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TECHNICS SL-7 SL-10 SL-15 KENWOOD |
You won’t find the words “audiophile” and “convenience” together in too many sentences when it comes to describing hi-fi which offers replay quality of genuine fidelity. Add the word “style” too, and you might as well set out on a search for rocking-horse droppings. As long-suffering girl-friends and wives can attest, most audiophile equipment looks more like specialist gear for servicing a combine harvester than a happy addition to the domestic environment. On the other hand, perhaps rocking horses and toilet paper live happily together (in a galaxy far, far away), as I reckon Technics combined the three rare words in their SL-15 turntable. The SL-15 is a development of Technics’ own SL-10 quartz-lock, direct-drive, linear-tracking turntable (try saying that after half a bottle of warm sherry and a family-size bag of dry-roast peanuts if you want to impress your friends). The SL-10 is a good-looking piece of hi-fi; the SL-15 is a great-looking piece of hi-fi. Not only that, what makes a ‘10 into a ’15 is the fact that this deck can play the tracks on a record, from one to ten, in any order you choose. And repeat them. And actually sound surprisingly good as it’s doing it. |
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Unlike the circuitry to which the ten track-selection buttons on the lid are connected, using the SL-15 is child’s play. Who could argue with that section of the service manual which states: “The basic control is very simple, and in addition, it is of multi-function type that is favourably accepted by enthusiasts.” In other words, enter your song selection, let the optical sensor built into the opposite side of the lid from the tone-arm detect the blanks between tracks, hit the start button, and assume the listening position. Again, the manual succinctly sums up that happy feeling which comes of SL-15 ownership: “This player system is really full of enjoyment having multiple functions such as skipping and selecting of the programmes.” |
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Like the SL-10, the SL-15’s lid and base are both aluminium castings, which means it weighs in at 6.6kgs rather than the SL-7’s 7kgs. The SL-7 has a zinc base married to Technics’ TNRC (Technics Non-Resonant Compound) bottom plate, which is, strangely enough, designed to keep unwanted vibration out of the player. In the SL-10 and SL-15, the three-phase, quartz-locked DC servo platter motor is mounted directly on the aluminium base. In the SL-7, the two-phase, quartz-locked, DC servo platter motor is mounted on the underside of the zinc casting. This means that the SL-15 (and SL-10) on paper, and in practice, are more vulnerable to vibration degrading their sound quality. |
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The SL-15 provides the goods most convincingly when it’s been carefully levelled on a decent isolation platform, and fitted with a proper cartridge (such as the better Ortofons, including their moving-coil device, Shures, et al). Although old now, and most likely in need of at least a re-tip, and quite likely a rebuild too, Technics’ own flagship cartridges can be very good indeed. Whichever cartridge you choose, it’s not anally-retentive to spend time adjusting the Vertical Tracking Force, as this can improve the sound. A word of warning: although these turntables can be wall or ceiling mounted, they don’t sound too hot playing at that sort of angle, and the main bearing will wear out more quickly than it otherwise would. As far as the sound itself goes, the SL-10 and SL-15 both have a fluid, crisp sound without any rough edges as long as they’re set up correctly and kitted out with a capable cartridge. For my money, these decks are a bit more musical than the SL-7, although the latter is certainly not what I’d call unentertaining. On the other hand, whereas noise breakthrough from the arm drive motor on the SL-7 is inaudible, it can be heard on the SL-10 and SL-15, although it’s unlikely to mar the sound unless you’re listening to quiet music through headphones. |