Pioneer PL-516 Automatic Vintage Turntable Overview And Demo

Pioneer PL-516 Automatic Vintage Turntable Overview And Demo

[@Trojan0304]

Got my 518, same receiver & Pioneer speakers in bedroom. Still works with old records. Old college roommate had this setup in our room.

[@tilaksharma7931]

It is a very good product that I believe and rely. I love it 100% and wanna get.

[@000Weasel000]

I used to have that exact same receiver, until I installed surround sound, and wanted a receiver capable of surround sound, so I bought a Pioneer VSX-515, only to find (many) years later, I couldn't listen to my old vinyl collection. Did some research, and found I needed a pre-amp for my PL-516 (which I bought when I was in high school in the late 70's), which I just finally got around to getting - a Fosi Audio X2 Phono preamp... works like a charm! I have an issue where my auto-return isn't working, so I'll take a look at that in the near future. Probably needs a little maintenance/cleanup/grease. I might give that O-ring mod a try as well. In hindsight now, I wish I never sold my SX780 and kept it as a second setup.... oh well. Nice seeing your rig in action!

[@ArthurJS123]

Thanks- I love the system!

[@ericperry72]

Nice, I found mine at a local flea market, $25, dust cover nice and clear but the guy said it didn't work. So I removed the platter and saw that the belt was missing. Plugged it in and verified the motor worked and I checked on eBay and amazon for the belt, paid the guy and got it home. received the belt the following week. got her running nicely. The only way I will get rid of her is if I can find a deal on a kenwood kdp-770 - Kd_990. I want a direct drive Japanese table.

[@cjsvinyl]

Very nice! If I had not gone with the AT-LP120, I would have most likely gone with either the Pioneer PLX 500 or Stanton t92. For 15.00 though! I only wish I could find deals like that around here. Great video!

[@tommyparks387]

You sure brought that TT and receiver right. I hear about that all the time people picking up stuff cheap....just picked up a pl-55X but it wasn’t cheap. Enjoy, you have a real nice set up!

[@ArthurJS123]

Tommy Parks Thanks- a lot of people who grumble that there isn’t good stuff out there either don’t look hard enough, aren’t patient, or expect it to magically appear right before their eyes.

[@EddieJazzFan]

Great turntable. I have the 518 which is almost the same except it has direct drive. Remember, the Pioneer uses a 49 mm overhang and not the 52 mm like the AudioTechnica or Technics turntables. I found that out the hard way by going crazy over bad sound at the end of a record side.

[@ArthurJS123]

margaretsville yes- I set using a protractor template. Really is my best sounding table. My AT is direct drive, and I used to always think DD was better. In theory, belt drive will sound better due to the isolation of the motor. The whole wow/flutter thing was overblown in the marketing wars of the 1970s.

[@barryp9463]

You have done well at good will

[@ArthurJS123]

Barry P Thank you. Agreed!

[@mic982]

Odd coincidenceL I own a SX780 as well, and am looking to purchase a vintage TT to replace my older Denon. And this 516 was one of the TT's I was looking at.

[@ArthurJS123]

Mic it’s a great combo!

[@martyjewell5683]

A few thoughts on the PIONEER PL-516 turntable. It was essentially a PL-518 (my unit) except having belt drive. Think it also had a sevro controlled motor (loved that strobe, it was mesmerizing) and pitch control +/- 2%, wow/flutter of 0.045% and signal/noise of 68db. Not great specs for the later 1970's but very respectable on a component in the lower price range. I paid $118 (at Churchill Audio in Brooklyn) on 10-6-1979 for my PL-518, so the 516 should have cost a lot less. Still, with the right cartridge it should have been a nice set up. My 518 had a Shure M95HE cartridge. The base is made of a resin compound like that on the PL-518

[@cineaudiophile4465]

What were the other tables you compared it to? You said there were five.

[@stephenpritti2280]

nice turntable

[@ArthurJS123]

Stephen Pritti Even better at 15 dollars!

[@rsanchez7111]

You're really lucky. I've been to many garage sales and goodwills and I haven't found anything. Unless if you go there every day. I have had better luck on FB market. But nothing this affordable. They sell for 2 to 3 hundred $$$

[@ArthurJS123]

Deals are out there.

