The BEST Turntable NOBODY Talks about!

[@Randy-Wright_Edt]

Speaking of things nobody ever talks about, how come nobody on any of these record channels ever talks about linear tracking turntables? I have a friend who has had one a long time and he says that records have less wear and tear and there is less inner groove distortion. Nobody ever even mentions them. Why???

[@Buick54]

Probably because they stopped making new ones a long time ago so only used ones would be available.

[@revolutronic]

maybe because you can`t buy one new for 350,-

[@iamnobody2]

i think thats just cause no one is really making new ones and the vintage ones can be a little harder to get fixed

[@richh650]

Agreed but likely is because the number of linear tracking TT's is very small in comparison.

[@Recordology]

We have reviewed a few! Still love my Technics SL-DL1.

[@solkinar]

I've owned the MK2 in the past and currently own the PLX 1000. Both are great turntables. From my experience, audiophiles love belt drive and are quick to dismiss direct drive.

[@6Rhyme]

Fun fact: Plx500 is heavier than Sl1200mk7 and Sl1500c lol... Also plx1000 has 7db more highs and 7db more bas wider soundstage in comparision of technics sl1200gr2...

[@cineaudiophile4465]

The weight and quality of a turntable platter is more important than the weight of the base/plinth. The Pioneer platter is not comparable to the Technics.

[@SpineTingler007]

@ True, it's much better. The PLX1000 platter is 100 percent flat, much heaver, and has much better insulation which is blow-on (sprayed) instead of glued so it will never come loose like on the Technics. It's less resonant too. It also has optical speed control which is more accurate than the magnetic speed control on the Technics.

[@generalleoff]

I saw right away that this player was a feature reduced AT-LP140. It looks to be something in the middle like if Audio Technica made an AT-LP130. The main reason for the removal of the VTA on the newer LP120s was the change from the AT95 to the VM95. The VM95 is a much more versatile cartridge then the old AT95 and it seems AT feels you have no need to change it. So the VTA is pre set to that cartridge. Would be nice to have the option but I also see no need to change mine so don't care much. If I ever run into a parts machine I might see about re adding VTA to my LP120 though.

[@JohnZolla-bp7tl]

I have a Pioneer PL-516. It's a great machine but I'm relegating it to mono service and adding a Rega P8 for stereo. 😎

[@DevilTravels]

I still preferred my Rotel direct drive turntable...until it was stolen. S arm, great tracking, great sound

[@djsoulfilter]

I wonder if it can be modified and have hard wired jacks added to spot on the back that you could cut out?

[@maiconvengrzennunesbusolog4864]

Beautiful turntable 😊😃

[@SeattleSpursFan1882]

I paid $325 each for two Technics SL-1200M3D back in 1998. I think they now sell for $1000 or more. Is this PLX-500 comparable in quality? As you mentioned, this is marketed to DJs so the accompanying felt slip mat makes sense.

[@JmieYoutube]

What is the name model name/number of the 3600L elliptical styli? Is it the black colored one?

[@jas.oncroft]

How does this differ to the Technics SL1200mk7?

[@TheComputerHistorian]

Like the look, but have to think my Crosley C100A-SI is about the same and just as good. Oops, you just mentioned the C100BT in the video!

[@empire7179]

It looks exactly like the Technic 1200 just a little more beefier.

[@theaudiosenseinl]

I owned the Audio-Technica before i purchased this Pioneer. And i agree that the Pioneer is a lot better. But i dislike the fixed RCA cable.

[@jro7075]

my choice would of been a pioneer it was my first ever TT I ever bought for my self in high school and I love that TT it looks good and with the wobble of platter I would expect perfection for that money I am paying for it better not wobble the atlp-120 usb that I have does not wobble but wish I had the pioneer the anti skating on audio technica does not work well ,you think audiotechnica would of been nice and offered us customers a easy repair to fix this ,and on the at140x by audio tech for greed to charge more for the same type like the old lp120 usb I remember when you had the vid where vu bought this TT I loved it then and still love it now on the antiskate the spring is in there but its weak or defective ,with the ar3600l cart the antiskate works but u have to bring it up to high setting ,that pioneer you have I think it is better that the atlp-120 so I agree with you great vid JRo

[@philt4346]

Had mine two months, main goods are S-tone arm (my prefernce, hangs off the finger nice), smooth calibrating makes easy to balance, massive motor torque, DJ extras, I wanted white. Main cons are the supplied cart.. I had an upgrade handy and the bayonet headshell facilitates ease. And the lid has no detent until wide open.

