• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Difference between Pioneer PL-15 vs PL-15D vs PL-15D MK2 vs PL-15R ?

liemjerry

liemjerry

Well-Known Member
Hi friend

I want to know, what is major difference between 4 Pioneer PL-15 series turntable

PL-15 vs PL-15D vs PL-15D MK-II and PL-15R

what is the difference?

and what is your suggestion between this 4 models hwat is the best one ?

Thanks
 
Register to hide this ad
liemjerry said:
what is main difference between those models ? How about PL-15D , where it's position ?
Thank you
Click to expand...

I have no idea what they are.

You want the information to do a comparison.

The information was provided as per your request.

Do the comparison and find out for yourself. :)
 
If you look over the specs for each turntable as supplied in the links or the manuals on each page, you can see the differences. If you don't understand these differences, post up your question and folks will answer the question.

Looking at pictures the 15 has a hanging weight antiskate the others appear to have a dial adjustment. So there are tonearm differences. Probably the same performance level overall but the specs would show if there is a better s/n or rumble figure with one of the tables or better speed accuracy.

Do a bit of comparison and let us know what you don't understand and we'll explain it to you.
 
upload_2018-10-18_8-33-47.png

I did not see any change except for design for upper panel between PL-15D and PL-15D II, which one better for wow and flutter : 0,1 % WRMS or 0,08% WRMS ?
 
wow and flutter, lower is better.
rumble higher is better.

Both those specs for each table would be indistinguishable by almost all humans. This means that the condition is the important thing with these tables.
 
Condition and cartridge will be the distinguishing factors among these models. They are virtually identical in specs and features. There might be some small differences in the tonearms that don't appear in the specs but again it will be nothing major.
 
PL-15: The oldest model in the PL-x15x-series. The anti-skating was provided by a hanging weight, which was a bit more fiddly than later models, as the thread holding the weight had to be adjusted to the correct one of several different grooves to suit the cartridge’s tracking force. The standard cartridge supplied in some markets had a tracking force of 3g.
  • Signal to noise ratio (S/N or SNR): greater than 47dB – this is how quiet the turntable is, and larger numbers are better, as the noise will be further from the signal.
  • Wow and flutter: less than 0.1% WRMS – this is how much the speed varies for both wow (slow speed variations) and flutter (fast speed variations). Smaller numbers are better.
  • Weight: 7.3kg
PL-15D: Slightly newer model, with a different tonearm of the same length, which was probably lighter than the one on the PL-15. It also had anti-skating provided by a spring, which could be adjusted to suit the tracking force of the cartridge by turning a knob to the appropriate setting, so it was slightly easier to set up. Turntable specifications were identical to the PL-15, except for it weighing slightly heavier, which may have made it marginally more resistant to acoustic feedback (howling). It also had a slightly improved standard cartridge (where fitted) with a lower tracking force of 2.5g, and a finer conical stylus (0.5mil versus 0.6).
  • S/N ratio: >47dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.1% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
PL-15D MkII: Slightly improved PL-15D, with marginally improved wow and flutter and noise specifications, although it would probably be very hard to hear the difference. It was available for sale in 1975, according to the turntable ‘directory’ in Audio magazine, October 1975. The earlier models weren't shown in previous directories, so may not have been available for sale in the USA, although the lower-priced PL-12x was.
  • S/N ratio: >48dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.08% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
  • Cost $129.95 (USA)
PL-15R: Very similar to P-15D MkII, and identical specs.
  • S/N ratio: >48dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.08% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
There was also a later model, the PL-115D, which replaced the PL-15x-series and superseded them.

PL-115D: Very similar to the PL-15x, but improved slightly in wow and flutter and signal to noise ratio. The tonearm had also changed slightly, and now included a lateral weight. Whether that was an improvement was debatable. Most later-model tonearms didn’t use a lateral weight, so I suppose that Pioneer and other manufacturers decided that any improvement was so marginal that it wasn’t worth the cost of manufacturing it. The PL-115D weighed less than the PL-15/15D/15R, and was for sale in the USA in 1976-77, for a slightly lower price than the PL-15D/II had sold for.
  • S/N ratio: >50dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.07% WRMS
  • Weight: 6kg
  • Cost $125 (USA, 1976-77)
The PL-115D was replaced by the superior PL-514 in 1978, at the same price – the PL-514 was much quieter, and had much lower wow and flutter (65dB & 0.055%).
 
