An in-depth look at the similarities and differences between these two models. Technics SL-D2 Service: • Technics SL D2: Cable... Vintage Technics Database: vintagetechnic... Technics dust cover hinge tab repair: www.vinylengin...
I had to move last year and sold off my near mint SL-Q2 and 75+ LPs, most from 70's and 80's, for $50 for all. I am regretting it so bad. Now I'm getting back into LPs and it's crazy priced!
My father has an SL-D2 that he bought the year I was born in 79. Grew up listening to the turntable. I only got into turntables this year and decided to buy an old Lenco L75 for a restoration project. When I told my father he said that was also his first turntable ;)
Still working with my Technics SL-QD3 that I bought new in 1976. I had it stored away for a period while I dabbled strictly in home-theater gear. But lately I've returned to my "first love" and all of now vintage gear. My SL-QD3 has never been down for not even one day. It's all the TT I need. I don't even think of replacing it. It'll probably still be here going strong when I'm gone! :-)
Hello 😀, I have a SL1500 that I purchased in the late 1970s. Absolutely no issues other than cleaning the controls. The rubber mat, is still flexible. Very happy with my 40+ year old turntable. A couple of years ago, I replaced the original cartridge and head shell. Thank you for the very enjoyable video! Best regards, Brian.
got my SL-D2 for FREE someone in my neighborhood put it out on top of trash can on trash day. a cat had chewed the cord. I just replaced the cord. oiled the bushing and its been great.
The SL Q2 was my first turntable in 1979. I had a Sure V15 type 4 on it. It was by far the best "affordable turntable" bar none. Seeing it brings joy to my heart. Since then, I have had a 1200G and now at long last a SL1000R. All this madness started with the Q2.
This was fantastic. Thanks for doing this episode. I actually own both an SL-D2 and SL-Q2 ("upgraded" to the latter because I'm one of those dudes you described who's obsessed with speed/pitch). Glad to know they're both solid turntables. Especially appreciated the dig at Rega at the end 🤣! Really don't get the hype about the new belt-driven turntables at all.
I agree with your observation. I have a theory, when you open up a Technics from this era, there is a ton of mechanical and electronic engineering going on. All these new sub $1000 audiophile TT’s are stripped down and simplified. Rather than make these complicated mechanisms, they just market their products convincing us that the stripped down stuff sounds better. As a woodworker, I know the cheapest material to work with is MDF, so a lot of these plinths are just a slab of mdf and some even have an MDF platter. Throw on a spindle bearing, motor, belt and some wiring, you are almost there. Wall wort for power and all you need now is the tonearm. I tinker with old stuff, I have watched product demos of new TT’s where the manufacturer pulls off the spindle with a pop, claiming the precision fit. I have experienced the same thing on the cheapest of 1980’s TT. So much for that claim...... For Rega to make a SL-Q2 and sell in today’s market, it would probably cost $1200, US, and they probably don’t even have the people to design and engineer this stuff. I have a SL-1700 mk2, the m.s.r.p. from 1979 was $340. That is $1700 in today’s money. I would never spend that on a turntable. We are so lucky that Panasonic and their Japanese competitors set such a high standard and made such fine products in that era.
@@mplsmark222 I appreciate your insights; you have a much more sophisticated read on it than I do. When I bought my SL-D2 a couple of years back, it was the end result of spending months researching turntables and comparing which one to buy. I was shocked to see how many of the trendier new models have terrible specs (particularly when it comes to speed regulation) and lack some of the basic quality-of-life features that you'd see on vintage decks (like auto return, or even simple button-push speed selection). I really only bought the SL-Q2 because I got tired of fiddling with the pitch dial every time I cleaned a record before playing it. I commented on a separate video about this, but I've been debating getting a newer Technics for a while (like something in the 1200 series or a 1500C), mainly because my SL-Q2 is 40 years old and I'm worried about it dying on me. That said, brand new Technics turntables cost way more money than I could ever rationalize spending and my Q2 works perfectly at the moment. And I'm not even sure whether the 1500C, other than being brand new and having a coreless motor (whatever that means), would be a significant enough upgrade from the Q2 to justify $1,200.
Very informative video. People are asking even more for these now, which is all relative I guess. I did manage to get a D3 for $150 a couple months back and all that it really needed was a new mat and stylus. It also needs the little slider for the speed switch but it's really not necessary. I found 2 available on eBay at the time and people were asking north of $400 for them so I think I did okay. I posited in a video I made that the puddle of oil on the platter was from someone trying to lube the turntable as I wasn't aware of mat rot until now. Feel pretty silly for that one.
