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Technics SL-D2 Welcome to TJs
Your definitive place for beautifully
restored Technics turntables Click here to view all beautifully restored Technics turntables Click on the Image to Enlarge zoom_in Click on an image above for a large view zoom_inRecent Customer FeedbackThe best Ebayer I’ve ever dealt with. I’d give 100 stars if I could.
(Buyer from Bristol, UK: Technics SL-B2 Turntable (#222831328534))Now this is a real craftsman. Such a nice deck I have invested in an OM 40
(Buyer from Newport, UK: Technics SL-Q2 Turntable Stunning New Dust Cover Superb Condition Must See!! (#222836274853))Fantastic product, interesting helpful nice guy, extremely happy will use again
(Buyer from Peterborough, UK: Technics SL-D3 Turntable Stunning New Dust Cover Immaculate Condition Must See!! (#222837841070)) Can not praise this seller highly enough. Fantastic item, wonderfully packaged
(Buyer from Harrogate, UK: Technics SL-D202 Turntable Stunning New Dust Cover Immaculate Restored Must See! (#222802804455)) Perfect packaging, excellent communication, great experience. Thank you
(Buyer from Milan, Italy: Technics SL-D3 Turntable Stunning New Dust Cover Immaculate Restored Must See! (#222784093640))CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL FEEDBACK Click here to view all beautifully restored Technics turntables ITEM DESCRIPTION:
TECHNICS SL-D2 Direct Drive Automatic
What’s Included in the Sale ** DUE TO HIGH SEASONAL DEMAND, MY CURRENT SHIPPING DATE IS AFTER 7TH DEC AND YOUR TURNTABLE WILL ARRIVE IN PLENTY OF TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 🙂 **
Your chance to own a totally unique, highly collectable classic vintage Technics SL-D2 Direct Drive Automatic turntable in silver finish. Not only will it sound superb, it will look superb in your hi-fi system with the brand-new ultra clear dust cover with a laser-etched Technics logo
The D2 set the mid-range direct drive market standard in the late 70s with its very well engineered design including a heavy die-cast platter and excellent s-shaped statically balanced tonearm. Featuring the Technics’ highly renowned direct drive design, the SL-D2 produces an exceptional sound quality. This is an extremely good value for money turntable, giving you a sound performance that easily compares to that of much higher models, such as the famous SL-1200MK2 or similar models but at a much reduced price. It even has the very useful feature of auto-return, unlike the SL-1200MK2! 🙂
To get an even higher quality performance I would very much recommend a cartridge upgrade (please see below). I’ve just tried it with an OM 30 and 2M Blue with stunning results in adding extra warmth, depth, tonal balance and clarity. I never tire of just how superb these machines sound against this highly precise digital world we live in
The turntable has been thoroughly cleaned and lovingly restored back to a stunning condition and is working beautifully
Fully restored to a high professional standard Completely tested and serviced Brand new professionally made ultra-clear perspex dust cover (WORTH 100) Fully removable from hinges Stays up when open, like the original (unlike most custom covers!) Even fitted with front rubber bumpers (unlike most custom covers!) Brand new Ortofon OM 5 cartridge fitted as standard (WORTH 60) Outstanding sound performance and value for money World renowned, award winning cartridge manufacturer Easily upgraded to OM 10 or OM 30 Exclusive optional upgrade offers available (see below) Supplied with full set-up and Technics operating instructions Fitted with a 3A fused UK plug PLEASE SEE ‘FULL DESCRIPTION’ TAB at the bottom of the page for any issues or defects FOR DETAILED IMAGES, please see ‘Hi Res Images’ tab at the bottom of the page
GENUINE 100% VERY EXPERIENCED SELLER: buy with confidence that you will receive an excellent turntable with first-class service from a specialised seller with many years of experience in fully restoring Technics machines. Only turntables that will continue to perform to the world-famous Technics high quality standards are sold EXCLUSIVE OPTIONAL
UPGRADES
when you buy this turntable
By popular demand from buyers worldwide, some exclusive offers are now available when you purchase this turntable
