War of the turntables of sorts.
I have used the same turntable for the past 12+ years. A Music Hall MMF 2.1 with a Grado Gold Cartridge.
Just out of curiosity how an older TT would hold up to a modern entry level I started putting low ball bids on ebay for various 1970’s turntables. After weeks of losing I decided that the next table in excellent condition I found I was going to win. So I ended up with this Pioneer PL-12D for $116. Ordered a belt and a new Grado Black cartridge for it and figured the task was complete. If the PL-12 came close to Music Hall I was going to keep it to use with my soon to be refurbished Sansui QR-4500 receiver. If not, I was going to give it to my oldest son.
Of course, two days later I get an email from ebay saying I won one the low-ball bids that I had forgot about. Feeling guilty to back out I ended up with a Yamaha YP-B4 also.
PL-12 came and it was in very good shape. I also shock that it came with a cartridge. The stylus was completely shot but instead of throwing the cartridge away I ordered a new stylus for it. It is a Radio Shack/Shure 5X. The stylus was $20.
The YP-4, The Grado Black and the stylus all came a couple of days after the PL-12 so I installed the Grado on one of the new head shells that I order, installed the new stylus in the Rat Shack 5x and it was game on.
Obviously, this was not some kind of scientific test just my own personal preference. After listening to each table YP-B4/black combo, MMF-2.1/Gold and the PL-12/Shack with the same track from the same record. Hands down the PL-12 was the most detailed on mid and hi fq and had much more low-end punch then the other two. Not what I was expecting. Another record same conclusion. The Pioneer lacked the refined mid-range of the other two but excelled at everything else.
After swapping cartridges between the Pioneer and the Yamaha it became obvious that is was the Shure 5X cart that I preferred over the Grados and had nothing to do with the tables. I did not pull the Gold off of the MMF because it is such a PIA.
After years of listening to the Grado Gold with no reference I never realized just how dark and un-dynamic it is. But unlike the other two it does have some miles on it but the Black has the same sound. Just not as dark and un-dynamic as the Gold.
That thump you heard was me falling off the Grado wagon.
For now, the Pioneer will be my main table. I just need to work on some dampening because it is not as quite as the Music Hall. I like how easy it is to swap out cartridges on the Pioneer and the Yamaha The Yamaha is as good as Pioneer and is more refined but the automatic mechanism is a bit clunky.
Also the Yamaha came with a Shure Pro 6 which I guess is much better then the 5x so I will be ordering a new stylus for it.
Good thing I did not throw that Radio Shack/Shure cartridge way eh?