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Picked up another Pioneer PL 518..... OMG

kjack48230

kjack48230

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Hello all, found another 518 in my local craigslist. I thought the last one was a good TT that need just a little TLC. This new one however is near mint and came with an Ortofon FF 15XE MKII cartridge and matching stylus. Just to do an apples to apples.... sort of..... of the two, I put Peter Gabrial "SO" on the first one with an Audio Technics cartridge with a 2002 stylus.

I listened closely and tried to remember what it sounded like before I played the second 518. It was better than the other two TT's that I had to compare, a Pioneer PL-2 and a Lexman PD 284 with a crappy no name cartridge (I'll be getting a good setup on that one later).

I then put the album on the latest...... I almost soiled myself! :jawdrop: WOW! If listening to a CD of the same album and comparing it to the first TT was an eye opener, this just confirmed in my heart that CD's are only good for using in a car and traveling with your computer. Listening to music as it should be requires vinyl and a great TT with a great cartridge.

I will not be giving this TT up anytime soon but I will be looking for another TT and cartridge/stylus of greater potential to see if I can get myself higher! I feel like I'm chasing a dragon.

Oh, I'm halfway through my refinishing of the first 518 plinth with a new skin of purpleheart. Should be done by the end of the month. This is taking longer than expected.
 
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I have a similar Ortofon M15E Super -- they're great carts. Unfortunately the generic stylii for them, from JICO, sound nothing like the original stylii.
 
Great table with classic looks.

As you're interested in finding something a bit higher on the food chain give the Upper Kenwood models a look. Not sure of your budget but I really hit one out of the park with a KD-500 / Grace 707 / Grado Platinum combination.

Beat out both my Thorens TD-166MKII and AR XA for use in my main system.


Not my table but identical other than the cartridge.

683211-kenwood_kd500_grace_707_tonearm_sonus_b_cart_new_stylus_audioquest_mat.jpg
 
Chasing a dragon?!? Boy do I know what that's about, and if I found her, I'm not sure I would know what to do.

Congrats on the table!
 
I also have the Pioneer PL-518 table but ended up storing it away because the rubber on the feet deteriorated. Anyone have a link to replace theses?
 
Check the auction site for all kinds of replacement feet solutions.

Mine deteriorated a long time ago but it hasn't stopped me from using the table; I simply leave it sitting upon the feet and springs. Isolation is just as good as before except extra care is needed if the turntable needs to be moved.
 
pmdclassics said:
I also have the Pioneer PL-518 table but ended up storing it away because the rubber on the feet deteriorated. Anyone have a link to replace theses?
Click to expand...

Vibrapods from Parts Express should work great under the feet. I use them under TT's, DVD players, etc.

vibrapodtop.jpg
 
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Glad you are enjoying the table but having said that a quality CD player compared to quality vinyl is many many, many times so close its a crap shoot with both having benefits and trade offs. Dont forget a ton of great music never did or will make it to vinyl.
I love both formats as do most serious music lovers, if you get a decent CD unit, so you will you.
 
chadnliz said:
Glad you are enjoying the table but having said that a quality CD player compared to quality vinyl is many many, many times so close its a crap shoot with both having benefits and trade offs. Dont forget a ton of great music never did or will make it to vinyl.
I love both formats as do most serious music lovers, if you get a decent CD unit, so you will you.
Click to expand...

I have found it has more to do with the era of music. Any vinyl pressed before the cd era is tons better sounding than a cd produced after the fact. I have compared a dozen or more cd's to my first press vinyl and the difference is huge. Not only that my comparison easily convinced both my kids who now are vinyl freaks.
 
Noticing a bit of a fuzzy sound on some of the parts of the music as I was playing one of Pat Metheny's early albums. Thinking it could be a miss alignment of the cartridge or a dirty album. What should I look for?
 
kjack48230 said:
Noticing a bit of a fuzzy sound on some of the parts of the music as I was playing one of Pat Metheny's early albums. Thinking it could be a miss alignment of the cartridge or a dirty album. What should I look for?
Click to expand...

Was it the self-titled album with the white cover? That one distorts on certain carts of mine.
 
Pioneer PL-518 was my very fist TT not counting my early 1970's General Electric. I wish I had kept it instead of trading it in for the next (better stats) affordable thing that came along.... that would be the Technics SL-D202 which I still have. Nothing wrong with it (and never had a problem) but the 518 was so much better looking.
 
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