The vintage Technics machines offer the most outstanding value and reliably consistent high quality sound experience you will find available today. Sure, there is some tough competition out there, but you can be guaranteed that a Technics machine will certainly compete and most likely outshine any turntable of significantly higher value in today’s market
Not only that, they do it with some 30 – 50 years of proven reliability and in true, original vintage style
To further complement these amazing machines, please see below some exclusive offers that will allow you to really get the most out of your Technics turntable. You’ll be totally amazed at the level of audiophile quality that can be achieved with a very reasonable budget
Upgrade the OM 5E to an OM 10Typical retail price 80ONLY 25Buy an additional OM 10 cartridge,
complete with headshell ready to plug and playTypical retail price 110ONLY 55Upgrade the OM 5E to an OM 30Typical retail price 240ONLY 210Buy an additional OM 30 cartridge,
complete with headshell ready to plug and playTypical retail price 300ONLY 240Upgrade the OM 5E to a 2M RedTypical retail price 85ONLY 70Buy an additional 2M Red cartridge,
complete with headshell ready to plug and playTypical retail price 145ONLY 100Upgrade the OM 5E to a 2M BlueTypical retail price 180ONLY 140Buy an additional 2M Blue cartridge,
complete with headshell ready to plug and playTypical retail price 240ONLY 160 Click here to view all beautifully restored Technics turntables Full Description ** DUE TO HIGH SEASONAL DEMAND, MY CURRENT SHIPPING DATE IS AFTER 7TH DEC AND YOUR TURNTABLE WILL ARRIVE IN PLENTY OF TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 🙂 **
Your chance to own a totally unique, highly collectable classic vintage Technics SL-D2 Direct Drive Automatic turntable in silver finish.
The stunning feature is a professionally made, ultra-clear perspex dust cover that will show off this classic turntable to its best. The Technics logo has been laser etched on the underside for an incredibly stylish and totally unique effect. The perfect blend to give these amazing machines a whole new lease of life and will look superb as a show piece in any hi-fi system
The turntable has been thoroughly cleaned and lovingly restored back to a superb condition and is working beautifully.
GENUINE 100% VERY EXPERIENCED SELLER :-
Buy with confidence that you will receive an excellent turntable with first-class service from a specialised seller with many years of experience in fully restoring Technics machines. Only turntables that perform to the world-famous Technics high quality standards are sold.
MAJOR UPGRADES FITTED :-In addition to the stunning dust cover worth 100, it comes with a brand new Ortofon OM 5E cartridge and stylus worth 60 fitted in a genuine Technics headshell. The OM 5E is a highly acclaimed, award-winning cartridge that fully brings out all of the stunning qualities of the Technics turntable range, placing their overall performance in a class of their own, while offering outstanding value for money.
The dust cover has been made professionally using 3mm ultra-clear perspex for the highest quality effect to complement this amazing Technics machine.
FULLY TESTED AND RESTORED :-
The mechanics and electrics are in full working condition and any adjustments have been done, such as synchronising the 33 and 45rpm speeds. When you switch between the two speeds the pitch is virtually spot-on so you will rarely have to adjust it. Any defects have been fully rectified and all areas such as motors, switches and controls have been serviced and cleaned.
STUNNING CONDITION :-
As part of the restoration process, all cosmetic areas have been meticulously cleaned, polished and restored to bring the turntable back to a stunning condition. The Turntable itself is cosmetically presented to a very high standard with only very minor blemishes, and the dust cover is just stunning (and brand new!).
DETAILS OF ANY NOTED ISSUES OR DEFECTS :-
The turntable base unit has been restored back to a stunning condition and looks amazing considering it’s around 39 years old! The only blemishes to note are a faint, hairline mark by the logo and product identification but barely noticeable and a slight mark on the rear right side panel. None of these blemishes detract from its overall superb condition. Very close inspection will obviously reveal some further age related wear and marks but they would be very minor indeed and certainly not worth noting. Please see the detailed high res images for details. It really is in a stunning, fully restored condition.