That anomaly must be inherent in the single-digit series ( D-2, D-3) because I had a D-2 that did the EXACT same thing....REALLY odd! . . .and then, I had also had an SL-3300, ( which was the next series older), that the mat aged just fine .
Nice comparison! I bought an SL-Q3 (secondhand but refurbished) about 10 years ago, one of the best investments I ever made. Enjoying it almost every day.
I have an sl-5300, sl-q3, sl-q2, sl-d2, sl-190], sl-1950 and have owned several other models. All are good. The 5300 is by far the nicest table followed by the q3. This was a great review. Rega is way over rated. Im a q fan, but cant loose. In Alberta in 2023 250 and 300 avg cost respectively.
I still have my D2 in the box, I knew my life would be moving. My mat is stock and fine, I kept in in it's bag in storage. This kid made a great choice in the 80s. Oh, I got the Station 681 EEE cartage brush off, I knew how to disk wash.
Imho the SL-Q2 is one of the best budget tables ever made. Back then it was a model that sat in a programspot between entry level and middle class. The middleclass equivalent is the SL-1700MK2.
Glad I found this, I have the SL-Q2 I was walking around one day in the summer about 17 years ago and walked up to this yard sale with a technique's box sitting on a table outside so I said oh what's this. Well I open it up and here this thing is still in its styrofoam and packaging basically hardly used I paid a whole $20 for it. It is a great machine I wonder what's the best way for me to set the anti-skate and that other setting on the arm perhaps you have a video for this thank you
So ironic I’ve just recently gotten my 3 rd SL D2 , but a really dirty SLq2 just came in to the store I shop, I was actually looking to trade out my SL d 2 for the Q series table. Thanx for this video you’ve just solidified my decision and I myself actually like the look of the Q slightly more but I’ll admit it looks more dated than the the D series as where the D2 is a bit more modern finish IMHO. anyhow, enjoyed the video sir!!!👍🏾👍🏾🔥🔥
I have an SL-D2 that I picked up for £15 as the seller thought it was faulty. It was not, just needed the pots cleaned. Great turntable, sounds brilliant, very reliable and stable speed, once cleaned. I then bought an SL-Q3 so I could experience what the top of that range would sound like. Also brilliant, but mostly just more features as they sound pretty much the same. I use neither of them now though as I have now got a Pioneer PL-L800 and the is much better than all my many turntables, including my SL-100C.
I had a D3, which is identical to the D2, except that it's fully automatic. It had been serviced, just before purchase, and worked perfectly, and mat was perfect. Now have SL-Q303, which was the last Technics fully auto quartz drive, with curved arm, and double isolated suspension. Perfect except mat was rock hard
I bought an SL-D2 around 10 years ago off of CL for $25 bucks. Those were the days. She's still my daily driver, but it's long overdue for maintenance and cleaning.
Wow. The D2 was my high school eighties turntable and it was a workhorse and I loved it. Played a lot of new wave and punk on it! Now you have me wondering “what happened to it”? Nice review brings back lots of memories, thanks!
Great comparison i also own both got my SL-Q2 at an estate sale for $60 and the SL-D2 at Goodwill for $25, i tend to favor the Q2 but i have had it longer than the D2 and even bought Cartridges for it. I haven't quite found the best cart for the D2 BUT for the Q2 the Otofon 2m Black is AMAZING!!!! you have not truly heard this turntable until it has a 2M black. I am not saying that it will work for evey turntable i have a Pioneer PL-518 and both the 2M black and 2M red sound MEH on it but the ADC integra that was on my Q2 makes the PL-518 SING!!! but sounded meh on the SL-Q2. So far the SL-D2 doesn't sound bad but between the Audio technica LS400, AT91, and the Otofon 2M red it hasn't come alive yet. i still have the 2m Black, at3600l, ADC integra, and an unknown Ortofon cart it came with (VMS20 or VMS15XE MKII) to try but considering how ordinary the red sounded i think the black won't sound that good either but there are still more carts out there what carts are you using for yours?
There are no carts on either of them right now as they are in storage, but I've used the AT120E/T and AT440mlb on both. I find that Audio Technica carts work really well on Technics tables.
I heard from a guy that is from Japan, that Americans saying “Tech-neeks” are saying it wrong, and that it’s in fact pronounced “Technics”. I figure they’d know better than us, but I have the SL-D2 and like it a lot. Love your videos.
I've always called it technics ("tech-nicks") and have never understood why anyone speaking English would pronounce it techniques. It's so dumb and annoying.
