Pink Triangle PT1 Review - One of my ‘all time favourite’ Record Players

[@russputin6294]

Reliability is so important and an under-rated asset. No matter how accurate and wonderful sounding your system is if it's not working for any reason that's the ultimate distortion!

[@1697djh]

Upgraded my PT1 turntable, same as yours, to a Pink Triangle Anniversary. What an uplift in quality!

[@roryyoung6192]

Great review- I love my PT1 with a Zeta arm and Zenn MC cart. It sounds incredible and I'm only the 2nd owner.

[@philthedogg]

I have a pt1 which was updated one Saturday afternoon by Arthur. Yes the motor changed position and a reed switch was put in place of the triangular switch. I still believe when properly set up it’s as good as any deck on the market and is still totally upgradeable. Love my deck.

[@bjk6994]

You brought back some good memories of this flawed but great sounding TT. In addition, the belt once stretched just falls off the platter due to gravity, leveling the suspension with the little wedges is an exercise in frustration and the counterweights under the tonearm base seemed to have been an afterthought. Hard to believe there was a time when this was acceptable

[@stevewestwood4832]

I have three Pinks and never had a belt fall off in 40 years when set up correctly. I did have a belt come off when the platter height was too high relative to the motor pulley. Maybe your belt was too long in the first place or else the motor position wasn’t quite right. The belts do stretch obviously and need changing regularly , perhaps every 2-3 years.

[@chrisclague5578]

Boyd Valdi was even more fiddly, two motors required two lengths on ribbon to pull the belt over the spindles, the platter was similar being a one piece acrylic item. Sounded great but was difficult to keep the belt from coming off.

[@JumbleTasteSpinning]

I just love your videos and reviews. Your commentary is like asmr before i sleep. Keep well buddy ❤

[@kevinbrock7223]

Oh, go on…buy one. 😉 It looks fabulous. I’d be tempted if I stumbled upon one.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Glad I watched this, mine sounded fantastic but I couldn’t live with it playing slow after a couple of months. From memory the sound stage was exceptional. It’s in the shed so I may get it restored and upgraded. No where near as good sounding as my current Linn though.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Yeah the electronics let down the Pink but all fixable these days with modern outboard controllers.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Yeah the Linn Sondek has come on a long way over the years. I have a Linn Ittok on one of my Pinks and its a stellar combination 😊

[@humanitech]

Good to see a real blast from the past ...I had one back in the 80's with a Helios orion tonearm.... sounded fab, with a myst tma3 amp and some tannoy DCs..the bearing in mine was a ruby and .the perspex dust cover was rough but I loved it

[@David-Ellis]

Great video - thank you. I have a Pink Triangle PT Too that I bought in 1988/9 and is still running perfectly today. Having said that, it was upgraded by Arthur Khoubesserian at The Funk Firm in 2020 and is now sounding better than ever with a new power supply and a Funk Firm arm. 😊

[@hoobsgroove]

Did they keep the motor or change the motor? How much did that set you back without the arm

[@David-Ellis]

@@hoobsgroove Hmm, I don't really have a breakdown. It needed a new external power supply and belt for sure, but after talking it through with Arthur we agreed to also change the motor, the arm board, and arm. He also serviced the bearing too. The total I spent was £1,500 - but as I say, I don't have a breakdown of costs.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Glad to hear it 😊. I bought PT Too serial number 002 in 1985 , one of three Pinks I own now. The Pacesetter outboard PSU was very poor and unreliable as you know but when it finely died I fitted the Origin live DC motor kit and “Wow”. These decks are so under rated. Glad you are still enjoying yours.

[@miltonpics]

I've got an Export, bought from new, which I love. It is paired with a SME 309 arm. I've had three problems with it in the 30 years I have owned the Export. First, the power supply burnt out. This was replaced by a unit supplied by the Funk Firm and has been great. Next the belt started falling off all the time, it had become stretched over the years. I was surprised to find that you can easily buy new ones on the internet. The replacement has been going a few years now with no stretching yet. The third problem was that the lid started to come apart at the joints. For several years I was just very careful when handling the lid. Finally I decided to fix it myself, using Gorilla glue pushed into the joins. That seems to have worked fine. I'm hoping the deck will keep going for many more years. Fingers crossed.

[@theheathster2]

All iterations of the PT kicked the equivalent Linn LP12 into a cocked hat. Simply one of the best sounding turntables ever. Great with a Tabriz. I rue the day I sold my Export!