The dust cover is brand new, professionally made and turns this machine into a truly stunning piece of collectable hi-fi history. Further Description & Background Info So here’s the thing….most people who sell Technics turntables do not sing their praises enough or give the buyer a proper idea of what they are buying. They also dont spend the time to tell buyers anything about their pedigree as a brand, how well they function, their reliability and most importantlywhat they sound like! Since Technics turntables are one of my lifelong passions, Id like to correct this for all you wonderful vinyl loving buyers out there! 🙂
I have grown up with Technics and many other turntables (I’m in my early 50’s), I’ve also sold numerous brands of hi-fi equipment professionally over the years and have always loved the ‘audiophile’ experience and the great enjoyment it brings to music listening. The early (original) Technics turntables compared to virtually all other turntables on the market were all built to last, but also, as importantly, produce an exceptionally high-quality sound for their price. Back in their day, now, and beyond, I guarantee they rival any turntable in terms of overall performance (and certainly longevity!).
The main point to make of interest to buyers is that any of the Technics turntables of the type being sold here will compare extremely favourably to all those modern units on the market (you know the ones….they tend to start with a P, an A or an I if were talking USB transfer 🙂 ). A word of caution though….Technics did lose their way from the mid-80s through to mid-90s when they started producing more inferior straight-arm turntables with the T4P cartridge design. They also introduced lower quality budget versions of their linear tracking models which have proved far less reliable than a conventional design. Im never a fan of any example of an audio device where functionality and convenience is favoured against sound quality, as in the case of most linear tracking turntables (although some were superb). So, if you’re looking for a proper classic Technics that will truly perform to modern-day audio expectations, make sure it’s an S-shaped arm design type that particularly benefits from the classic interchangeable standard headshell cartridge mount.
When it comes to the SL-D2, this is one of the late 70s classic direct drive units aimed at the then mid to upper range market and cost around 120 (that was a lot of money back then!). In terms of design aesthetics, this is a great looking turntable with a simplistic style that has really stood the test of time.
The SL-D2 really is a solid, well-built turntable that was made to last. It is one of the extremely well-designed units that features alongside the more recognisable direct drive systems….yes…you’ve guessed it…the world famous SL-1200.
So here’s where I give you the brief SL-1200 story…..at least the facts and parts that no one seems to mention! I was also a professional DJ for over 10 years so have grown to love and appreciate this turntable legend.
The SL-1200 was designed way back in the early 1970s (SL-1200 MK1 to be precise). In the late 1970s, the SL-1200 MK2 (the one that everybody loves) was then produced. Due to its amazing torque (try stopping the platter when it’s spinning!), high-quality audiophile level sound, accurate speed control and so on, it became a standard in radio stations and discotheques worldwide. In fact, the main reason it was adopted so widely was actually due to its anti-resonant base made of heavy rubber. This stops unwanted feedback to the turntable when placed in the vicinity of high volume/high base output speakers such as those found in discotheques and clubs.
HOWEVER……unless you are looking to directly use a turntable in a club or other venue as a DJ, you can very much enjoy the classic Technics sound made world-famous by the SL1200, from many of their other SL-Range turntables. The SL-D2, with its similarly designed direct drive motor system and very well-built tonearm can deliver a very superior vinyl sound that any SL-1200 owner would be very proud of. I have spent many hours doing comparative testing between virtually the full array of the classic Technics turntables and can honestly say that given like-for-like cartridges, there is very little difference between them..they always sound amazing!
