I was looking onj Vinyl Engine and was surprised to note that the SL D2 is actually lighter than the SL 1900, even though bit has slightly larger dimensions-the SL D2 is 6.9 kg vs 7.2 for the SL 1900. However the SL D3, which is fully automatic, as is the SL 1900, is 7.1 kg, which is closer, bit still lighter. The weight of the SL 1900 is due to the automaic mechanism, but it's surprising that it's heavier than even the D3. It is an earlier model and has slightly smaller dimensions. Is the SL D2/3 line the successor to the SL 1900? They are both servo and have a similar platter. If so, did Technics lower the quality or lighten the D2/3 models? How do they compare in terms of performance and quality?

The rumble specs on the D2/D3 are -75 compared to -73 on the 1900--not all that significant. With successive models they changed the pivot design.

I suspect Technics subtracted a bit of metal and added a bit of plastic and that's why you see the slight lightening. Performance is about the same. With the number of satisfied D1/2/3 owners here, I doubt the quality is that significantly different from the 1900. I doubt anyone has done an A/B comparison--perhaps the heavier base is more resistant to resonance or vibration.

And yes, this was the same relative position in the lineup. The timeline on the non-quartz, direct drive, s-arm models was: SL-1900/1950/2000, SL-3100/3200/3300, SL-D1/2/3, SL-D101/202/303, with changers interspersed in there, too.