Technics SL-1500CS Direct Drive Turntable with Ortofon Cartridge

Pushing rotational accuracy to an even higher level with ΔΣ-Drive, a digital control technology developed for our Grand Class, even subtle noise in the motor-drive signal is eliminated. Technics introduces Metallic Grey for the first time, a colour inspired by the advanced ΔΣ Drive technology and designed to express a modern, forward-looking identity.

Features

The Latest Coreless Direct Drive Motor Achieves High-precision Stable Rotation
ΔΣ-Drive Achieves High-precision Stable Rotation
Technics Sound Right out of the Box with a Built-in Phono Equaliser and Cartridge
A Short Signal Path from Tonearm to Built-In Phono EQ Preserves Signal Integrity
Equipped with an Auto Lifter Function That Allows You to Enjoy Playing Records More Comfortably
High-rigidity Body and High-damping Silicon Insulators for Smooth Sound and Isolation from Various Vibrations

Technics Sound right out of the box

Letting you enjoy Technics sound right out of the box, the highly acclaimed built-in phono EQ and the Ortofon 2M Red are included as standard.

Coreless Direct Drive Motor

For decades, Technics’ direct drive has delivered accurate, maintenance-free rotation. This mechanism, which directly spins the platter with strong torque, has evolved to offer even greater precision with a coreless motor that eliminates cogging.

ΔΣ-Drive (Delta Sigma Drive)

Unlock a realm of audio precision with the ΔΣ-Drive – a state-of-the-art system harnessing Technics’ expertise in PWM signal processing. In addition to reducing harmonics, the drive suppresses vibrations from the motor for smoother, more accurate rotation, ensuring a rich reproduction of the music.

Built-in Phono Equaliser

The built-in phono equaliser allows immediate playback without an external preamp. A short internal signal path minimises noise and preserves signal integrity, while the circuit is fully bypassed when an external phono EQ is used.

Ortofon 2M Cartridge

Featuring the Ortofon 2M Red moving magnet cartridge, this turntable delivers exceptional sound fidelity and dynamic playback. Renowned for its detailed, balanced performance, the 2M Red provides a superb foundation for high-quality vinyl reproduction and refined listening.

For those seeking enhanced performance, we offer special pricing on upgrades to higher models within the 2M series. Each cartridge is professionally installed and aligned on the headshell, ensuring a seamless, plug-and-play experience.

Pure Sound by Phono EQ Circuit

To preserve purity, the phono EQ circuit was refined through repeated listening tests. For high-quality, low-noise sound, shielding, dedicated ± power supplies, and separate grounding reduce interference.

2-layered Platter with Improved Damping

The platter on which a vinyl record is placed features a two-layer structure: an aluminium die-cast platter reinforced with ribs on the reverse side, and a deadening rubber layer to eliminate unwanted resonance.

Aluminium S-Shaped Tonearm

The tonearm pipe is made of lightweight, high-rigidity aluminium. The bearing section of the gimbal suspension construction tonearm consists of a machined housing and high-precision bearing to provide high initial-motion sensitivity.

High Rigidity Cabinet

The aluminium die-cast chassis is rigidly integrated with a special material consisting of ABS mixed with glass fibre to achieve a two-layer construction. The combination of this special high-rigidity material and a metal chassis raised the rigidity and vibration-damping performance to higher levels, realising a robust cabinet for beautiful sound reproduction.

High-Damping Insulator

The insulator is comprised of a spring and rubber to provide optimal frequency characteristics. This not only assures high sound quality and superb howling resistance, but also effectively shuts out external vibrations under high sound level conditions.

Automatic Tonearm

When the tonearm reaches the end of the record, the Auto Lifter function automatically raises the cartridge. This prevents unnecessary wear on your valuable vinyl records and stylus. By embedding the Auto Lifter function in the base portion of the tonearm, it eliminates direct impacts to the tonearm. Due to a simple design that doesn’t use motor power, the functions required to playback records were kept to a bare minimum, achieving simple and easy-to-use operability.

Cardboard Cushioning and Packaging Materials

The SL-1500CS adopts cardboard cushioning and packaging materials to help curtail marine plastics and other environmental problems. The cushioning has been changed from styrene foam to corrugated cardboard, reducing the amount of plastic used by around 70% compared to existing product packaging. We have also taken steps to improve convenience by combining accessories into one box while maintaining the strength of the cushioning to protect against the product’s heavy weight.

Specifications

Turntable Section:
Drive Method:	Direct Drive
Motor:	Brushless DC motor
Turntable Speeds:	33⅓, 45 and 78* rpm (78.26 rpm when set to 78 rpm)
Starting Torque:	0.18 N·m (1.8 kgf·cm)
Build-up Characteristics:	0.7 seconds from standstill to 33⅓ rpm
Braking System:	Electronic brake
Wow and Flutter:	0.025% WRMS
Turntable Platter:	Aluminium die-cast, 332 mm diameter, approx. 2.0 kg (including turntable mat)
Tonearm Section:
Type:	Static balance
Effective Length:	230 mm
Overhang:	15 mm
Tracking Error Angle:	Within 2° 32′ (outer groove of 30 cm record); within 0° 32′ (inner groove of 30 cm record)
Offset Angle:	22°
Arm Height Adjustment Range:	0–6 mm
Stylus Pressure Adjustment Range:	0–4 g (direct reading)
Headshell Weight:	Approx. 7.6 g
Applicable Cartridge Weight Range:	Without auxiliary weight: 5.6–12.0 g (14.3–20.7 g including headshell). With small auxiliary weight: 10.0–16.4 g (18.7–25.1 g including headshell)
Cartridge Mounting Dimension:	12.7 mm (½") interval
Headshell Terminal Lug:	φ1.2 mm, 4-pin terminal lug
Terminals:
Audio Output:	PHONO (pin jack) ×1; EARTH TERMINAL ×1; LINE (pin jack) ×1
General:
Power Supply:	AC 110–240 V, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption:	UK: 8.0 W (On), approx. 0.2 W (Off). Other regions: 8.0 W (Power On), approx. 0.2 W (Power Off)
Dimensions (W × H × D):	453 × 169 × 372 mm
Weight:	Approx. 9.9 kg
Operating Temperature Range:	0 °C to +40 °C
Operating Humidity Range:	35% to 80% RH (no condensation)
Accessories:	Turntable, turntable mat, dust cover, EP record adaptor, balance weight, auxiliary weight, headshell with cartridge, PHONO cable, PHONO earth lead, AC mains lead (UK) ×1, AC mains lead (continental EU) ×1, owner’s manual