Whats the best Pioneer Turntable with a wood base? PL-?

O

OneWithSound

New Member
I'm looking to get some your guys's input on your experience with the Vintage era PL model wood base turntables. Direct drive vs belt? Auto vs manual? I read some stuff and seem to keep coming back on the PL-51. What's your opions? Thanks in advace.
 
Register to hide this ad
734500PioneerPL570.jpg
 
The most interesting Pioneer turntables are probably the PL-570 and PL-550, which are quite nice looking (beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder), well built, and offer combination of good, stable, quartz-controlled, DD, with a solid tonearm.

But -

Pioneer where never the leaders of the pack, when it came to turntables, and probably outsourced most of their offerings. If on the lookout for a Japanese TT, I'll probably look into the best offering of Denon, JVC, Micro-Seiki, Luxman, Technics, and the list is much longer. Yet, IMHO, Pioneer is generally not part of this prestigious list.
 
nkorah said:
The most interesting Pioneer turntables are probably the PL-570 and PL-550, which are quite nice looking (beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder), well built, and offer combination of good, stable, quartz-controlled, DD, with a solid tonearm.

But -

Pioneer where never the leaders of the pack, when it came to turntables, and probably outsourced most of their offerings. If on the lookout for a Japanese TT, I'll probably look into the best offering of Denon, JVC, Micro-Seiki, Luxman, Technics, and the list is much longer. Yet, IMHO, Pioneer is generally not part of this prestigious list.
Click to expand...

I've taken apart a few Pioneers, there haven't been any internal "makers marks" to make me believe they're outsourced. Conversely, I've found CEC marks inside some "house brand" stuff from HiFi chains and it's well known that many Realistic tables are actually CEC products.
 
Last edited:
Pioneer made their own turntables, they didn't outsource. I've seen no outsourced 'makers marks" like CEC or Fujiya Audio or other to indicate otherwise. I've seen those marks on other brands when repairing or maintaining one, which is a key sign it was. EngineerNate, you also do know that Luxman didn't manufacture their own turntables either. They sourced from CEC on one and most all else from Micro-Seiki. Pioneer has had a mixed bag of turntables over many years, ranging from not so good to superb. I happen to like CEC built turntables in better models, and own one myself. Only CEC built turntables I don't like are all DC motor, belt drives (the AC motor belt drives are favorites) as I don't like the Matsushita DC servo motor used on those models. It's a weak motor. I like the CEC Direct Drives well, especially the nicer ones.
 
I've got a CEC direct drive here that's quite a nice table. Super heavy!

I don't know much about Luxman, not a brand that's been on my radar much.

It's interesting to me that Micro Seiki OEMed a lot of tables. It's my understanding that they also outsourced their drive units to Victor much of the time.
 
1080.jpg Just for looks - Pioneer PL-A35 with Audio Technica AT 95HE. Can't locate the picture of my Pioneer PL-550 yet. :eek:
 
sirianni said:
If you want a manual table look at a PL-71, I have had mine since the 70's
Click to expand...
I would say the PL-71 is a great table. Just picked one up a few weeks back in pretty nice shape. Had one I purchased new in the 70s also. Built like a tank.
 
If you can source one (and afford it) then go for the PL-90, it is truly a reference deck in all ways, and yes I have one :).
 
I had a PL-41. Great looking and a good enough performer, but I just prefer direct drive tables with speed adjustments.
 
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom