The Bottom Line: All-n-all I am very pleased with the Technics SL-BD20D. For the price point (sub-$150.00) turntable is a basic unit that allows me to play those long forgotten albums.
vemartin's Full Review: Technics SL-BD20D Turntable
Anyone who came of age before the advent of the CD-ROM in the eighties, most likely has a large collection of Long Play (LP 33-1/3rmp) and Short Play (SP 45rmp) albums collecting dust in some dark coat closet. At least that was my particular situation. I lost my top of the line Denon turntable to my ex-wife; twas a small price to pay for my freedom, hence I have been without a turntable for almost ten years. Every year I made a promise to myself to acquire a new one, and this year for Christmas Santa delivered one in the form of a Technics SL-BD20D semi-automatic, belt drive, turntable.
In the box:
o Turntable with attached cartridge
o Turntable cover
o Rubber platter mat
o 45 rpm adapter
o AC power cord (68”)
o Stereo RCA cable (32”)
o Ground wire
o (2) Instruction manuals (English/French); registration cards
o (2) repairs/parts lists (US/Canada)
Installation
I wanted a simple to use, inexpensive, semi-automatic, but still responsive turntable without a Pre-amplifier, or pre-amp. For the price point I wanted to pay, the choices were limited, so I put the SL-BD20D on my wish list. I made the decision not to get the pre-amp imbedded in the turntable because my Sony STR-DE935 Audio/Visual Stereo Receiver has one built-in.
Installing the SL-BD20D was a simple procedure: connect the supplied RCA cables to the input on the receiver, connect the ground wire and AC and your down. My receiver had a grounding screw next to the Phonographic (Phono) input, and a “switched” AC outlet on the back of the receiver. Plugging the SL-BD20D into a switched AC outlet cuts the power to the unit unless the “Phono” button on the receiver is depressed. This way I never have to worry about the turntable being on when not in use. And the lack of a power switch helps as well.
Note: an “un-switched” AC outlet supplies power to whatever is connected to it at all times; e.g. I have my DVD player connected to the un-switched AC connector on the back of my receiver because it remains on standby. This allow me to stop a DVD anywhere during play, turn the unit off, but still pick up where I left off.
Before putting the mat into place you have to put the belt into place; it is a simple process, and detailed instructions are provided. Speaking of instructions; the manual is easy to read and illustrated throughout.
Use
As I stated above there is no power switch on the SL-BD20D; manually swinging the tone-arm over to the beginning of the LP will engage the platter. The cue-control button on the front of the turntable allows you to lift and lower the tone-arm (left side for "stylus-down", and right side for "stylus-up"), while the large Stop button will return the tone-arm to its resting position. When the tone-arm reaches the end of the LP it will lift automatically and return to the resting position, turning off the platter in the process. There is a 33 / 45rpm switch on the far left of the turntable.
The only problem I have with the unit functionally is the lack of an LED, or other indicator other than a spinning platter, to indicate the turntable is on. There is not provision or control on the SL-BD20Dto adjust for Vertical Tracking Angle, or Anti-skate, or for fine adjusting the speed of the platter.
Sound Quality
The Technics SL-BD20D is certainly not the best sounding turntable I have ever owned, but it isn’t the worse either. Despite the rated 20-30 kHz frequency response range, sound reproduction is a bit challenged in the mid-ranges, and the bass response is somewhat muted and not as rich I as I am used to with a CD, but this was to be expected. But, overall I am please with the turntable. While the SL-BD20Dreproduces the sound with a minimal of popping and hissing, I would have to think twice before trying to create a CD from its output.
All-n-all I am very pleased with the Technics SL-BD20D. For the price point (sub-$150.00) turntable is a basic unit that allows me to play those long forgotten albums I have yet to replace with a CD. Eventually, I will replace all of my albums with CD’s but some I can’t find on that medium; the Technics SL-BD20D allows me to still enjoy the music of my youth and early adulthood. You can’t go wrong with the Technics SL-BD20D.
Product Features
o Servo belt-drive semi-automatic turntable
o Auto return and auto shutoff; includes pre-mounted P-mount cartridge
o Turntable plays at 33-1/3 and 45 rpm speeds using the included adapter for playing 45 rpm records
o Anti-resonant base cuts down on vibration; all controls can be accessed with the turntable's protective cover closed
o Measures 16.9 x 3.8 x 15.8 inches (W x H x D)
Technical Details
o Drive type: DC servo belt
o Cartridge included: Yes (pre-mounted P-mount cartridge)
o Operation: Semi automatic
o Speeds: 33-1/3, 45 (with adapter)
o Front-panel controls: Stop, cueing switch, speed switch
o Dust cover: Yes
o Adjustable tracking and anti-skating: No
o Wow and flutter: 0.045 percent
o Built-in preamp: No
o Frequency response: 20-30 kHz
o Channel separation: 22dB (at 1 kHz)
o Tracking force: 1.25 grams (+/-0.25 grams)
o Replacement stylus: EPS-34CS
o Component width: 16.9 inches
o Component height: 3.8 inches
o Component depth: 15.8 inches
o Item weight: 12 pounds
o Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Panasonic-Technics DC servo belt-drive semi-automatic turntable Auto return and auto shutoff; includes premounted P-mount cartridge Turntable plays at...More at Amazon Marketplace
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