series DJ turntables to the DJ world. Having achieved the status of legend by now and the gratefulness of millions of working DJs, the 1200 DJ turntables from Technics are almost impossible to beat. That being said, you know you want to have a look at the possible king of this history making DJ turntable series, which might just be the SL-1210 M5G. That’s a huge title to live up to for any DJ turntable, so let’s see what’s so special about the SL-1210 M5G that it’s even in the contest.

First off, the SL-1210 M5G is an original Technics made DJ turntable. Need I say more? Because that means from the very beginning the SL-1210 M5G is built so rugged and resistant that it almost doesn’t need a DJ case, with the reliability that will have working DJs thanking the DJ turntable gods that the SL-1210 M5G was given to humans.A weight of 25.74 lbs (11.7 kgs) testifies to a very satisfying feeling when picking a solid SL-1210 M5G up, unfortunately also meaning it’s not the weapon of choice for mobile DJs.

So, in with the new then, since SL-1210 M5G has a point to make before getting its title. Starting from the looks, Technics caught on that black works on almost any DJ product out there, so SL-1210 M5G looks a lot better than the regular 1200 series DJ turntables. The mate black design and a new long lasting blue LED pitch indicator and stylus illuminator is what sets the SL-1210 M5G apart from loads of uninteresting DJ products out there, not to mention its 1200 series DJ turntable brothers.

The main upgrade on the SL-1210 M5G however is more of a digital nature and it has to do with the pitch control. Having gone completey digital, the pitch control on the SL-1210 M5G will have working DJs check another dream come true. And if by any chance the regular +/- 12% wasn’t large enough for you, the pitch on SL-1210 M5G got upgraded as well, offering working DJs the easy switch between +/- 8% and +/- 16%, with pitch reseting at 0 with one simple button push. Wider range, more control and completely digital means serious pitch control with the SL-1210 M5G.

Technics haven’t lost the pace of technological development, even if their 1200 DJ turntables are now pretty much legends. As proof, the SL-1210 M5G features and upgraded, improved contruction tone arm, designed to increase skip resistance, not that the other 1200 series were skipping that often. The tone arm height is easily adjustable anywhere between 0 and 6 mm above the platter, to accomodate all working DJs, and a built in anti skate adjustment of up to 6 grams makes the SL-1210 M5G ideal for scratching as well.

I could talk about the SL-1210 M5G features for hours, going on and on about why it deserves a working DJ’s attention, but I have a feeling a list would do a better job:

• the SL-1210 M5G motor is direct drive, brushless, DC current motor, spinning an aluminium diecast platter 
• although still providing sufficient torque, the motor on the SL-1210 M5G spins with *only* 1.5 kgs/cm
• the spinning speeds are regular, 33 and 45 rpm
• Stylus Kick Cancel and Anti Skip technologies
• a regular Technics silver headshell, weighting 7.5 grams
• very sensitive low mass tone arm with gimbaled suspension

We’re actually nowhere near being done with the SL-1210 M5G, I’ll just mention a couple of more things that might interest working DJs at the end. First, the SL-1210 M5G has a very interesting brake system, fully electronic but also fully adjustable through the simple turning of a screw beneath the slipmat, that makes the SL-1210 M5G brake like a worn out snale or like a Ferrari race car. Besides that, Technics has made some adjustments to the sound of the SL-1210 M5G, mainly summed up by the high grade oxygen free coil (OFC) tone arm cable which gives truly powerful bass and a clear dynamic sound, to which the high quality stereo cables also lend themselves to.

I have no option but to direct you to the Technics website for a more complete set of tech specs and descriptions, as this is pretty much all I can cover about the SL-1210 M5G in one post. The main thing is that the SL-1210 M5G is there, available for working DJs to buy at a street price of under 600$, but worthing every penny of it.

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