Technical Information Product Page

  It’s the 1970’s and Technics embarks on an ambitious plan to develop a state of the art turntable system. Though little is known of the engineers and scientists involved in this project, the fruits of their labor continue to grace the audio landscape. They were the Special Products Group.

The Special Products group is responsible for the SP-01 disc cutting turntable, in use to this day for mastering audiophile lacquers. For playback purposes, the SP-10, 12, 15 and 25 turntables were developed, Employing, for the first time, a linear frequency generator to monitor and control platter rotation. It is this drive and control system that eliminated, for the first time, the effects of both static and dynamic stylus drag on speed stability.

Material science played an important role also with the first applications of non resonant body designs utilizing constrained layering of cast metals, engineering resins and rubber resulting in a rigid turntable body incapable of sustaining resonance.

  The Technics SL-1200 MKII is the step child of the SP series and embodies every bit of that technology and engineering science. The world standard for professional club use, monthly sales have been as high a 3000 pieces. That good fortune has allowed the SL-1200 to remain the most affordable hi end turntable available today. It is only now being discovered by audiophiles.

  Still made by hand by a dedicated production staff in Osaka, Japan. The Technics turntables coexist in a corporate world unrelated to the more common mass produced consumer products bearing that name. It is perhaps that mis-understanding that stops enthusiasts from taking the turntable seriously. Pity.

  But even a great turntable can be improved upon. KAB is continually looking for ways to advance the performance of this highly underrated turntable.
· 1994 KAB introduces 78 rpm upgrade for SL-1200
· 2000 KAB introduces TD-1200 fluid damper for SL-1200 tonearm
· 2003 KAB introduces PS-1200 outboard regulated power supply