Sansui SR-838 vs Technics SL-10

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Sansui SR-838 · Technics SL-10.

Comparison of Sansui SR-838 and Technics SL-10
Specification Sansui
SR-838
Technics
SL-10
Price£500 (used)Highlighted difference. £450 (used)
CategoryVintageVintage
Statusdiscontinueddiscontinued
Years1978–?1979–?
Drivedirect drivedirect drive
Speeds33/45 rpm33/45 rpm
Operationfully-automatic
Cartridge suppliedNoneHighlighted difference. Technics EPC-310MC (moving coil, supplied)
Phono stageNoNo
USB outputNoNo
BluetoothNoNo
Platteraluminium, heavyaluminium
TonearmSansui S-shaped arm with dynamic dampinglinear-tracking arm in lid
Wow & flutter

Practical differences

Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.

The Technics SL-10 undercuts the Sansui SR-838 by £50 — £450 against £500.

Both are direct-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: instant start-up, rock-steady speed under load, and enough torque to nudge or backspin the record — the reason DJs and scratch decks are built this way.

Bottom line: £50 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.

Merchant searches

2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.

Merchants selling Sansui SR-838
MerchantTypeDeliveryProduct search
eBay UK used marketplace Varies by seller Search at eBay UK ↗
Vinyl Revival music retail UK delivery Search at Vinyl Revival ↗

Merchant searches

2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.

Merchants selling Technics SL-10
MerchantTypeDeliveryProduct search
eBay UK used marketplace Varies by seller Search at eBay UK ↗
Vinyl Revival music retail UK delivery Search at Vinyl Revival ↗

Compare two different decks →