Technics SL-20 Belt drive Turntable
This is a belt drive turntable from Technics, most commonly associated with direct drive turntables, but they made many belt drive turntables; models often mirrored the Direct Drive equivalent.
This one is a comparatively simple one. Many belt drives use an AC motor and use the mains frequency to obtain correct speed and stability. This one uses a DC motor and speed control circuitry, including the FG Servo, for reliable speed stability. However it lacks the stroboscope markings on the platter rim and the neon light normally used to dial in the correct speed but once the speed is correctly set (there are two access holes on the top plate next to the tone arm to allow speed adjustment for 33 & 45) there is very little need to monitor the speed.
You can buy or print out a strobe disc and use a "phone app" to get the strobe light to help you adjust the speed if needed.
The base of this turntable is made from MDF and is well made, overall this is a good performer , nice and quiet once the bearing is lubed. The tonearm works well and is easy to set up, it has anti skate but not a height adjustment (VTA), still many arms lack VTA.
This has had a light service, there is very little to service; the speed switch was cleaned and the spindle bearing lubed, the tonearm bearings checked (they were fine) and the signal cable checked.
Set up with a new stylus for the cartridge that is integrated into the head-shell it sounds very, very nice and tracks at 1.75 grams. I didn't change any electronic components as the speed and stability are exemplary! Long piano notes sound brilliant and even; and this is not a quartz controlled deck.
I'd highly recommend this turntable as as a straight forward player, the sound quality is superb. The only caveat? if you want a different cartridge you will need to get another head-shell (and be competent to set up, align it correctly; if you want speed adjustment on the fly (for DJing? or tuning to a musical instrument?) you would be better off with one of the other models that have that feature...there are many Technics that do, including but not only, the direct drive SL 1200 series but you will perhaps pay a lot more for those.
This one is a comparatively simple one. Many belt drives use an AC motor and use the mains frequency to obtain correct speed and stability. This one uses a DC motor and speed control circuitry, including the FG Servo, for reliable speed stability. However it lacks the stroboscope markings on the platter rim and the neon light normally used to dial in the correct speed but once the speed is correctly set (there are two access holes on the top plate next to the tone arm to allow speed adjustment for 33 & 45) there is very little need to monitor the speed.
You can buy or print out a strobe disc and use a "phone app" to get the strobe light to help you adjust the speed if needed.
The base of this turntable is made from MDF and is well made, overall this is a good performer , nice and quiet once the bearing is lubed. The tonearm works well and is easy to set up, it has anti skate but not a height adjustment (VTA), still many arms lack VTA.
This has had a light service, there is very little to service; the speed switch was cleaned and the spindle bearing lubed, the tonearm bearings checked (they were fine) and the signal cable checked.
Set up with a new stylus for the cartridge that is integrated into the head-shell it sounds very, very nice and tracks at 1.75 grams. I didn't change any electronic components as the speed and stability are exemplary! Long piano notes sound brilliant and even; and this is not a quartz controlled deck.
I'd highly recommend this turntable as as a straight forward player, the sound quality is superb. The only caveat? if you want a different cartridge you will need to get another head-shell (and be competent to set up, align it correctly; if you want speed adjustment on the fly (for DJing? or tuning to a musical instrument?) you would be better off with one of the other models that have that feature...there are many Technics that do, including but not only, the direct drive SL 1200 series but you will perhaps pay a lot more for those.