PL-514 also had a much heavier plinth that was substantially more resistant to resonance and feedback.
 
One thing to consider for the main stream manufacturers that would produce a line of turntables or electronics, as the 70’s moved along they would “upgrade” models and proclaim higher specs and better features, often at the same price as previous models. In doing this the build quality and use of materials would be reduced as a trade off for price point.

Look at each model on its own. Look at weight and materials used as the spec differences often translate to negligible listening impact.
 
ETI_5000 said:
PL-15: The oldest model in the PL-x15x-series. The anti-skating was provided by a hanging weight, which was a bit more fiddly than later models, as the thread holding the weight had to be adjusted to the correct one of several different grooves to suit the cartridge’s tracking force. The standard cartridge supplied in some markets had a tracking force of 3g.
  • Signal to noise ratio (S/N or SNR): greater than 47dB – this is how quiet the turntable is, and larger numbers are better, as the noise will be further from the signal.
  • Wow and flutter: less than 0.1% WRMS – this is how much the speed varies for both wow (slow speed variations) and flutter (fast speed variations). Smaller numbers are better.
  • Weight: 7.3kg
PL-15D: Slightly newer model, with a different tonearm of the same length, which was probably lighter than the one on the PL-15. It also had anti-skating provided by a spring, which could be adjusted to suit the tracking force of the cartridge by turning a knob to the appropriate setting, so it was slightly easier to set up. Turntable specifications were identical to the PL-15, except for it weighing slightly heavier, which may have made it marginally more resistant to acoustic feedback (howling). It also had a slightly improved standard cartridge (where fitted) with a lower tracking force of 2.5g, and a finer conical stylus (0.5mil versus 0.6).
  • S/N ratio: >47dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.1% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
PL-15D MkII: Slightly improved PL-15D, with marginally improved wow and flutter and noise specifications, although it would probably be very hard to hear the difference. It was available for sale in 1975, according to the turntable ‘directory’ in Audio magazine, October 1975. The earlier models weren't shown in previous directories, so may not have been available for sale in the USA, although the lower-priced PL-12x was.
  • S/N ratio: >48dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.08% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
  • Cost $129.95 (USA)
PL-15R: Very similar to P-15D MkII, and identical specs.
  • S/N ratio: >48dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.08% WRMS
  • Weight: 7.5kg
There was also a later model, the PL-115D, which replaced the PL-15x-series and superseded them.

PL-115D: Very similar to the PL-15x, but improved slightly in wow and flutter and signal to noise ratio. The tonearm had also changed slightly, and now included a lateral weight. Whether that was an improvement was debatable. Most later-model tonearms didn’t use a lateral weight, so I suppose that Pioneer and other manufacturers decided that any improvement was so marginal that it wasn’t worth the cost of manufacturing it. The PL-115D weighed less than the PL-15/15D/15R, and was for sale in the USA in 1976-77, for a slightly lower price than the PL-15D/II had sold for.
  • S/N ratio: >50dB
  • Wow and flutter: <0.07% WRMS
  • Weight: 6kg
  • Cost $125 (USA, 1976-77)
The PL-115D was replaced by the superior PL-514 in 1978, at the same price – the PL-514 was much quieter, and had much lower wow and flutter (65dB & 0.055%).
Click to expand...

many thanks for such a complete dan comprehensive information and comparison.
Very clear
 
if you have access to the first gen tt, flip the rubber mat over. the original was flat bottomed
and the later ones were rubbed and had an "a" added to the partnumber stamped on it.
 
I have an offer of PL-15D with this condition :

- Body all about 95% very good
- All working well, except a little damped oil adjustment because the cartridge drop is too fast
- cartridge use ure Shure M70B, good condition
- tonearm little lock-clamping metal is missing
- RCA cable and Power cord need to be replace because they are too old but still working

what price that is reasonable for those condition?
Thank you
 
liemjerry said:
I have an offer of PL-15D with this condition :

- Body all about 95% very good
- All working well, except a little damped oil adjustment because the cartridge drop is too fast
- cartridge use ure Shure M70B, good condition
- tonearm little lock-clamping metal is missing
- RCA cable and Power cord need to be replace because they are too old but still working

what price that is reasonable for those condition?
Thank you
Click to expand...
That is a question better posted in the Dollars & Sense forum...
 
depends on where you live. and where the seller lives, in case there's intergalactic
distances involved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom