According to various sources, Technics will stop making turntables in February of 2010.
The Australian arm of Panasonic, which currently owns the turntable manufacturer, cited steadily declining sales as the reason for the halt in production.
As one of the first products that enabled consumers to listen to recordings at home, the turntable qualifies as one of the most important musical inventions of the 20th century, and Technics stands out as one of the most iconic and influential brands.
Thanks to a high-torque motor that allowed for quick start-ups and the first ever direct drive that maintained a steady pitch even as it was being shifted, the Technics SL-1200 became the turntables of choice for hip hop DJs and, later, dance music DJs who turned their record players into instruments.
Panasonic's decision to halt production now is almost ironic, given how visible and ascendant DJ culture has become in the last few years. After spending decades as a fringe, underground subculture, there are now DJ academies, video games designed to replicate the experience (DJ Hero), and multiple varieties of computer software (Serato) designed to aid and augment DJs everywhere.
Throw in the fact that vinyl sales are through the roof lately, and the decision looks even stranger.
DJs everywhere are mourning Panasonic's decision, but anybody who loves hip hop, dance music, or, uh, nü-metal should be, too.