The real bombshell came when I demoed the SL-D2 along with several other classic Technics decks against the mighty new SL-1200GR (1300) and the even more mighty SL-1200G at a whopping 3000. So youre wondering how did the like-for-like cartridge comparisons (including some high-end MM and MC Ortofons) on all machines stack up? Ridiculously well!! Myself and other seasoned audiophiles all agreed that the differences approached negligible. Sure, there were some differences to note such as a slightly firmer base presence on the 1200s along with some additional warmth and depth on some recordings..but it takes a brave person to say they could justify the MASSIVE extra cost. When compared to a vintage Technics thats sounding beyond fabulous at thirty plus years old, it really is a huge leap in cost and justification to warrant spending the extra cash. If you have it, great!….if you don’t….you can be delighted and feel very smug knowing you would have something that’s a worthy contender 🙂 (that’s a smug smiley face).
Apologies for the history and technical lesson, but I wanted to set the ‘record’ straight (sorry for the pun) and provide a more informed sale for something that I am very passionate and knowledgeable about.
So back to the SL-D2. This really is a remarkable sounding turntable! I absolutely love the performance of these decks; from the way the base is so tight and punchy, to the amazing detail at the top end, thanks to the excellent match of the brand new Ortofon OM 5E cartridge – a brilliant combination that would put to shame any modern turntable in the 300 – 1500 price bracket. I’m currently testing it and listening to Daft Punk ‘Discovery’ album which sounds superb. The base is very tight and accurate with an incredible sense of detail at the top end. Daft Punk use the stereo sound stage to great effect which the D2 matched with the OM 5E reproduces with stunning results.
The SL-D2 was one of the last S-shaped, direct drive designs Technics produced until they converted to the straight arm style discussed above. As well as the arm design, it benefits from manual pitch adjustment, speed change and oil-damped arm cueing for smooth arm up/down operation. It is a semi-automatic unit that automatically lifts the arm at the end of play and returns the arm back to rest. It also has a stop button to manually stop and reset the arm to rest at any point during play. It features sprung feet that act as low frequency isolators and impact absorbers. Similar to the SL1200 MK2, this helps prevent acoustic feedback from heavy base and high-volume levels, as well as minimising any movement when mounted on non-solid floors such as floorboards.
Once you have tuned into this superb sounding turntable; If you really want to treat your ears to the next level, then simply swap out the OM 5E stylus for an OM 10 or even an OM 30, since the base OM cartridge is identical for each (its just the stylus that is different). For a modern twist on the OM range, you could try a 2M Red or Blue from the 2M range. I am a huge fan of both of these Ortofon ranges and never cease to be amazed by the quality of my personal favourite, the OM 30, followed closely buy the 2M Blue. Having said that, they all sound remarkable depending on the type of music and vinyl you play. For example, the OM 5E is fantastic in capturing the extreme dynamic range and vibrancy of 12 inch singles, whereas the OM 30 or 2M Red/Blue are incredible at capturing the finer detail on LPs and 45 singles with their narrower grooves.
Also, the beauty of having an interchangeable headshell is that you could also buy another headshell and cartridge and swap effortlessly from one to the other. For example, keep the OM 5E for general listening then swap to an OM 10 or 30 for serious, quality sessions! They are a little pricey, but I believe theyre worth every penny. When it comes to budget-end audiophile sound qualitya classic Technics deck like the SL-D2 fitted with a well-matched cartridge such as an Ortofon.youre not going to better it, unless you go for broke and spend serious money (Im talking 1000s, not 100s!)
I would be very happy to pass on this piece of hi-fi excellence to someone else that, like me, knows vinyl is always best! :). So grab a true audiophile bargain and save a chunk of money on that SL-1200 MK2 you really don’t need to buy for home use…..unless you’re a DJ! International Shipping & Packing ** DUE TO HIGH SEASONAL DEMAND, MY CURRENT SHIPPING DATE IS AFTER 7TH DEC AND YOUR TURNTABLE WILL ARRIVE IN PLENTY OF TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 🙂 **
Should you require delivery, the turntable will be packaged using professional materials specifically sourced from a local box and packaging manufacturer. The turntable will be very well packaged to maximise protection against damage during transit, which even allows me to successfully ship internationally, even as far as Australia and New Zealand!
