Technics SL-1600MK2 User Manual

e Remove the turntable platter together with the turntable
mat, and wrap it up to prevent any damage to them.
e Return the tonearm to the arm rest, and affix if with tape
or the like. .
e Remove the balance weight and the headshell/cartridge
from the tonearm and then wrap them up to avoid any
damage to them.
e Wrap up the turntable base with a blanket or soft paper also
to prevent any possible damage to it.
Total Quartz Locked Continuous Pitch Adjust-
ment +6%
Quartz-phase-locked control provides rotational accuracy
that is not approached by other turntable servo systems.
With the large majority of quartz-controlled turntables, how-
ever, the quartz servo system must be defeated when speed
changes are required (such as for matching musical pitch to
an instrument). Technics was the first company to develop a
“quartz synthesizer” system which maintained quartz accu-
racy in pitch-altered modes. This system permitted quartz-
controlled speed changes in increments of 0.1%.
Now, with the SL-1600MK2/SL-1610MK2, pitch is variable
continuously (analogically) by up to +6%, under quartz con-
trol. Pitch changes are made by turning a knob on the front
panel. As this is done, a series of thirteen LED’s light to indi-
cate percentage of pitch change—plus and minus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6%, and exactly on speed. In any case, the unsurpassed
accuracy of the quartz system remains in effect.
Double Isolated Suspension System with TNRC
Inner Base
Acoustic feedback is a potential problem whenever the turn-
table is located in the same room as the speakers, as is the
case innearly all home systems. Technics developed a double
isolated suspension system to drastically reduce the potential
for feedback. The outer base is made from diecast aluminum
and is supported by a carefully tuned set of isolators. The
inner base which supports the all-important platter, motor
and tonearm base, is made from our heavy, anti-resonant
“TNRC” material (Technics Non-Resonance Compound). This
inner base is supported by a second set of isolators. Alto-
gether, this double suspension makes it very unlikely that
you'll ever encounter a feedback problem. Even the platter is
doubledamped, with a specially fabricated rubber mat placed
on the underside of the turntable as well as the top.
Fully-Automatic Tonearm Action with Micro-
Computer Control and Muting Circuit
A micro-computer governs and controls all tonearm
functions—auto-start, auto-stop, auto-return, auto-repeat
and double cueing control. You'll discover that the auto-
matic operation of the tonearm is so quiet that you'll almost
have to look at it to know it’s moving. Technics uses mechan-
ically quiet, precision-molded, rugged synthetic parts to
avoid deterioration. The result is smooth virtually noise-free
operation. An automatic muting circuit cuts off output from
the cartridge whenever the arm is picked up or set down
either by the automatic mechanism or the cueing control.
This avoids irritating shock noises.
Automatic Disc Size Sensing and Repeat-
Play Control with Infrared Sensor
With the SL-1600MK2/SL-1610MK2, disc size selection (i.e.
12”, 10”, 7”) is made automatically. An invisible infrared ray
is generated from the underside of the platter. Through three
Small openings in the platter, it reaches a sensor installed in
a pole near the tonearm base.
The record on the turntable mat blocks a portion of the in-
frared, and from this the size of the record is determined. The
micro-computer mentioned above handles the information
and causes the tonearm to descend at the appropriate point.
If there is no record on the platter when the “start” switch is
pushed, the tonearm will not move, so accidental operation
is impossible. In addition, the repeat action of the tonearm is
improved over our past designs. If you operate the turntable in
a repeat-play mode, the tonearm will return to the lead-in
grooves and descend rather than going back to the tonearm
rest as in past models.
All Front-Panel Controls
Operational convenience is enhanced by putting all controls,
even the cueing control and LED display, in-line on the front
panel. The control buttons are precision-designed to require
a moderate but definite amount of pressure for activation.
This design gives a sense of positive control and minimizes
the possiblility of its accidental activation.
High-Sensitivity, Low Mass Gimbal Suspension
Tonearm
The highly sensitive tonearm suspension features a genuine
“gimbal” design, the rotational center of which is precisely
defined at a single point. Bearings are finished to atolerance
of 10.5 microns. This and the close-proximity of the bearings
to the pivot center, result in an effective friction of 7 mg
(0.007 grams) for both horizontal and vertical movement. Add
to this the low, 12-gram effective mass of the tonearm (includ-
ing the headshell) and you have a tonearm compatible with
the wide range of compliances found in today’s cartridges.
Quartz Oscillator-Controlled Strobe Illuminator
with Four Indication Lines
A quartz controlled LED strobe illuminates four lines of
Stroboscope markings on the platter edge. These markings
correspond to percentages of speed change: +6%, +3,3%, 0%
(standard speed) an -3%. When the line of markings seem
to stand still, this means that the platter is rotating at precisely
the indicated speed.
Stylus Illuminator for Low-Light Conditions
Other Fine Features
High torque for fast starts
Excellent load characteristics for steady speed
Helicoid tonearm height adjustment
Electronic braking system brings platter to a quick stop.
Prism strobe illuminator, governed by quartz oscillator
rather than potentially unstable AC line frequency.
e Soft-touch switches provide positive Control while mini-
mizing chances of accidental operation.
e Technics integral rotor/platter structure with full-cycle
detection FG.
Specifications
General
Power supply:
Power consumption:
Dimensions:
(WxXHxD)
Weight:
~110-120/220-240V, 50 or 60 Hz
18.5 W
45.3 x 14.9x 39.9 cm
(17-27/32”" * 5-7/8" X 15-45/64")
10 kg (22 Ib.)
Turntable section
Type: Quartz direct drive
Automatic turntable
Auto start
Auto return
Auto stop
Repeat play

Technics SL-1600MK2 Specifications

General

Brand	Technics
Model	SL-1600MK2
Category	Amplifier
Language	English