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Pioneer PL-570

alexsurber

alexsurber

Fisher Fanatic
When I was younger, I used to listen to records on my dad's pioneer pl-570. I want to buy an old record player, but am not sure which pioneers were high quality in the day. His pl-570 sounds nice, but I think it's from the 80's...

Any recommendations?
 
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Well, Pioneer used this model number for two US models. If your father's was woodgrained and heavy and had a silver s-shaped arm, it was from the late 70s and was one of their best. If it was black, lightweight, and had a skinny straight arm, it was from the 80s and not one of their best.

One of my turntables is the good PL-570 and I like it very much.

Do you want an automatic, manual or semi-automatic (arm returns after playing), or does it matter?
 
Then these are the ones I would look for:

PL-550 manual, direct drive, quartz - woodgrained with s-arm
PL-570 auto, DD, quartz - woodgrained with s-arm
PL-600 auto, DD, quartz - silver, s-arm
PL-610 semi-auto, DD, quartz, silver, s-arm
PL-630 auto, DD, quartz, silver, s-arm

They have the best arms and IMO sound terrific. All have adjustable VTA (vertical tracking angle).

Several of these model numbers were used twice so make sure it has an s-arm--that's the key. All except the 550 can suffer some automation problems due to age. The 600, 610 and 630 use a motor to raise and lower the arm for cueing. The motor turns a belt which can loosen or break after many years. Not difficult to change--usually a rubber band does the trick, but just to be aware of the possibility.

Sometimes they suffer from inconsistent speed problems. This is due to dirty controls and is remedied by opening them up and spraying deoxit on the innards of the controls. THis can affect all of them, but if working on turntables makes you uneasy, then the 550 is the one to look for. Even if you have to open it up, it is very easy to do. And no automation to worry about.
 
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