![]() The arm does at least feature a standard headshell connector though, and the MTR-40 is supplied with a very convincing replica of a Technics headshell, the only difference being that the finger lift on the real thing is perhaps a millimetre longer. Many clones go as far as to replicate the shape and size of the Technics armboard, so much so that the arms are often interchangeable with the real thing. The bearings are insubstantial with large amounts of play in all directions, the lift/lower device is entirely different, and there’s no height adjustment. The S shaped tonearm tube is a close replica of the Technics design, though that’s where the similarities end. Wow and flutter is rated at 0.15%, with the signal to noise ratio rated at >60dB. Platter start and brake time is rated at less than 1 second to and from 33.3RPM, while speed changes between 33 and 45RPM are also rated to within a second. It offers a quartz locked direct drive system based around an eight position, twin-phase brushless DC motor with electronic braking. Though there are no identifiable markings in sight, I believe the Dual is a customised OEM version of the Hanpin Electron DJ-U1160. Oh, and the speed controls are in the wrong place, though you do get a popup target light and they did at least get the position of the pitch control right, even if it does wobble from side-to-side. The Technics controls offer up a gentle but satisfying ‘click’ and a large degree of movement when pressed, while those of the Dual offer little travel and a plasticky feel. the Duals is a lightweight undamped aluminium plate, though it does feature the classic Technics strobe dots around its rim. The Technics platter is substantial, heavily rubber damped and sporting a giant magnet on its underside. ![]() Where the Technics is based upon a heavy triple layer chassis with a resin compound inner plinth and a heavy rubber bass, the Dual is entirely made from a lightweight black plastic. Spend more than half a second with a real Technics and it is obvious that the two decks have nothing in common. Among the 3 products launching at the beginning of January was the MTR-40, a product which looked like it might be exactly what I was looking for – a Technics clone – though with the unusual layout and other peculiarities described. Lo and behold I should come across a missed press release in my inbox announcing the relaunch of the legendary turntable brand Dual in the UK. Having established that the deck was in fact a clone, I decided to see about obtaining a Technics clone for review as a matter of curiosity. Shortly after publishing that review a reader contacted to see if anyone could identify his turntable which, while it looked suspiciously like a Technics, had a few peculiarities, not least its black plastic casework and an unusual control layout. In that review I made mention of the super OEM, ‘Technics Clone’ turntables that have appeared on the market in recent years. Some time ago I published an article entitled ‘ The original Technics 1200, a history and review’. This entry was posted in Turntables and tagged Direct Drive DJ DJ Turntable Dual Turntable on Maby Ashley (updated on March 15, 2017)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |