Technics SL-1x00 direct-drive turntables · c. 1976–1978
Technics SL-1700
$360–525typical eBay ask
Oct 3, 2026
Oct 3, 2026
TechnicsModel SL-1700 · Turntable
The story
The SL-1700 is a semi-automatic direct-drive turntable from around 1976. You place the arm over the lead-in groove and use the cueing lever to lower it; at the end of the side the arm returns to its rest and the motor shuts off. The motor is a brushless DC design with frequency-generator servo control, run by Technics’ single-chip AN630 motor IC. It is not quartz-locked: instead each speed has its own pitch adjustment (about 10% range) and an illuminated strobe for setting speed by eye. Technics quoted 0.025% WRMS wow and flutter. The S-shaped tonearm is gimbal-mounted with anti-skating and viscous-damped cueing, and the deck sits on Technics’ “Floating Double Insulator” feet. The SL-1700 is a different, lighter deck than the SL-1200MK2, but it brings the same direct-drive convenience with auto-return. It suits a home system where you want a reliable, belt-free deck that lifts the arm for you at the end of a record.
Known variants
SL-1700MK2 (c. 1979 successor with quartz-locked speed control)
Before you buy
The pre-purchase checklist
Checklist · 5 checks
- 01Play a full side and confirm the arm lifts and returns to its rest and the motor shuts off at the end.
- 02Check that both speeds can be set so the strobe dots stand still, and that the pitch adjustments turn smoothly.
- 03Confirm the cueing lever lowers the arm slowly and evenly rather than dropping it.
- 04Check the tonearm for bearing play and confirm the counterweight and headshell are present.
- 05Ask about packing, since the platter and counterweight should be removed and the arm secured for shipping.
Buying guide · from Oct 3, 2026 listings
Which one to buy
194 results come up for the SL-1700, many of them parts, and complete decks mostly ask $360–525 delivered. Many are sold from Japan (by title or seller name) and at least one is marked AC100V, so confirm the voltage before buying. Prioritise a seller who has played a full side to check the auto-return and shut-off, and both speeds against the strobe, and ask that the platter and counterweight be removed for shipping. Red flags: a parts/repair deck priced almost the same as a complete one, $200 shipping on a $300 deck, and a boxed near-mint deck at about $874, over twice the median.
- Listed now
- 194
- For parts
- 2
- Typical ask
- $360–$525
- Full range
- $195–$771
Cheapest$266.46est. deliveredView on eBay →About $266 delivered with Best Offer from a 100% seller, the lowest price on a complete SL-1700 here. The title makes no working claim, so ask whether the auto-return and both speeds work before offering.
Vintage Technics SL-1700 Direct Drive Turntable Record Player - Made I
Best value$339.99est. deliveredView on eBay →Tested per the title, about $340 delivered, Buy It Now, from a 100% seller, just under the $360–525 band. The seller's name suggests Japan, so confirm the voltage and ask what the testing covered.
Technics SL-1700 Turntable Direct Drive Semi Automatic Player Tested w
Easiest to get working$485.55est. deliveredView on eBay →The only deck here listed as serviced, about $486 delivered with Best Offer from a 100% seller, inside the band. The title says AC100V, so you would need a step-up transformer on US mains; ask what the service covered.
Technics SL-1700 Direct Drive Semi Automatic Turntable AC100V Serviced
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 3, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ; eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
Snapshot captured · listings may have ended
8 of 194 listedLive on eBay right now
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 3, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ; eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
- Used
- Cheapest
Vintage Technics SL-1700 Direct Drive Turntable Record Player - Made I
$266.46 est. delivered
$195.00 + $71.46 shipping
Buy It Now$195.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Lowest price, about $266 delivered, but no working claim.
Seller: pschnob
100% positive
- Used
- Best value
Technics SL-1700 Turntable Direct Drive Semi Automatic Player Tested w
$339.99 est. delivered
$289.99 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$289.99
Good buy
Tested, about $340 delivered; confirm the voltage.
Seller: james.japan
100% positive
- Serviced
- Easiest to get working
Technics SL-1700 Direct Drive Semi Automatic Turntable AC100V Serviced
$485.55 est. delivered
$415.00 + $70.55 shipping
Buy It Now$415.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Serviced but marked AC100V, about $486 delivered; needs a step-up transformer in the US.
Seller: dainaka_26
100% positive
For partsTechnics SL-1700 Direct Drive Turntable Record Player For Parts Repair
$258.44 delivered
$258.44 · free shipping
Buy It Now$258.44
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Sold for parts or repair at $258 shipped, barely under a complete untested deck; only worth it as a donor.
Seller: naka.lcc
99.4% positive
UsedTechnics SL-1700 Turntable Direct Drive Automatic Record Player Tested
$353.74 delivered
$353.74 · free shipping
Buy It Now$353.74
Our take
Tested, $354 with free shipping, Buy It Now, from a 98.8% seller.
Seller: multilateral_trading
98.8% positive
UsedTechnics SL-1700 Semi-automatic Direct Drive Turntable Silver Vintage
$408.34 est. delivered
$308.34 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$308.34
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
About $408 delivered, $100 of it shipping, with no condition stated.
Seller: long_run_jp
99.3% positive
UsedTechnics by Panasonic SL-1700 Direct Drive Automatic Turntable Tested
$499.98 est. delivered
$299.99 + $199.99 shipping
Buy It Now$299.99
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Tested, but $200 shipping makes it about $500 delivered; offer on the $300 item price.
Seller: kristinalambert
100% positive
Used- Priced high
Technics SL-1700 Direct Drive Turntable Near Mint Original Box AT-VM95
$874.09 est. delivered
$749.99 + $124.10 shipping
Buy It Now$749.99
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Heads-up: priced high
Near mint with its original box and an AT-VM95 cartridge, about $874 delivered, over twice the median; a collector's premium.
Seller: haven979
100% positive
Prices and availability change daily. The full, current search on eBay shows every matching listing, including new ones since Oct 3, 2026.
See all current listings on eBay →After you buy
Search supplies on Amazon →Stylus, cartridge and setup
Budget for a new stylus or cartridge with any used SL-1700: a worn stylus damages records. A stylus gauge and a protractor make setup easy.
Step up, step down, or stay in the family
