For the vinyl turntable enthusiast, the grand ol' daddy of quality turntables, Technics SP-10
IT IS VITAL THAT THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION IS READ AND UNDERSTOOD!
THIS TURNTABLE SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED FOR DEDICATED TURNTABLE ENTHUSIASTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK UP TO ORIGINAL CONDITION (OR EVEN BETTER!)
HISTORY:
Technics inflitrated many broadcast studios with the SP-10, it was squarely aimed at the broadcast market and was certainly widely used in Australasia.
The SP-10 is built tough, rugged and has plenty of mass! One of the heaviest platters around (2.5Kg).
It uses direct drive with crystal locked speed control.
This turntable is STOCK STANDARD broadcast issue - complete with the very nice plinth, removed years ago from a very well known radio broadcaster along with a number of other SP-10's which we used in our own studios. Since that decommissioning, it has sat in the corner (in a box) quietly minding its own business but wishing so much that someone will love it again!
TECHNICS PROFESSIONAL TURNTABLE
Made in Japan
Model: SP-10 MKII
Rotation speeds 33.3 & 45rpm
Touch button speed selection
Discrete neon light is used to show the correct rotation speed in relation to the user selection
This model uses a special outboard power unit (looks a bit like a brick with a lever switch on the front) which provides power to the turntable via a lead with a 4 pin Cannon male connector, and not just "ordinary" power, it supplies +5V DC & +32.5V DC regulated plus 140V DC unregulated.
I DO NOT HAVE THE SH-10E POWER UNIT!!!
Sad but I had 3x SP-10's but only two SH-10E's. Our audio post production facilities used two of the SP-10's with this one as the backup unit. I do know this turntable was operating "way back when" but would have loved to fire it up once again to check the functionality and also the bearings. The complete SP-10's with SH-10E were sold when I retired the business a few years back - I ONLY have this SP-10 left now.
Solid metal alloy construction, even the underneath is totally enclosed in metal.
Total dimensions (turntable mounted on the plinth): 452mm wide x 402mm deep x 120mm high (bottom of turntable to the top of the spindle but don't forget the height will increase when a tonearm is fitted)
Total shipping weight: 12Kg
So, unfortunately it is provided AS-IS - that's the best I can do unless I do come across another SH-10E in my aladdins cave of goodies!
Fitted (as originally supplied to the station) on a 12mm thick plywood based plinth which has REAL WOOD veneer, not that horrible plastic woodgrain veneer!
Next thing you will notice (it is pretty obvious!) there is NO TONEARM!
The reason is simple, we used to fit various tonearms to our SP-10's, depending upon the archival work we were undertaking. I DO have the original tonearm supplied with this SP-10 and it is advertised separate to this listing. We usually used the beautiful REGA RB300 series arms on these turntables, sometimes an SME 3009. I only have the original SEDCO/SYNTEX tonearm left now, the other arms found new homes right quick smart!
The tonearm mounting hole (which suits many tonearms) is set 205mm from the centre spindle. The other hole is of course for the arm rest.
See that little bag with black wire in it? That is supplied but it is just the ground wire which connects underneath the turntable.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Plinth is fine, no major marks or scratches
Platter and base of the turntable are OVERALL good but there is some work needed if you would like to bring this up to "like new" standard.
The STOP/START button has the letters engraved into the metal and then infilled with black. This has rubbed off over time as the jock continually starts and stops this turntable.
The outer edges of the platter have VERY LIGHT oxidisation - I did some test cleaning (metal cleaner) and this does clean up nicely, just a bit more work required.
The worst part (and this is such a common problem with the SP-10) is that the base (topside) tends to "rot" over time, sort of like an oxidisation of the top layer. You can see this pretty clearly at the top left-hand corner area and down the side where the tonearm would be.
I do know of people who have very successfully restored this metalwork, I have never had the time (or inclination) to worry about it.
I don't like the mat! It feels quite rigid and I can see some topside pressure damage to it. It would be much better to replace this. These are nice mats (usually) but over time this one seems to have lost some flexibility)
This mat is 6mm thick, weighs 400g and the part number is SFTG102-01 D-1
FINAL (BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT) NOTES:
YOU MUST GET YOURSELF AN SH-10E TO POWER THIS TURNTABLE UP OR BUILD YOUR OWN!! (Some have done this because I see some folk sell their SH-10E standalone for US$700 plus!!! That sort of price makes building your own a reasonable proposition, although though that then means you have lost "authenticity" by using non-original equipment to power it up.
The SP-10 is a nice solid turntable that is now extremely sought after and the prices online reflect this! In my opinion the prices are a bit steep but that's the audio market for you.
Just a quick scout around today, I see offerings of JUST the turntable (like I am offering) beginning at A$800 !!!
Others have the SP-10 married up with the SH-10E, looking really nice and asking anywhere between US$2500 and US$4995 !!! ARMLESS!
I have priced my SP-10E at what I feel is a fair and reasonable price and am perfectly fine shipping both around Australia or Internationally. I know how to pack turntables properly, with proper attention paid to the bearings in particular.
Last note, I do have the SH-10E schematic diagram/pinouts and also the Service Manual for the SP-10 MKII (both are available online anyway) - if you should want these, make sure you ask (and you shall receive "master")
