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Pioneer PL-518? / Good / Better / Best /

im not shure ware the PL-100,200,300 fell in..early 80's? but anywhy i got the PL-200 off ebay not to long ago and in cleaning it up i couldn't help but feel the cheapness of this thing all plasticy and poor paint that wore off in places and the tonearm had a bit of play in it...i just cleaned it up and put it away until i figure out what to do with it and went back to the sturdier technics sl-d202 i've been using off and on the past 9 yrs but now i have the numark coming so it well be interesting to see how that compares.
 
tankdonovan said:
Guess I`m in the market for 4 feet. Anyone got any? Or know where I can find replacements?
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Get some Vibrapods. They are inexpensive and work great. Many think they are one of the few great bargains left in hi-fi. I agree.

Or a set of Audioquest Sorbothane feet. A set will set you back less than $50. They work great but they do seem to collect dust and they will stain many surfaces so they need to have a piece of cork or plastic underneath them.
 
Well Tank, Technics made that type of overhang gage for their TTs. The overhang is 52mm, with guage shown being used in the 2 TT user mnls I have. So they're only good for one overhang spec. It may be marked on the guage somehwere as mite be the mfr.
If it's possible for you to verify if the distance is 52mm then I would like to get one if you want to sell 1. I'd give ya in the 5 to 10 $ range, cash for shipping and everything, even $s so I could send you cash. Let me know what you come up with.
Thanks.
Maybe PM me with your reply.
 
Pioneer PL-518

When some descibe the Pioneer PL-518 as in the good zone, that's quite fair if you're comparing it against high end and high cost audiophile level turntables. However, for the average listener, particularly playing R&R as oppossed to expensive classical recordings, I would consider it at the high end of good or the just barely low end of excellent. Some other good Pioneer TTs are the PL-560, the PL-L800, and the P88FS. The first two run from $50 to 150 on ebay, while the latter goes up to almost $800.

Now if you want to get serious about high end turntables, the Origin Live line is nice. You can spend over $9000 for one of their best units. For me, spending that type of scratch to groove to the Beach Boys is a might excessive.

Bob
 
Good point recon1. Welcome to AK.

I think the PL-518 is an excellent TT for the money. A well built, quality turntable. :yes:

TankDonovan
 
I think my 518 is great, the only thing that pisses me off about it is the feet issue, which has been covered to death. Heavy, stable, reliable, and direct drive. Plus cool looking.
 
Hi all. I got my 518 from a guy in Oregon who refurbs them and it has a custom new wood plinth, not just veneer. I have owned a Rega a Roksan (cheap model) and well tempered. I am just not willing to spend that much on high end TT this time around. I ended up outspending the price of the TT with a Denon 301mk2, an at33ev and 2m red. I also have denon AU 300 LC SUT and budgie. No matter what I do, the bass is on the lean side. This is the only objectionable issue I have so far. The lp Sq is still better than high res streamed on my Pioneer N50A which also plays DSD. I make comparisons for my friends all the time and they always prefer the Lp. Therefore, the 518 must be doing something right!
 
tankdonovan said:
What kind of turntable is the PL-518? I see it alot on eBay. Must have have been a popular model. Is it Good / Better / Or Best/? I`m looking for a Pioneer TT and was wondering if this PL-518 would be a good choice.
TankDonovan
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The PL-518 is a very nice sounding workhorse table. It has the same basic sound signature as the PL-530 and PL-570. A good cartridge/stylus will bring it to life. Maybe a Shure M95ED with Jico SAS/B or a Shure V15 III with VN35E would sound excellent.
 
I picked up a 518 Sunday at GW in nice shape, though missing 2 feet. Can't decide to find 2 original & replace with the rubber set on ebay, or make my own.

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I own four PL518's. All have Audio Technica AT440mla or AT440mlb installed on all four. Great combo for any genre of music. I have replaced all the feet with either the ones you see on ebay or I did get some that a member here sells, which rebuild the original feet. Cant remember who it was that sold them though. Old age memory issues :( Looked in my posts. It was member Slobrain. Sells rebuild kits for the rotten feet.
 
BushmasterM4 said:
I own four PL518's. All have Audio Technica AT440mla or AT440mlb installed on all four. Great combo for any genre of music. I have replaced all the feet with either the ones you see on ebay or I did get some that a member here sells, which rebuild the original feet. Cant remember who it was that sold them though. Old age memory issues :( Looked in my posts. It was member Slobrain. Sells rebuild kits for the rotten feet.
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The seller on ebay with the 518 rubber is the same that I got the rubber boots for my PL-L1000. Worked great. Recommended. I would order them if I could get 2 original feet. I have 2.
 
tankdonovan said:
What kind of turntable is the PL-518? I see it alot on eBay. Must have have been a popular model. Is it Good / Better / Or Best/? I`m looking for a Pioneer TT and was wondering if this PL-518 would be a good choice.
TankDonovan
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I would put it in the very good category. I have owned dozens of vintage tables since the early 1970's including the PL-570, Marantz 6300, Thorens TD-124, 135, 160 and an AR. The 570 was a full auto with features but was not better sounding than the 518. After 50 years I have only kept three tables: PL-518, Thorens 160 and the Thorens 135. The 518 sounds terrific with a Shure M95 or V15 III.
 
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