[@patrickmoore3538]

Excellent video. These babes are tanks. I had a 518, still wish I had it. Do you know what the difference is between a 516 and 518? They look identical.

[@ArthurJS123]

Patrick Moore 516 is belt drive, 518 is direct drive.

[@gman5218]

Patrick Moore Also has a different tonearm. I have a 518. Both are great tables. U would have to pay at least £600 for a modern table to come close.

[@artiehall7708]

Did you notice that your headshell isn't seated properly. This is somewhat common as the aluminum "galls" on the little alignment pin. You may want to put a little dab of lubricant in the headshell socket. (And don't forget to realign it after its seated.) Nice table.

[@ArthurJS123]

It sounds just fine. But, thank you.

[@artiehall7708]

@@ArthurJS123 No prob. Love these vintage tables.

[@ArthurJS123]

Art Hall you and me both, my friend!

[@FatalERRORDude]

I am thinking about buying this tt, nice vid. What do the washers do?

[@ArthurJS123]

Paskal Atanasov creates a subchassis, essentially, providing less resonance and vibration. It's a good turntable, but like all of them, has flaws and weaknesses. And vibrations and noises are known as an issue with this one.

[@FatalERRORDude]

Thanks, do you think it is better than the average Technics S-type tonearm turntables like the SL-D303?

[@ArthurJS123]

Paskal Atanasov Not having owned or played one of those, I am not able to make a comparison. If you go vintage, be prepared to do some tinkering and maintenance. If you go new, be prepared to deal with compromises and work around. There are no free lunches in this hobby, nor does the perfect turntable exist.

[@cukedaddy]

You're better off going vintage if you do your research and find a good deal...IMO

[@jonathanference7120]

Alright, silly question. Tried plugging mine in to speakers, nothing. Does it matter what type of receiver I use?? Thanks.

[@ArthurJS123]

Google is your friend.

[@r5156c]

Im about to buy one of these but it has a custom plinth. How will that affect the sound?

[@ArthurJS123]

r5156c not knowing what it’s made of, how it’s shaped, and how it performs, that’s rather difficult to answer.

[@r5156c]

@@ArthurJS123 Well, the deal fell through so I ended up buying a Thorens TD146. Hopefully it's decent.

[@barryp9463]

I have a double plinth and it sounds good and because it is double pointed vibrations are low

[@capnfauxhawk96]

Hello! I got this turntable at a yardsale, however it didn't have its counterweight. Can a counterweight from ANY Pioneer fit on this model?

[@ArthurJS123]

Maybe the one used for the PL-518, but I can’t say with certainty. If I were you, I’d pose the question on Audiokarma, in their Pioneer section, as well as the turntable forum they have.

[@capnfauxhawk96]

Arthur's Hallicrafters Kitchen & Audio Lab thank you so much! Have a good day

[@ArthurJS123]

Anthony D Welcme, and thanks for watching!

[@martyjewell5683]

Hey Anthony, you might try contacting US Pioneer for info. Also a PL-514 weight might be closer to a good fit. I have a PL-518 purchased in 1979 and it still functions perfectly. Not bad for almost 40 years.

[@mariog2929]

Whish are the orhers TT you have ?

[@ArthurJS123]

Shown in other videos.

[@TheChadPad]

A demo....with no sound?

[@ArthurJS123]

The Chad Pad Ever hear of copyright restrictions here on KZbin?

[@wild_bore]

What's going on with the screws on the cart/headshell?!

[@ArthurJS123]

Don’t worry about it- things change.

[@joaquinodriozola4963]

should i get one of these instead of a new one? say Audio technica lp 120 or Project debut? thx REPLY

[@ArthurJS123]

Joaquin Odriozola That's up to you. They are both great in their own way.

[@joaquinodriozola4963]

ArthurJS123 yes, I know. The thing is i can get a working all original pioneer 516 for half the price of a new audio technica or project. And since audiophiles general rule of thumb is to go vintage (at least with turntables) i wanted to ask. I'd might have to ad a new cartdridge to the pioneer though.

[@ArthurJS123]

Joaquin Odriozola There is no right or wrong. If you go vintage, add the expense and aggravation of parts and maintenance. I have old and new, they both have pros and cons. “Audiophiles” are not always right.