Technics SL-BL3 (1983–1984)

A fully automatic belt-drive turntable with linear tracking, made by Technics for the mid-1980s audiophile market.

Overview

The Technics SL-BL3 is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable with linear tracking, part of Technics' linear tracking series. It was made from 1983 to 1984 as a precision analog playback system with advanced features for its time. It has a dynamic balance type linear tracking tonearm, a 300mm aluminium die-cast platter, and a DC servo motor for stable rotation. It plays 33 and 45rpm records, and it has pitch control and a stroboscope for calibrating speed.

Specifications

Type	fully automatic record player
Drive method	belt drive
Motor	DC servo
Platter	300mm aluminium die-cast
Speeds	33 and 45rpm
Wow and flutter	0.045% wrms
Signal to noise ratio	70dB
Tonearm	dynamic balance type, linear tracking
Effective length	105mm
Effective mass	9g (including cartridge)
Dimensions	430 x 88 x 340mm
Weight	4.4kg

Design

The SL-BL3 holds its speed with a frequency generator servo system. The linear tracking tonearm keeps the stylus tangent to the groove, which minimizes record wear and distortion. Pitch control and the built-in stroboscope let you check and adjust speed by eye.

Market

The SL-BL3 originally sold for $235.00. Recent listings show up on Reverb and eBay, and some units are noted as serviced. Owner reports say it performs well but may have the common issues of linear tracking mechanisms. The page doesn't detail the specific failure modes.

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