I have many happy buyers all over the world that have used the eBay International Shipping Programme or direct shipping options. I do not look to make extra profit from the delivery charge, only to cover the costs of packaging materials and the delivery charge itself, plus the all important insurance. Therefore, the delivery cost will always be highly competitive.
I always do my best to ship as quickly as possible and aim to ship well within 5 working days. Please bear in mind that should you request any options, especially a phono lead upgrade or depending on current stocks of cartridges, the dispatch time will be up to 10 days.
As with shipping any item, there is always the remote chance of damage occurring during transit. I never argue or dispute this with buyers and will always immediately accept a return on any turntable that has been externally or internally damaged as a result of transit. After all, that’s what insurance is for!
Due to their mechanical and electronic nature (not to even mention their age), turntables can rarely sometimes arrive with things that need to be adjusted or corrected which can usually be dealt with via eBay messaging. I always want customers to be totally satisfied with their turntable (please read my ‘About Me’ section), so I ask customers to just contact me if they have any issues at all. Upgrades & Options Cartridges
Any of the Technics turntables sold here will produce an exceptionally good quality sound, since they have all been constructed to a base high standard.
With an Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, they will always achieve excellent results from this brilliant all-round performer, and it’s no surprise that the OM 5E is fitted to many turntables available in today’s market.
Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have the pleasure of listening to a vast range of hi-fi through working for many years in the industry. Many brands have come and gone, but one that has remained consistent over several decades is Ortofon. Since their introduction, I have been a huge fan of the OM series. They are such a great performing cartridge and have the significant benefit of an interchangeable stylus. The OM cartridge body is the same for all the range, so you can upgrade by simply changing the stylus. One thing I have learned is that making changes in the right areas can gain superb results, especially when it comes to cartridges and styli.
The interchangeable headshell design of Techics turntables allows cartridges to be swapped out in seconds, giving you the convenience of being able to upgrade without the hassle of disconnecting cartridge bodies and re-aligning them, which can be quite problematic.The OM 10 and OM 30 are an excellent step-up from the 5E and bring more warmth, depth and accuracy to your listening experience. They are offered here pre-mounted and ready to go, so that you can have much greater flexibility in your choice of cartridge.The 2M range are in many ways a modern twist to the OM range and were introduced in 2007. They have a similar design to the OM series and share many of their characteristics. In comparative tests the 2M range deliver a slightly more attacking and forward sound. As with allsound reproduction, the results are always very subjective since we all have different tastes in sound preference. For example, I prefer a very detailed sound, not harsh or too bright, but plenty of bass to go with it. That’s probably why I like the OM range so much.However, I find the 2M range very exciting and vibrant to listen to. It also very much depends on your choice of music and type of vinyl as to what cartridge works better and is more matched you individual tastes.
For more information on the OM range – click here
For more information on the 2M Red – click here
For more information on the 2M Blue – click here
Hi-Res Images About Me I love music! Its one of my lifelong passions.
I’ve also grown up with a love of, and an obsession with hi-fi since the late 1970s, when, at the age of 12, I visited Harrods hi-fi department. I put on a pair of Sennheiser headphones connected to a Technics reel to reel tape machine and listened to a master copy of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ album.it was the most amazing thing I’d ever heard. From that moment on, I was eternally hooked into high fidelity sound and began my journey as an audiophile.
As an audiophile, I have been immersed in hi-fi for many years and have grown up with pretty much every brand you can think of through all parts of the spectrum. I have many friends in the industry from those within manufacturers to distributors through to dealers. I also managed several hi-fi stores back in the day and worked closely with a friend running a shop in Oxfordshire. Over the years I have learned what goes into making music come to life, having spent many hours demoing equipment, plus visiting and exhibiting at countless shows and exhibitions worldwide.