[@professorsouthside]

I have two LP120's - I've never had a problem with rumble and the anti-skate on both of them work just fine. Not sure who's saying that....maybe people who don't understand you have to make sure these things need to be properly balanced?

[@frankfeenstra]

This wobble might be debatable...a turntable should be placed level, I mean dead on level. I had speed issues with my Denon, resolved by placing two coins under the front 2 feet. It -can- be that delicate. If it wobbles, this means it will be level (if you are lucky) at one moment, while on the other end of the rotation it won't. Maybe the direct drive motor will be strong enough to cover this up, but in a belt drive tt it could cause a tiny but audible speed difference. I am really curious what the actual measured constant speed will be.

[@frankfeenstra]

More specifically for my Denon (with a probably original weak motor): it was off level 1 coin thickness and it varied speed between 33,2 and 33,8. That's audible in musical and silent passages.

[@harvey2112]

anybody ever had one and used a 2M Blue on it?

[@derekkeith108]

Why hard wired rca cables, seems like a deal breaker

[@christianfasy]

Thank you. I've been looking for another option. Very helpful.

[@Recordology]

You are most welcome!

[@AG-bp3ll]

Glad you give a good breakdown of who actually makes these. The Pioneer name on it is mostly meaningless. Granted since Vox bought Pioneer the quality of their products went way down.

[@patricklynch1962]

This is the one that ticks some nice boxes for me, a quality turntable that can also play my electrically recorded 78's with some really great features. And it comes in black. I'd never heard of it before but now it's on my even shorter list for a replacement of my 1992 Optimus turntable.

[@Recordology]

Glad it's on your list! And yes, it's really nice!

[@cineaudiophile4465]

The Pioneer DJ tables are probably not talked about much now because when they first came out there were issues with build quality and quality control not to mention the 'Hanpin' connection was especially looked down upon at the time by some.

[@playbookshowme484]

$175 max price or get something else used

[@joebryant5722]

does it not have a grounding fork with the rca connectors? to plug in to the back of my amp?

[@Recordology]

I believe the ground is in the left channel sheild.

[@linzcat7]

Love mine ❤

[@KennethCrickmore-sl8jl]

I have a 70's pineer semi autp 2 speed turntable that i got at a yard sale f0r $15 in the mid 80's. Ity still works fine and sounds pretty good with the cartridge it came with.

[@Recordology]

You can’t beat a good yard sale find!

[@phoenix_ac0]

oh my god, i literally saw this tt on amazon today after learning about the technic sl 1200 (and it's many clones, most notably the audio-technica lp120x) when i learned the notable flaws about the lp120x it makes me wonder how some of the other sl 1200 clones could fare against each other...

[@BigMuff520]

I’ve been hoping you would do a follow up on the PLX 500. I’ve been eyeing it forever and I really want to get one before tariffs kick in on Chinese goods.

[@CraiginOhioUSA]

Have you considered doing a show about the Hanpin factory?

[@Recordology]

That would be wild!

[@denyelmandap1455]

i dont like the color white after a year color white comes cream or dirty white color and also i luv audio technica lp usb 120 direcdrive compare to pioneer djplx 500 my opinion

[@jimmiesmith5811]

I don't like the white color ether should at least make a silver gray model in case you don't want black or white model

[@johnmarchington3146]

I might well have mentioned before that I have a Pioneer PL-L1000 parallel-tracking turntable, which I bought new back in the 90s and when it worked properly it was great. However, many of the sensors required for the arm to lower at the start of the correct sized discs (it senses 10" as well as 12" and 7") have become faulty, which is a shame. Sadly, there are virtually no service oulets in my area now.

[@iancarlson-l9h]

Really? I have one getting dusty in the closet..... Along with my crates..

[@djgcue]

This is a DJ “entry” level turntable, so a rubber mat would be counterproductive for dj use. The mat is a slipmat, used by dj’s, which allows for the record to glide more easily. I prefer Dr Suzuki scratch edition or Butter Rugs slipmats.