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

@Chris Carson (Old And In The Way) sorry my Linn LP12 is miles better than my old Pink Triangle

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

@Chris Carson (Old And In The Way) my Pink Triangle had a brilliant sound stage, was exciting but you could get listening fatigue. My modern Linn on the other hand has the same sound stage and is equally exciting but I have never had listening fatigue. It is very musical and the more I listen the more records I want to play. I will at some point in the future get my Pink renovated and I will then be able to do a side by side comparison. I will say that all the hype around the Linn is true, it’s a fantastic turntable and I don’t regret buying it and in 50 plus years it’s the best thing I’ve ever bought.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

​@@tonyjedioftheforest1364 Hi Tony, looking forward to your comparison. Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@mikemcguinness1304]

So glad you're doing vids again .....I've missed them

[@stephendacey4916]

Thanks for the nice video, I missed these back in the day due to the arrival of children. From the design of the bearing I guess it runs dry, so its lasted very well.

[@Lou-f]

That bearing layout is brilliant 👌🏻

[@stephenfurley1025]

The original bearing was ruby, from what I remember. And the subchassis was aerolam. Celestial was the only other company I remember ever using it. The SL600s used it rather than wood as used in the SL6s. Not sure if the 700s used it too.

[@stevewestwood4832]

I loved the PT 1. Arthur knew DC motor sounded best but hifi reviewers didn’t get it and to help improve sales PT Too got the AC motor ( same motor as Linn Sondek I think). The installation of the motor was a bit flaky. Speed control adjustment screws on the top plate was handy particularly as some say speed drift was an issue. One of my 3 Pinks is a “Tim Bissel Mini Anni” an homage to the Anniversary which is based on the PT 1 with carbon fibre sub chassis, mass loaded plinth, motor moved to sub chassis vector drive and outboard electronics and regulated power supply. An already fab deck now made phenomenal.

[@johnwalker8952]

Go and listen to a PT Anniversary if you can find one. I replaced an LP12 in 1994 with one and it's still going strong and sounding wonderful.

[@itsonlyme9938]

Yes I remember the pink thing and they use suspended sub chasis as do Linn and others , heard one at a HIFI show and I think they had a brighter sound but not harsh but much different compared to Linn sound.

[@davidhaslett9777]

True Point Audio offer a platter splitting service, which makes placing the belt a lot easier. My PT1 was purchased at a bargain price back in late 1985. The ADC arm, that it came with, was replaced by a Rega RB300, which has an Elys2 cartridge. The Rega arm was modded with a Mitchel Technoweight, and rewired by Audio Origami, the whole turntable was serviced and reassembled by #PeterSwain of #Cymbiosis. When I went to collect we did an AB comparison with the former LP12 majik, to be honest, the PT sounded majikal compared to the LP12. The LP12 sounded pale and anemic.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Haters will no doubt give me Gyp for this but the Pink will muller the Sondek sonically . Its more neutral but was a tad light on bass compared to the Sondek although that can be improved massively with upgrades available from True Point Audio. Once set up properly the Pink will stay in tune a lot longer. Peter Swain makes a good living flying around the world setting up wealthy Linn owners decks. The Pink suspension works Sooooo much better.

[@stevewestwood4832]

One of my 3 pinks has vector drive and so three bits of pink string would be needed and I can see that the split platter would help with vectored deck but I’ve never had any trouble fitting belts on any of my decks. I guess like most things theres a knack to it .

[@derekshorrock594]

Had a Little pink thing loved it

[@kevinrobinson676]

I recall a turntable called the Oracle back in the early 80's. I read silly article saying it was currently 1456 times (or whatever) better rhan the LP12! Back un the days when blu tak was an essential accessory

[@proper90s43]

I've just bought a Pink Triangle, Little Pink Thing (there was also the Big Pink Thing (I think)). Without a lid (most were goosed over the years). Saw a replacement original lid for £160, but wasn't willing to buy that. Mine came with the Rega RB300 tonearm and a Goldring 2100 cart, unfortunately the stylus was missing, so bought an AT-VM for the time-being. The deck also has the acrylic/perspex speed selector (so, may be the GT version?). Put it in for a service as i'm not au fait with TTs. Apparently there was zero lube in the bearing!! Running well now and sounds great. A couple of things; the platter does move up and down a tiny bit. How is this fixed? Also, beside the speed knob there is a hole covered by a plastic plug. Anyone any idea what this was for??

[@simonjames4529]

You want to try putting a belt on a Voyd :D Makes the PT seem easy!

[@vinylrulesok8470]

Phill, I think you should try getting hold of a 3 motor Voyd turntable and try putting the belt on that. It has the same kind of platter as the PT1 and 3 motors to navigate. It’s a nightmare if you don’t have the knack!!

[@gotham61]

I find a long handled Allen wrench is useful to hook the belt around the pulleys.

[@ΦΩΤΗΣΡΑΛΛΗΣ-τ8β]

Good evening. If someone orders it, can it come new? At what price?

