On top of that, a die-cast aluminum platter and switchable Phono (mixer)/Line (speaker) output make the PLX-500 a winner for DJing. This is thanks to a smooth and dependable direct-drive motor, short-excursion tone arm with headshell, cartridge, and stylus, and neutral onboard preamp. The keynote of this unit is its quality analog playback. Whether you're an analog enthusiast or a performer at heart, the PLX-500 has features to take you from the living room to the booth. And with the Pioneer DJ PLX-500 turntable, you can. Get used to a great deck, and you'll want to use it everywhere.
![pioneer turntable pioneer turntable](https://i.etsystatic.com/29885882/r/il/44402a/3222037287/il_1588xN.3222037287_9v39.jpg)
There was one(supposedly) for sale on Audiogon (12 months ago?).Sold for $19,000 US.Pioneer DJ PLX-500 Direct Drive Turntable (PLX500) This was probably the best turntable of that era: This should not be taken as the be all and end all test of Japanese Direct Drive turntables(nor the best of Japanese turntables,Belt or Direct Drive)because too many of the 'heavy hitters' are not included. The Vintage Knob has posted a group test of the 'Ultra Turntables'(of the era,not all-inclusive) from Japanese magazine Stereo Sound. The P3 is probably on a par with the GT 2000.The P3a is probably on a par with the GT 2000x. I,and two other AKers(Badger and Mark.B) own GT 2000s.Badge and myself are in agreement that they are the best turntable we've heard.Mark hasn't used his yet. Similar to Yamaha's GTs,in that the P3a,P3 and P10 were never sold in Nth America,and rarely outside of Japan.Though apparently Europe may have seen a few of each model released(less than a dozen of each,possibly)Īrkay has possibly heard all of them(the models he posted about)and the Yamaha GTs. The P3a was a refinement of the Exclusive P3. The P3a was to the Exclusive line what the GT 2000x was to the Gigantic and Tremendous Line for Yamaha.A refinement of their Top Turntable(in Yamaha's case the GT 2000). There are pics and information on most (all?) of them on The Vintage Knob website.Ĭlick to expand.Correct but with one addendum. I've SEEN every one of these models, and own two of them (PL-L1 and PLC-590). PL-L1000 ( Pioneer's more successful, if lighter-weight, successor to the PL-L1) PL-630 ( Similar to PL-C590 in many important respects, but fully automatic.) The only turntable Pioneer sold without a tonearm, so audiophiles could choose to mount their own (SME 3009 was recommended) although Pioneer also offered two possible tonearm choices for it.) PLC-590 ( Sometimes written PL-C590, and part of the "Series 20" line-up. It was the prototype/predecessor to the more affordable PL-L1000) PL-L1 ( Ultra-rare Japan-market only linear-tracking "statement" turntable. Japan-market only, massive and beautifully-veneered plinth, over-engineered "statement" turntable.)Įxclusive P10 ( 'Lightweight" version of the P3a, but still a complete 'beast' of a turntable!) I think the best ones probably rank this way (in descending order):Įxclusive P3a ( Almost certainly the absolute best TT Pioneer ever made. I know someone's going to mention the PLC-590, but that came without an arm. IMO the arms and sonic character improved with time, and the best tts were the quartz, direct drive models from '76 through '79.
#Pioneer turntable full#
The PL-15D and PL-17D were the same, but higher in the series because they were semi- and full auto respectively.
#Pioneer turntable manual#
So the difference in sound quality wouldn't be as dramatic as you might expect.Īlso you might see the PL-12D or any particular manual belt model as the lowest model, but that was only because it was manual. The specs increased going up the line, but often most models in the series shared the same tonearm.
![pioneer turntable pioneer turntable](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a4/46/74/a4467406c10b1d7f612db84adb4c03b3--turntable-jukebox.jpg)
But in general, especially as you go through the '70s, within each series the belt models were at the bottom, followed by direct drive, and then quartz when it was introduced. To put these in perspective, they updated the PL-41 to the PL-41DC in 1972 and it sold for twice what the 12D did. It's not just an issue of where it was in the lineup, but what year.