The features that set the Technics Turntables apart are:
- A magnetic (no wear), direct drive (low slip) mechanism
- High torque (1.5 kgf•cm or 150 mN.m), which means the will spin at the desired speed almost immediately (0.7 s to reach 33 ¹⁄₃ RPM from standstill)
- Very low wow and flutter (0.01%), which means that the platter will stay within 1/100 of 1% of the desired speed
- Heavy base (12.5 kg), dramatically reducing the likelihood of feedback or stylus jumping
- Variable pitch control, allowing the rotational speed to be adjusted from -8 % to +8% (for the purpose of beat matching)
- High reliability: many examples of SL-1200's lasting well over 15 years of heavy use and withstanding physical shock without functional impairment.