[@joecrachemontange4613]

Thats my main listening table.

[@DJSoulShaker33]

Technics sl1210mk7

[@philipbrougham6360]

This may be obvious but it looks exactly like the Technics SL 1200 ?

[@cineaudiophile4465]

The Pioneer came out after the old 1200 was discontinued IIRC and before Panasonic re-introduced the new Technics so yes it's an hommage to the old 1200. Not built by the same company however.

[@SantoshBansode-u7c]

Thanks for making this video ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Recordology]

Very welcome!

[@grimoire7851]

tested all materials for sound lether cork rubber felt is very ok i use felt over leather

[@MichaelSmith-wj5bu]

I have the original LP-120 why I agree this kicks but against the LP-120x because of the price hike.

[@epicgameingchanel9866]

oh yes

[@StatetrooperBillyBlast]

This turntable is not good enough for heavy duty DJing in clubs, the better quality is the Technics SL1200MK2 or the Pioneer PLX-1000 (and simular Hanpins). The motor and tonearms on those are better, on the Technics the overall built quality is best.

[@ianz9916]

This would be a no no in the UK as the prices are massively different on Amazon UK. The LP120XUSB is £245 but the Pioneer is £390. That equates to approximately $300 for the LP120XUSB and $475 for the Pioneer. As you say, there are other companies that use the same factories and Lenco, at least in the UK, are currently selling their L-3810, which is admittedly the 2 speed variant and a lot less sturdy, for £130 or $160. As an entry level that surely needs to be considered.

[@No-mans]

Look for deals in other places in the UK I got mine new on sale £250 from a DJ shop. amazon is not always the cheapest option.

[@georgeprice4212]

I think I’ve heard of that turntable

[@mjsims9659]

Technics 1200 BEST TURNTABLE

[@Bydand]

Looks just like my Denon DP-DJ151

[@Recordology]

VERY similar!

[@SpineTingler007]

If you can afford it, the PLX1000 is much much better for $725 and its all aluminum construction is flawless.

[@Recordology]

The issues I have with the 1000 is the lack of 78rpm and no dust cover.

[@SpineTingler007]

@@Recordology Yeah, I don't understand the dust cover thing. They are just shooting themselves in the foot. It's so annoying not having a hinged dust cover.

[@NoEgg4u]

@7:34 "...and it's (direct drive) lower maintenance. I have a belt drive turntable. I turn it on, and it works. The only maintenance (if this qualifies) is moving the belt to a different rung on the motor's pulley when changing between 33⅓ RPM and 45 RPM. So I do not know to what maintenance our host is referring.

[@Recordology]

The host was addressing a concern that some people have that they will constantly be replacing belts - which the host agrees is not really the case.

[@NoEgg4u]

@@Recordology I have been using the same belt since 2006. If people are "constantly" changing their belts, something is far out of alignment.

[@jhonwask]

I'm still waiting for a brand new record changer: a direct copy of the Micro-Matic.

[@Rocco2500]

I own the PLX1000 and the new Technics 1200 mk7. I prefer the Pioneer. However the Technics turntables are hyped , the Pioneer is the better one. Its much heavier, it’s build like a tank, the Technics feels plasticky and lightweight. Don’t know about the PLX500, but the 1000 is a fantastic turntable.

[@luvmyrecords]

I collect 78s, and it would be nice to have a modern (as in post-70s) turntable, and be able to have two head shells. Also, since earlier 78s often were recorded at slower and sometimes faster speeds, it's great to be able to adjust the pitch. Thanks for the review!

[@revolutronic]

vestax pdx 2000

[@TorontoJon]

0:01 I bought an Akai 4000D reel-to-reel deck many years ago during a local auction and it worked perfectly for a while, but then that same issue arose with the record function no longer operating. I never tinkered with it or had it repaired and eventually just boxed it since I had an Akai GX-77 that worked properly. I hope you will manage to repair your Akai 4000D because it is a gorgeous-looking deck for sure.

[@solomon_top]

If you are interested in my help, I can repair your Akai. I am a retired engineer, and now my profession has turned into a hobby. I will not take money for the work, I am just interested.

[@gieselats]

Thank you for showing us this turntable. I am still looking for a new one.