I've had the D2 for about 6 or 7 years. I paid $60 for it. Still going strong. I've been on the hunt for a Q2. I do have a Q200 though which is great but being P-mount has limited cart choices. Still love it though. Agreed that these will blow anything made today out of the water, no contest.
Nice vídeo Nice demo,In the years 80s,i bought SLQ2,Ive till to day,the quartz Control system,do not have a speed control,pitch,But ive a PS900 Telefunken with pitch Thanks!
I own the q2 and its an awesome turntable Atm its a back-up to my 1200 but will never part with it also own an sl-1100a and slql15 and slqd33 and all are rock solid and the sl1100a is my holy grail table.
Interesting that my SL-1700 mk2 also was available from 1979, semi auto, Quartz lock, arm VTA same build components as the SL-1200 mk2. I guess its the top of the range semi automatic.
After graduating college, the SL-Q2 was the turntable I bought. I was limited budget wise. Sadly, I sold in the late 1980s at a garage sale for about nothing, along with my large collection of albums. STUPID. I have since learned my lesson and returned to vinyl. As to finding one locally now, I regularly see SL-D tables, just picked up a D30. I rarely to never see the SL-Q tables. Meanwhile the D30 cost me $40....
I just wanted to let you know the SLD2 was available in 1976 before the Quartz models. I still have mine and YES it still works perfectly. Also yes, the dust cover hinge broke, and the rubber plater turned to dust.
Calculating for inflation the SL-Q would cost about $745.00. So the $300 to $350 they go for today is not that bad if they are in excellent condition. Although i cannot hear any pitch or speed fluctuations, the Quarz lock models sound more rhythmical/musical to me in other words they time better. Aside from speed accuracy ive never heard two Technics tables that sound identical. I also have a Rega and its dead silent.
I have a SL-Q2 It's a great table. But in Europe it''s a little annoying that it plays at 45 RPM precisely instead of 45.11, as everything produced in Europe plays at 45.11....
Stability is more important than absolute rpm unless you're trying to play an instrument along with it. Unless you a/b them back and forth in seconds, you can't tell the difference with .11 rpm. It's meaningless.
Both the sl-D1. &. Sl-D2 a stop button put the speed control right in the center I've known that since I was in high school I picked up a set of sl-D1's still got them both even after get 2 Gemini DJ q1800-mk2 I had quartz direct drive toe was a upgrade to I get two sl-1200mk2 's but I will not get rid of my sl-D1's or my only surviving. original DJ turntable when I was 13 my Gemini DJq-1200
@@TurntableGuyit's annoying; he's correct. There is nothing in English that would indicate your pronunciation, it's clearly tech-nicks not tech-niques, that's just obvious. Great video though.
Wow. Does it really matter in this day and age? Goto any country and you'll find many English words pronounced differently. He says aluminum later on, i guess that bugs you too?
Hello. I am like you in that I prefer the additional markings on the platter. I also like the prospect of simplicity and tinkering with a pitch adjustment. QUESTION: Aside from those differences do you think there is any appreciable sound quality differences between these two tables ? Are there undesirable sound artifacts that come from the D2 ?
@TurntableGuy Thanks. I am not sure if I should move on a D2. There is one available. I like it better than my Kenwood 4100 but that is mostly due to the additional two rows of strobe bricks passing by. So Silly, I know. Regarding the plinth, the Kenwood is good and heavy. The D2 would be a step back in that specific regard. The responsible thing to do would be getting a cartridge as my Shure R47XT likely has a worn stylus that introduces scratchiness that tends to follow any high treble. It's really apparent on Supertramp's Goodbye Stranger peak before the instrumental Outro.
I have the opportunity to buy an SL-Q2 that has been serviced and gone through completely and is in perfect condition. The guy who's selling it has installed a brand new Ortofon 2m red cartridge as well. He's selling it for $238. Would you say that's a good deal?
Picked up an SL-D2 and SL-QD33 at an estate sell for cheap. Also have a Sanyo Plus Q50. I want to put one in my home office and really have time to compare them. Which would be the top pick?
The wow and flutter difference between the two is 0.005% point and not 0.05 %. sl-d2 0.03 % and sl-q2 0.025 %. Really inaudible difference The quartz thing, in this case, is just marketing bs. Pitch control on the other hand of the D2 is something I really like. Furthermore, I like the more Technics/vintage look of the d2.
Not only marketing bs. Servo only TT reference signal can drift due to components aging and temperature. It's not very uncommon to see the speed drift on servo table after it is warmed up after some record play. Quartz won't suffer from this.
Stop-Switch on SL-Q2: NO solenoid - stop is also electronically controled! Look into the schematics before you talk. Quick start and quick stop within a half-turn pf the platter.
