Technics SL-1500MK2 (1977)

A manual quartz direct drive turntable released in July 1977, part of Technics' high-precision MK2 series.

Overview

The Technics SL-1500MK2 is a manual quartz direct drive turntable. It came out in July 1977 as one of a family of professional-grade turntables designed for home use. It shares its motor, electronics, platter and display with the SL-1300MK2 and SL-1400MK2. Unlike those automated siblings, it is fully manual. It has no auto disc-size detection, no memo-repeat and no auto-repeat.

Specifications

Drive system	Direct drive
Drive motor	Brushless DC motor
Control system	Quartz phase locked control
Turntable	33 cm Aluminum Die-cast, 2.5 kg
Number of revolutions	33 1/3, 45 rpm
Rotational speed fine adjustment range	± 9.9% or Less (0.1% Step)
Starting torque	1.5 kg / cm
Start-up characteristic	Constant speed at 0.7 seconds (at 33 1/3rpm)
Brake mechanism	Electronic brake
Load variation	1.5 kg / cm or Less, 0%
Rotational speed deviation	Within ± 0.002%
Wow and flutter	0.025%W.R.M.S(JIS C5521)
Signal-to-noise ratio	78dB(IEC98A weighted)
Format	Universal S-shaped static balance gimbal suspension system
Rotational axis sensitivity	7 mg (horizontal and vertical initial motion sensitivity)
Arm Height Adjustment Range	6mm
Needle pressure adjustment range	0 ~ 3g
Shell Weight	9.5g
Applicable Cartridge Weight	5g ~ 11g
Power	100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz
Power consumption	11W
External dimensions	Width 453x Height 145x Depth 384 mm
Weight	11.5kg

Design

The SL-1500MK2 uses a quartz synthesizer system that locks all 199 points of pitch for high speed accuracy. The tonearm is a simplified EPA-100 design with 20 miniature ball bearings, and it sits on a zinc diecast base. The turntable itself is built on Technics' Double Isolated Suspension Aluminium Diecast base. Four high-density ICs - the MN6042, AN660, AN640 and DN860 - replace over 3,000 discrete components. The drive centers on Technics' Integral Rotor Platter Motor and an ultra-low-speed brushless DC motor.

Context

The SL-1500MK2 sits just above the SL-1300MK2 and SL-1400MK2 in the lineup. By the time the SL-1300MK2 launched, more than 400,000 units across the 1300, 1400 and 1500 series had already been sold. All three models share the same motor, electronics, platter, display and front wood veneer.

Market

Units in very good condition have sold for $470, and fully serviced EU units have reached €4,235. One unit in Poland listed for PLN 2,650 (approx. $650). Some users report seeing units around $250. A known maintenance issue is hardened grease in the tonearm lift mechanism, which needs to be replaced.

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