I could've understand you not trying a Technics if your wife dated the guy when you were married
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Luckily that's not the case!
You should definitely try and at least once in your lifetime play a Technics KN2000, wonderful machine with a great interface and seriously great sounds, even today! Won't hold up against a Genos of course but i wouldn't say that it sounds worse than lets say a PSR-9000
Hope to make some friends as well! Although traveling might be a bit too much i hope to get nice contacts here!