Modded SL1200's

Hi Andy,

I have fooled around a fair bit with one of these, no idea what headshell you are using, but you might find the AT-MG10 headshell to help the Goldring some.

Mats are another area many tinker with and alternative feet often get a mention.

Many have also fitted this deck with a Rega arm, either the RB250 or RB300, some seem to have thought it an improvement, others not so.  Depending on the cartridge being used the Rega arm may transmit too much energy into the alloy plinth and be better for being decoupled, probably not such an issue with your Goldring but it was with some of the cartridges I hung on one.  Using an RB250 on a Technics removes all the advantages of the stock arm, easy VTA, simple VTF setting, interchangeable headshells.

Many believe power supply modification/upgrade to be very worthwhile, I have yet to try that.

Of the readily available arms for the Technics, only the Jelco 750 offers most of the advantages of the stock arm (VTA is adjustable - just somewhat fiddly) - but - fitting one of these will set you back the cost of the deck or more - perhaps to no great gain unless you wish to run some particularly difficult cartridge (read low compliance).

I liked the combination of an SRM tech 2mm silicone mat on the platter (trimmed to fit inside the lip) with a 3mm Funk Achromat on top and a Michell clamp.

Others like heavy rubber, felt or cork, the Herbies "way excellent mat" has had good reports and some have preferred the SDS or Origin Live mats, or you could try the tnt-audio Janus mat.

Foculpods can be fitted in place of the stock feet although I was not impressed with the results of that - YMMV

Others have tried screw in speaker spikes in place of the feet and isonoes are another  (though rather pricey) option.

One rather interesting (to me at any rate) modification to an SL1200, involved fitting a trans-fi terminator air-bearing linear tracking tonearm and an AT OC9 cartridge (I believe the owner had also done the power supply mods) - he reported great satisfaction with the results - still, he could have bought another 3 SL1200s for the cost of the upgrades.

Have fun.