At IFA 2015, Panasonic said that it was developing a new version of the Technics Turntable. A prototype of the turntable was unveiled at the event, with the direct-drive player manufactured with stark aluminum and classic lines that gave it a sophisticated look while maintaining the design of previous models.
Panasonic then signaled plans to completely rebuild the analog turntable to feature new elements on every level while keeping the sophistication found in the highly popular SL-1200 model.
At the company's press conference at CES 2016, Panasonic is following up on its statements at IFA 2015 with the return of the Technics SL-1200 turntable.
Panasonic says it will launch two versions of a direct-drive model. The first version is a limited edition, magnesium-cased 50th Anniversary Grand Class SL-1200GAE, which will only have 1,200 units manufactured. The second version is the non-limited and aluminum-cased Grand Class SL-1200G. These are the first Technics SL-1200 turntables to be manufactured since the production of the devices was shut down in 2010.
The Technics SL-1200 has been a fixture in the DJ scene for decades, and the new models will look to further entrench the turntable in the industry. The new Technics SL-1200 versions will be three-layered turntables that will feature new high-dampening tonearms.
The three-layer architecture of the turntables incorporates heavyweight brass and aluminum, along with a "deadening" rubber in the rear surface. This would decrease the resonance on the turntable and dampen any vibrations. The tonearm on the SL-1200G will be made of aluminum and magnesium on the limited SL-1200 GAE.
The new turntables also feature a direct-drive system controlled by a new microprocessor that eliminates cogging, a problem found in direct-drive systems that leads to the degradation of sound quality. Cogging refers to the tiny vibrations made by the motor and fluctuations in rotational speed, and is eliminated by Panasonic with the new Technics SL-1200 turntables through the newly developed coreless direct-drive motor with no iron core.
Panasonic adds that any further small vibrations made by the motor will be suppressed by high-precision rotary positioning sensors that are guided by the new microprocessor-controlled system, which can only be found in the new Technics SL-1200 turntables.
Panasonic's decision to develop and launch new turntables is inspired by the expanding consumer interest in vinyl records. The company is taking advantage of this trend with the mystique of the Technics SL-1200, though there is still no word yet on what the price tag of the turntables will be. DJs would still be the primary target market of the turntables, but sound quality enthusiasts could be interested in acquiring the new Technics SL-1200 turntables once they are launched within the year.
Also at CES 2016, Panasonic unveiled a new compact camera named the Lumix DMC-ZS60. The camera is one of the few point-and-shoot cameras that has the capability to shoot 4K video, and is certainly among the most affordable ones with a price tag of $450.
The camera packs an 18MP MOS sensor and a 30x zoom lens, with the lens of the Lumix DMC-ZS60 built by Leica. 4K video could be captured at a rate of 30 frames per second, while 1080p video could be captured at a rate of 60 frames per second.
In addition, the company also unveiled the DMC-ZS100, which packs a one-inch MOS sensor and is also capable of shooting 4K video at a rate of either 34 frames per second or 30 frames per second. The camera, which features a 10x zoom lens and five-axis optical image stabilization, will carry a price tag of $700.
