Pioneer PL-7 cartridge suggestions

[gourdfather]

Hello! I've made this new account to ask a question of the forums.

I found a Pioneer PL-7 at a flea market a while ago for a sweet 2 bucks. Plugged it in and it turns, although I don't remember if it spun at the right speeds or not- I kinda think it did, but of course I'll test it further. I'm out of state right now and away from home, so I can't do anything for about a month, but, it doesn't stop me from getting excited.

The table I have now is an Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB, which is serving me alright, and the rest of my setup is eh. All bought at goodwill. But that's not really the point... I guess I want to start using the pioneer and sell the AT. The table is a little scratched up and the dust cover is completely ruined, so I would love some advice on getting a new one of those as well. If all is well and good with this table though, I'll need a cartridge. I think that I'd be willing to spend maybe at max 70 bucks, as I don't have a ton of money to spend. Do you all have any recommendations? And is there anything I should know about this table to help me along in my quest to get it going?

Thank you!

 

[gourdfather]

Oh, also need a new headshell.

 

[Balifly]

Hello! I've made this new account to ask a question of the forums.

I found a Pioneer PL-7 at a flea market a while ago for a sweet 2 bucks. Plugged it in and it turns, although I don't remember if it spun at the right speeds or not- I kinda think it did, but of course I'll test it further. I'm out of state right now and away from home, so I can't do anything for about a month, but, it doesn't stop me from getting excited.

The table I have now is an Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB, which is serving me alright, and the rest of my setup is eh. All bought at goodwill. But that's not really the point... I guess I want to start using the pioneer and sell the AT. The table is a little scratched up and the dust cover is completely ruined, so I would love some advice on getting a new one of those as well. If all is well and good with this table though, I'll need a cartridge. I think that I'd be willing to spend maybe at max 70 bucks, as I don't have a ton of money to spend. Do you all have any recommendations? And is there anything I should know about this table to help me along in my quest to get it going?

Thank you!

Welcome to the AK turn table forum.

Do you have the following Pioneer PL-7 ?

 

[gourdfather]

Welcome to the AK turn table forum.

Do you have the following Pioneer PL-7 ?

I do! Sorry, forgot about the other PL-7.

 

[Balifly]

I do! Sorry, forgot about the other PL-7.

Pioneer PL-7 owner's manual and service manual available for free download after registration.
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pl-7.shtml

You can probably save the dust cover by using a car headlight polishing material to polish out some of the not so deep scratches.

The headshell is a proprietary one, not widely found.

Fortunately one of the forum sponsor has one listed - $24.00.
https://organdonorparts.com/Pioneer-PL-2-Turntable-Headshell-P192-3.htm

Ebay also have some Ortofon OM 10 cartridges for sale, not a bad price.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ortofon-OM...rentrq:b383759c1640acc79dd8c77bfff86b31|iid:1

Ortofon OM10 has a pretty good upgrade path, it is not a bad compliance fit for the low mass PL-7 tone arm either.

 

[KeninDC]

I threw a Grado Black ($75) cart on my PL-7. Decent turntable. Should sound a bit better than the AT120.

 

[SSaxdude]

You'll want a high (or at least highish) compliance cartridge for the lightweight tonearm on there. The Ortofon Omega would be a good starter, as you can upgrade this with the OM series styli when the stock stylus wears out. Audio Technica's new VM series also appears to be fairly high in compliance.

For $2 you did very well. I wouldn't worry about the dustcover, but that's my opinion. I find them to be more distracting and only leave mine on when not using the turntable.