Technics 1210 MK5G Review

If you are looking at this review you probably already know the Technics decks are the industry standard and that they are the best money you can buy. So why would you need to read a review about them? To find it why they are the best decks ever made.

The Mark 5 is unsurprisingly an update but when its the first major update to the 1200s design in 25 years you’re going to want to know what they did. You’ll immediately notice the new look and by that we mean the new paint on the turntable. Sure it doesn’t make it function differently but it sure looks nice. There are now two columns of illuminated numbers on the side of the pitch control as well as two new buttons below the pitch. One button toggles between +-8/16% and the other is the quartz lock. The tone arm has had a slight update with a small knob on the side of the tonearm base which controls the new anti-skip functions. Due to the deck having an s shaped tonearm it’ll come as a welcome addition for those more used to straight tone arms.

What hasn’t changed is that classic motor. Everyone loves Technics decks because of the motor used with it providing just the right amount of torque and any messing surely would have led to complaints. Even newer decks are still trying to replicate the great feel and use of this motor so it is a testament to its design its still in use today.

As for how the deck handles there really isn’t much to write. We could just put the words Technics and turntable together and that’d explain it all. Technics decks are world leaders for a reason and if you don’t know that by now then this review won’t help convince you otherwise. The pitch control changes are a welcome addition whilst the fader itself still has that classic Technics feel to it which just feels so right.

The look of the unit, though mostly unchanged, is still gorgeous. This is what a turntable should look like, sharp clean lines and a simpleness to it that can’t be beat. Everyone instantly knows that this Turntable is top quality, it just oozes style as it has done for over 25 years.

So how do we rate a turntable which sounds as perfect as this? Well it really depends what you are looking for. Technics decks are now discontinued with only a few new ones remaining at the time of writing. So if you want the best turntable ever made go and buy this now and don’t regret it. If you already have something like the Stanton STR8-150 and fancy something better we’d say hold on to your money. Whilst this is the be all and end all of turntables, its not vastly better than many others now on the market like the STR8-150. So it depends what you want and what type of DJ you are. If you are a Scratch DJ and want the best equipment pick one of these up, otherwise look on knowing its the best but maybe its time to move on to digital DJing.