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Pioneer Pl-50 for mom

P

polaris

New Member
Hello all,

Mom wants to listen to my late father's records so I'm looking for a good used TT with auto return that will be decent quality and not too finicky for around $100 - $150. There's a PL-50 for sale nearby for $110. Sounds like it's in good shape with a new belt, have not asked about the cartridge.

Is this an appropriate TT or are there better choices?

Also have seen Sony PS LX250h and PS-LX210 for $30 to $40...

Thanks,

-Peter
 
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A bit on the high side. I just picked up a PL-50A for $20 but the anti-skating doesn't work so I bought a broken one off ebay for $17 to fix it. I would look at some of the Technics quartz-lock direct drive turntables. I sold one a while back for $50 cart included and it sounded really nice (I just had no use for it anymore). These are workhorses and I have never seen them have speed fluctuation problems.
 
polaris said:
Hello all,

Mom wants to listen to my late father's records so I'm looking for a good used TT with auto return that will be decent quality and not too finicky for around $100 - $150. There's a PL-50 for sale nearby for $110. Sounds like it's in good shape with a new belt, have not asked about the cartridge.

Is this an appropriate TT or are there better choices?

Also have seen Sony PS LX250h and PS-LX210 for $30 to $40...

Thanks,

-Peter
Click to expand...

Of the turntables you mentioned the PL-50 is far and away the best turntable but it's 35 years old so it may have issues. You will almost certainly need a new belt and it may need to be serviced more generally. These were really well built, however, so the likelihood of a major mechanical or electronic problem is fairly small. The $110.00 price is a little strong for this turntable. If you have a budget of $150 a new belt and a new stylus (needle) could bust that budget.

The Sony PS-LX210 should be avoided. It was a very low end turntable when new and has a fixed phono cartridge so you're stuck with the Sony replacement stylus (if you can still get one).

The Sony PS-LX250H is a newer table, still being made and sold. It's an "entry level" turntable for sure. You can buy a new one for well under $100.00.

What does your mom have in the way of a receiver or something to connect the turntable to? If it doesn't have "Phono" inputs you'd need to use a separate phono preamp to connect the Pioneer or the Sony PS-LX210. The PS-LX250H has a built-in phono preamp so you could connect it to any amp or receiver.

Also, what are her general listening requirements? If she just wants something to listen to records on a new Sony PS-LX250H (or some other new entry level turntable) would seem to be the safest way to go. If she wants quality and a visual as well as an aural connection to the past the Pioneer would be the one among the choices you mentioned.

John
 
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I agree with Boreas' input that the PL-50 is by far the best of these tables in terms of sonic performance and looks (it's actually quite a "looker"). If it has a new (and properly sized) belt per the owner and is in very nice shape, $110 is not an exorbitant price IMHO. As for the cartridge, in all likelihood you'll need a new one or at least a stylus (at nearly the same price as a new cartridge, depending on model). In the unlikely event that the cartridge is a nice model with a stylus in good condition, the price becomes even more appealing.

Wait, however, until fellow AK'er Hakaplan pipes in with his $.02 with regard to your selection. You can take his input (and $.02) to the bank.
 
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I got my pl-50 at goodwill for 20 bucks. Its a great deck. very solid. the auto return slips on occasion, but its an easy fix. Had no problems with mine. I'm sporting a denon 110 cart as well, but may bump to the 160 some day. sounds nice.
 
boreas said:
What does your mom have in the way of a receiver or something to connect the turntable to? If it doesn't have "Phono" inputs you'd need to use a separate phono preamp to connect the Pioneer or the Sony PS-LX210. The PS-LX250H has a built-in phono preamp so you could connect it to any amp or receiver.

Also, what are her general listening requirements? If she just wants something to listen to records on a new Sony PS-LX250H (or some other new entry level turntable) would seem to be the safest way to go. If she wants quality and a visual as well as an aural connection to the past the Pioneer would be the one among the choices you mentioned.

John
Click to expand...


She has a Harmon Kardon something and it does have a phono input. To give you an idea of what her TT requirements are, she's using a real POS turntable right now and is not put-off by the lack of steady spead -- plays all records like they're warped. I don't know what the mark is, but it's going straight into the trash as soon as I set up something better for her. So, her requirements are pretty basic; I'm the one who's more interested in quality used at a bargain.

I do see quite a few technics TTs available on C-list and have read a few of the posts here about them (quartz-lock, etc.)

I'll keep looking.

Thanks for the advice!

-P
 
I agree with Boreas about the Sonys--junk. Maybe worth $5.

I would say $110 is overpriced for the PL-50. Yes, it's a nice turntable, but a "new belt" means little. I heard over and over of techs putting on the wrong belt, let alone a previous owner just wanting to get the thing working for as cheaply as possible. "New belt" and "new cartridge or stylus" justify the higher price in the sellers mind, but make it a bad deal for anyone but those who can't do anything themselves. You'd be better off buying something without either for cheap and putting the belt and cart you want on it. It will probably need new RCA cables also.

If it's in pristine condition, the auto-return works exactly as it should, and the audio tests out fine (bring a record to test and wiggle the RCA cables to assure they are not failing), and you really can't wait for anything else, then get it. Otherwise, I'd wait.
 
adc accutrac

...hope I'm not being a nuisance by asking , ..."what about this one...", but what about this one?

"adc accutrac 4000/ewi turntable with adc k8 stylus" - $110

I've been looking at turntables for some time and have never heard of this one.
 
polaris said:
...hope I'm not being a nuisance by asking , ..."what about this one...", but what about this one?

"adc accutrac 4000/ewi turntable with adc k8 stylus" - $110

I've been looking at turntables for some time and have never heard of this one.
Click to expand...
No. It's a collector's item, One of the first programmable, remote controlled turntables. Cool, yes, but not something practical for your mom. The ADC cartridge is nothing special, and it's original, so figure that the stylus is shot.

You are not a nuisance. (At least not yet :D) Ask anything anytime. The only way to insure that you don't get taken is to check first with AK.
 
I just picked up a Technics SL-QD33 at a thrift store for $6.99. No dust cover but it sounds great. Quartz locked direct drive automatic - not much else you need.
 
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