One of the main points I like to share is that I have learned hi-fi and everything that comes with it is extremely subjective to each listener. What I like compared to someone else can sometimes be polar opposite, or it can sometimes be very similar to what they like. Also, to make things even more complex, equipment can vary significantly in performance, and varying results can be had by connecting different equipment together. Having said that, much of the difference in sound reproduction ultimately happens at the loudspeaker end of the system, and I am adamant about this point, so don’t let anyone ever try to convince you otherwise….some might in the audiophile world…. but they are wrong :).
So when it comes to sound reproduction, there are fundamentals, or foundation parts of the system which are far less subjective. This comes down to sheer quality of the sound being captured along its journey, which is something that can very much be measured and quantified. It is either a good quality signal, a bad one, or something in between.
In this case, the subjectiveness of the sound we hear is not generally up for discussion. Compare it to watching a VHS video recording from the 1990s played into a brand new Ultra HD OLED TV, compared to a feed from a 4K blu ray recording. The difference in quality would be very apparent (although I have spoken to people who say they cannot see the difference between a low resolution and high resolution video image…..which proves my point about subjectiveness!). An extreme example but hopefully it makes the point. So when we then consider hi-fi sound reproduction at the front end, there are distinct areas of quality that most can agree on without any subjectiveness to discuss. The results are as obvious and the visual example with the TV. You can plug a portable 1970s cassette tape recorder or a 2018 CD player into a 5000 amplifier and speaker system and everyone will likely agree which one sounds better.
When we then get to what I would consider a very respectable level of sound quality from turntables, the differences can still be measured, but become harder to differentiate. So we then all begin to revert to trying to be subjective in how different they sound to us. The other factor to consider here is what I call the ‘snob’ factor, which is rife in the world of hi-fi. Some will turn their nose up at Technics and the like, just because an elitist brand with all its faade and high price tags tells them something is far superior. I often refer to this as the Apple effect. If you are familiar with the Apple brand compared to all the other phones on the market, youll get my point. Many love the Apple brand, but are they really that much better than other phones and can you justify the price tag?
My quest and enjoyment since my teenage years has been to take the best quality hi-fi components within a budget to create the most impressive sound. I guess this came naturally, as a typical student in the 1980s with a very limited budget! This is where I first discovered that the likes of Technics and some other brands manufactured products that really stood out amongst the rest. Interestingly, it’s now only years later that I also realise how much quality went into the design and build of the early Technics turntables, as they are still running and sounding just as superb some four decades later!
I recently had the opportunity of returning to full-time study as a university student. My peers suddenly became a bunch of guys in their late teens/early 20s and I discovered through them there was a rivival of vinyl. One friend in particular was just as obsessed as I was at his age about music and hi-fi, but more interestingly in vinyl. From fixing and restoring Technics turntables for myself, friends and family, it lead to being encouraged by my student friends and others to start restoring these amazing machines for others….so here I am!
I share all of the above experiences to show that my efforts in restoring Technics turntables has come from a deep passion to bring them back to the former glory they rightly deserve and pass this on for others to discover the same. I think it’s fair to say that most sellers are only really looking to get a decent return on there sales which most will agree is perfectly fine and acceptable. My angle is to sell Technics turntables because I have always passionately believed in their brand and a desire to share this with others. So my return on the investment I have made in selling Technics turntables is one for the time I take in restoring them and taking much pride in doing so.
Hopefully, youve discovered that I really am passionate (my wife says obsessed!) about giving these wonderful machines a new lease of life. I have been restoring Technics turntables for many years and will only sell them if I am confident they will live on for many more years. I also want vinyl lovers to discover that you dont have to spend a small fortune, or rely on those modern, inferior quality, cheaply built turntables to acquire superior audiophile sound, courtesy of those amazing Panasonic Technics people, and a little help from me 🙂
Im always very happy to help answer any questions on the turntables I sell or anything else hi-fi related that I might be able to help with from my experience.
If you buy after clicking affiliate links on this site we might receive a commission from companies such as eBay, Amazon etc This does not affect the price you pay.
Click here to buy, and to see similar items on eBay
Category: Sound and Vision:Home Audio and HiFi Separates:Record Players/Turntables
Location: Leicester