The Technics 1200 Turntable Returns

If you talk to DJs both old and new about the Technics 1200 turntable, you'll quickly realize just how legendary the deck truly was. Last year, Panasonic revived the Technics brand, and customers the world over had one question: "Where's the 1200?" Passionate fans even went to far as to sign petitions to let Panasonic know that they wanted to see the iconic record player make a triumphant return. At CES 2016, they got their wish, as the Technics SL-1200G and SL-1200GAE were announced, and they've been improved over all of the previous models.

The Technics SL-1200GAE Limited Edition Grand model was on display in the Panasonic booth, and it was immediately apparent that premium is what the goal was here. Previous models weighed in at about 27 pounds, while the Limited Edition Tec 12s are 40, keeping things weighted down to avoid vibrations that can mess with your music flow, thanks to a layer of aluminum at the top of the unit. Also helping to keep vibrations to a minimum are a magnesium arm and a three-layer turntable that sports an eye-catching layer of brass.

If you're worried that the new Technics 1200 line will stray too far from the original, don't. The tweaks are meant to bring a modern touch to the classic, but it still has the expected level of torque for those looking to do some scratching. All of this does come at a price if you want the Limited Edition Grand model - they'll go on sale this summer for $4,000. If you're fine with the regular model, without the Grand label, that'll be a much more reasonable $1,200.

You can see more from the Panasonic Smart Town at CES!

Panasonic sponsored our CES 2016 coverage - all thoughts and opinions, however, are my own.