[@hoobsgroove]

Sounds like a motor and control board upgrade would be worth it but question whos?? A Rega oh a project or somebody else? what do you think! What's your preference on motors and control boards aftermarket, you got a favourite.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Theres a few choices there but Origin Live DC motor upgrade kits transform those Pinks. There are various OL kits and options depending on your budget. Ive gone through them all and a fully updated Pink will impart it with truly astonishing performance so long as you have a good bearing ( cheap enough to renew) and a good phono stage to fully realise its potential.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@stevewestwood4832 yeah lots of options I just in the process of finishing my own design no motor needed and not a windup, Cogging free and noise free. Main bearing is important inverted bearing is a better option. Drain your bearing as well People don't realise to do that as an upgrade, one of the best upgrades you could do, you can do the motor and the main bearing.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Yeah all three of my pinks are inverted. OL upgrade belts are well worth the money too. Thought the belt just transferred the drive from pulley to platter but NO they also cancel out motor vibrations stopping it going further up the chain. Happy listening

[@hoobsgroove]

@@stevewestwood4832 you can get jitter from a belt best it be stiff and place the motor in the centre or in line with the tonearm when it's placed at 6 1/2 in from the centre. A belt doesn't eliminate all noise but can change its frequency. If you've got a flat belt try using quarter inch audio tape takes a bit of experimenting to get it right.

[@philipnunn1816]

I had a LPT (Little Pink Thing) .......... Was a lovely sounding deck but the power supply burnt out.... Smoking!!!

[@richardsinger01]

My LPT (bought new in 1990 ish) is currently in bits waiting for some parts to repair the PSU (for the second time). It’s been fluctuating speed for a week now - a telltale sign the power supply is about to give up the ghost. The PCB shows signs of having got very hot at some stage.

[@philipnunn1816]

@@richardsinger01 The PCB on mine was totally burnt out too!

[@AnalogueInTheUK]

The best-sounding turntable during my 30+ years as an addict was a PT Anni with SME V and an Ortofon Rohmann, through Exposure amplification and unknown speakers. It danced all over the competition but sadly, I couldn't afford it at the time and settled for a Gyrodec (still with me and singing like a canary). Part of me still lusts after that PT sound. It was hifi, but with enough soul to keep it believable.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Yeah Giro is very good but Pink is amazing. In all the years I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Anni with the SME V for sale, people don’t want to part with them it seems. I wonder how much you would need to spend to better that combo today, probably the biggest slice of £10K ?

[@geraldoram2453]

Has it got a platter mat or do the records fit directly onto the platter?

[@peterking2794]

I'm surprised that there's no turntable mat to keep the precious record surfaces away from the hard acrylic platter.

[@stephenfurley1025]

It's to aid energy transmission.

[@stevewestwood4832]

The Pink was the first turntable ever to use an Acrylic platter and much copied since. The Japs were keen on cork mats and Europe generally used Rubber mats. Mats have their own sound but no mat at all is best. Achromat and Hexmat are supposed to improve sound but to answer your question the acrylic is relatively smooth and soft and so wont damage the vinyl

[@Dazzel69]

Don't forget the LPT or Little Pink Thing

[@keithwoollen5745]

You could never set the speed on mine it always ran slow the circuit board inside was very poor quality.

[@705johnnyboy]

just get one mate....

[@barneyrubble9309]

Still miss my PTToo. Started with a Little Pink Thing and upgraded. But build quality was shite....at 45 rpm it would rock so much it would clunk against the chassis. Spoke to the designer at a hi-fi show about this and basically was told "tough, there's nothing wrong"....wasn't prepared to accept that attitude so traded in for a Gyrodec which is beautifully built and bomb proof ut sadly isn't quite as sonically good. Real shame but that attitude means ill never buy another product from them and that includes the Funk stuff.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Agh you gave up too soon ! It would have just been suspension needing setting right. A little talc ( corn flour these days ) on the belt would allow a little slip on start up and avoid the jolt from motor torque.

[@Fontsman]

Had one. Build quality was not great. Could never get it to work satisfactorily regarding speed stability.

[@gotham61]

You forgot the model with the best name, the Little Pink Thing.

[@mister_bojangles]

Is the brand name a socio-political statement?

[@barneyrubble9309]

Yes

[@pauldavies6037]

@@barneyrubble9309 Gay?

[@jerrypartington3650]

​@@pauldavies6037The Nazis forced homosexual men in concentration camps to wear a pink triangle.

[@stevewestwood4832]

Designer Arthur is Gay hence his choice of brand name.

[@pauldavies6037]

@@stevewestwood4832 Yes knew that when they came out