[@russelltimmons9169]

I have a black one I use at home. I've never had any problems with it. It's built like a tank. Very solid.

[@MelvinAstrahan-b3f]

looks to me like a clone of various Stanton models

[@TorontoJon]

That Pioneer DJ PLX-500 looks like a real beauty, but my only concern as you mentioned, Record-ology, is the permanently attached RCA audio cable which makes no sense, particularly not as a DJ turntable as it is marketed when surely, DJs or audio enthusiasts always prefer having output jacks instead to be able to upgrade to any RCA cables they want. It's my pet peeve with a number of vintage turntables too that I own by Denon (DP-45F, DP-47F, etc.), Sony, Sansui (I think), etc.

[@markanderson350]

In the old days, we didn't touch those cables..the capacitance had to be compatible with the cartridge. Many used to all be hard wired.

[@richardelliott8352]

at this price point and level of performance , spending money on different connecting wires would be simply an ego stroke. it all depends on one's system goals.

[@svensvensen8406]

My 1980s Denon DP-40F has 1/10 the wow and flutter (0.015% WRMS) and a better s/n ratio of 75dB . Bought it used in 2004 for $100.

[@perfek101]

The pitch fader isn't to get the right speed of the record. The motor is calibrated if the speed is wrong. Thevfadervis for dj to mstch speeds

[@Professorke]

What annoys me is those plastic covers, they are immediately full of fingerprints along the side. I used to have plate turners where the sides were matte and this did not leave dirty prints.

[@archstanton1628]

Fixed RCA is a deal breaker, I would have one of these otherwise.

[@MrSlipstreem]

The best turntable would also be able to play CDs.

[@douglassmith5232]

Crosley has a cheap gimbel

[@garynilsson416]

Audiophiles always disliked direct drive turntables, but rubber bands.... that is OK!

[@kissfanmac]

I’d sooner buy a Victoria than a Crosley! Besides, they don’t make turntables like they used to anymore. My Panasonic SG-HM09A has lasted for almost 35 years.

[@blueboyblue]

I have a Pioneer Belt Drive that is more than 45 years old, works fine.

[@corneliusantonius3108]

The Philips 312 is the best Turn Table ever,

[@Dave0071]

That's by far the worst💩 turntable anyone could ever buy for 🎶listening purposes or DJing... it's got no torque at all!! if you're a DJ..& if you're just a music listener this turntable is definitely not the one for you.. because it's completely hollow inside & and it can't be used for loud listening purposes either because of its Hollow plastic cheap structure... the only one that makes sense it's the Pioneer PLX 1000 that's a true!! OEM high torque Dj turntable....

[@Recordology]

The Pioneer PLX-500 turntable has a starting torque of 1.6 kgf·cm (0.16 N·m). This level of torque is sufficient for stable playback and is ideal for both casual listening and basic DJing. Also, the plinth is fully packed - not at all hollow.

[@trigliderider]

Sorry but Wobble = hard no.

[@Aimsport-video]

Wobble… nope, next.

[@NoEgg4u]

That Pioneer turntables are manufactured by the same folks that manufacture Crosley and Victrola is not doing Pioneer any favors. Crosley and Victrola turntables are low-end. They are for people that care zero about sound quality, and for a child's first turntable. So I am not surprised when they manufacture platters that wobble. That is a huge red flag. That Pioneer's platter could have had double the wobble, and they still would have told the customer that it is fine. For anyone interested in purchasing a quality turntable, with proper quality control by the manufacturer, they should purchase an entry level turntable by a high-end (or somewhat high-end) manufacturer, such as Fluance or U-Turn. There are many others. Their entry level turntables will be better. They might cost a little more (or perhaps not). But the difference in quality will be substantial. You might not get all of the features of the Pioneer. But everything in audio is a compromise. You will be trading in a feature, such as a strobe, for an acrylic platter. Again, it depends on your priorities. For a few hundred dollars, you have to choose between "bells and whistles" and the quality of components. That Pioneer's components are not very good. They are decent.

[@Recordology]

"They are for people that care zero about sound quality, and for a child's first turntable." For anybody that really thinks that, I would love to see them get some hands on experience with a C200, C6, C8, etc. They would likely be quite surprised!

[@NoEgg4u]

@@Recordology I do not know what a C200, C6, or C8 is.