Six of the 12-cylinder Technics turntable types are included in the limited-edition Technics SL-1200M7B turntable’s engine note recording.
“LP” stands for Longitudinale Posteriore in Lamborghini jargon, and it originally denotes the location of the V-12 engine mounted mid-rear and running lengthwise in Lamborghini’s LP500, the Countach prototype that made waves when it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971. 53 years later, Raging Bulls’ classic and contemporary sounds are captured on a Lamborghini record that plays on a brand-new Technics turntable.
As part of the Technics SL-1200 turntable series, the latter is a collaborative audio component based on the brand’s SL-1200MK7/SL-1210MK7 DJ versions. The original Technics SL-1200 was released the next year, for those old enough to recall seeing the Countach prototype in periodicals back then. And in their circles, the turntable and the Lamborghini were equally popular.
I could only admire the Italian Ferrari as a broke college student, but the Technics was the first affordable, high-quality direct-drive turntable. Mine cost $309.95 plus tax when I purchased it in 1974; I still have the receipt. Over the following ten years, the Technics SL-1200 gained popularity among DJs because of its clever S-shaped tonearm, sturdy chassis, rock-solid speed accuracy, and industrial high-tech appearance.
The more recent SL-1200 DJ mixer offers some fundamentals that will appeal to those who are familiar with Technics. These include a torquey, core-less direct-drive motor; a two-layer platter that effectively dampens vibrations; a rigid plinth that provides superior vibration isolation, speed, and pitch control; and a unique reverse-play function that is ideal for DJ playing styles. Furthermore, the tonearm compatible with cartridges is not only robust but also simple to operate.
The performance of a Technics turntable is entirely about the melodic tones it replicates, and the same is true for Lamborghini. This is so because every Lamborghini has a unique soundtrack. The early 4.0-liter Lamborghini V-12’s sewing machine-smooth cadence, which breathes through six Weber 40s and expresses its melodic voice through a steel Ansa exhaust system, is particularly distinctive. The sound of the engine is indistinguishable from anything produced by Ferrari, for instance: the dignified delicacy of the early Lamborghini mill contrasted with the silk-ripping sound of the Prancing Horse. The Lamborghinis that came after, the Aventador, Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago, wouldn’t have as gentle a powerplant.
The distinctive Y-shape pattern of Automobili Lamborghini served as inspiration for the design of this new turntable, even if its functionalities are based on SL-1200 variations. The outside and interior of a variety of 12-, 10-, and 8-cylinder vehicles bearing the manufacturer’s badge feature this design pattern. The turntable’s unique design element is used in orange, green, and yellow—colors that are frequently seen on the brand’s supercars.
The component is accompanied by a special LP that was recorded particularly for this project and includes the driving noises and engine notes of six Lamborghini cars powered by V-12 engines. They include the new Revuelto, the 400GT 2+2, the Miura SV, the 25th Anniversary Countach, the Diablo 6.0 SE, and the Murciélago LP 640. In terms of design, the LP is a picture disk that depicts the wheel of the hybrid Revuelto. The Technics Special Edition Lamborghini SL-1200M7B Direct Drive Turntable System is priced at $1,599 and will be available for purchase by the end of June.
