End Of an Era… 1st the Walkman and now Panasonic Turntables. So long.
End Of an Era: Panasonic Kills Off Technics Turntables
If you’ve ever been a DJ, known a DJ, or listened to a DJ, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Technics. Panasonic’s analog turntables are legend among scratchers and spinners. And now they’re gone.
Panny made the announcement that they’d cease Technic sproduction because of “a decline in demand for these analog products and also the growing difficulty of procuring key analog components necessary to sustain production.” In a word: obsolescence.
3.5 million SL-1200 turntables sold since 1972. Countless audio mixers and stereo headphones that also bear the Technics name. But with sales of analog decks being just 5% of what they were 10 years ago, Panasonic’s finally pulled the plug on a classic.
What made Technics so good? A reliable Direct Drive turning mechanism. A heavy, rock-solid 27 pound base. And three decades of tradition.
It’s not that Technics are the only analog turntables in the world. It that they were the analog turntables. And now, like any other technology that gets eclipsed, they’re antiques, collectibles, curios for fanatics. Lets hope anyone who’s got one keeps it well preserved. [Tokyo Reporter]
Send an email to Brian Barrett, the author of this post, at bbarrett@gizmodo.com.
Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.If you read the October 2010 issue of Absolute Sound, you will learn that the LP record album has seen a five year trend upwards in sales. LP Albums are the only category of music that is growing at this time. There are more companies manufacturing quality record players than ever and Doug Sax has dusted off his analogue equipment and is mastering LP’s again.Why would Technics stop producing? Technics did not make turntables for critical listening. Their turntables where durable, could be spun backwards, and were the DJ’s best friend. They served a purpose that has no relationship to the LP album’s resurgence.
I encourage everyone to download a very educational guide devoted to the current state of LP playback. Page 5 explains why LP albums are doing so well, and you’ll see the state of the art is amazing. The guide is here: [tinyurl.com]
A new generation is learning to sit down, relax, and listen to music as it was meant to be heard. Don’t worry about what happens to Technics, LP playback is very alive and well. Reply
OMG! Orphic1! approved this commentthe only turntable being discontinued that the article references is the MK6. the panasonic site has other models available. sounds a little unclear.it says “Regarding the Technics brand itself, nothing has been decided other than the discontinuation of the mentioned products, the statement said.” Reply
OMG! Orphic1! promoted this commentI’m going to come out and say it; good. Most people who call themselves DJs suck. I mean, mixing two parts of two different songs isn’t really a talent, is it? Go make a fucking beat then I’ll be impressed. And you’ll need a laptop for that, not a turntable. ReplyOMG! Orphic1! promoted this commentThis is Traci and Staci.
My twins.
They are Technics 1200 MKII’s and they are my babies.
Thank god I bought them off my friend two weeks ago for $550.
: ( Reply
You know what? These rumors have been floating around for years. I’ll believe it when I see an official Panasonic press release. ReplyI want one! Actually my dad has the entry level model of the first line of Technics turntables. I should find it and pretty it up, I know it’s missing the cartridge for the needle but other than that it works. ReplyWow! Still got my 1210s I bought in 91. They work as good as the day I bought them. They are rugged as hell. I have been tempted into getting a more up to date set of tables with more pitch range, reverse, usb output, higher torque, all that good stuff. But the 1200 is the classic. An end of an era indeed. ReplyFUCK!!!!!!!!!!WHY?
I will not spin on anything else. this just flipped my world upside down. Reply
OMG! Orphic1! promoted this commentSo has anyone used turntables over the last 20 years to actually listen to records in the comfort of their own home, or is all DJ stuff? ReplyThis is a long time coming… In fact, what I’ve heard is that they stopped making these years ago but they have them warehoused somewhere.Problem is they made it too well - really. The damn things are so fucking well made that it’s really not much of a risk buying a used one. They’re bulletproof.
Over-engineering your product a great way to make it legendary, but it’s not a great way to get people to keep doubling down on product.
Mine is 10 yrs old, and it’s still one of the nicest things I own. Not many things like that in the world. Reply
Um… I still STILL have yet to see an actual press release on this. I remember this story popping up a few times in the past.
If anyone can find it (preferably translated) that would be appreciated.In any case, I’m glad I just had my 1210’s serviced! Reply
OMG! Orphic1! promoted this commentSo it’s, “no turntables and a microphone” now? And, was this thread deliberately posted at 4:20? Replymine still going strong! i have them since 1990. and they dont miss the speed. no wonder the price jumped from 500.00 to 900.00 dollars. Replydolo54 blows minds and blows engines! promoted this commentmat approved this commentThis is a damn shame. Digital djing just isn’t the same. A whole culture is losing something special. ReplyOMG! Orphic1! promoted this commentIt’s so crazy to me how quickly digital took over the DJ world, expecially in the dubstep scene.Just a few years ago, dubstep releases were pretty much only on vinyl. If you wanted to own a track, and not just a horrible vinyl rip of it, yo had to own the vinyl. Since dubstep exploded over the past year or so, pretty much every track is released as a 320 at the same time. DJ used to spin nothing but vinyl also. There was something about DJ’s spinning vinyl that made dubstep special. I can only think of one or 2 DJ’s that still do. Skream and Matty G. Reply
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