Pioneer TT Question

[blackraven]

I have a chance to buy a vintage Pioneer PL-55x TT for about $150. It is in perfect working condition and and excellent shape. I am not sure that I want to get back into Vinyl so I was thinking about buying this TT and see how things go, with the plan to eventually give it to my son if I decide to go all out and spend $3500 on a TT, cartridge and phono preamp.

Is $150 too much for this TT. It was a mid priced model from the 1970's.

[Mr Peabody]

I personally think it's too much. You'll find a hard core following for Japanese direct drive tables who claim they are as good as anything you can buy today but that is not my experience. My Rega P2 bested my Pioneer PL-51 by quite a bit. Granted the Rega did have a more expensive Rega cart but I don't think that accounted for such a dramtic upgrade in sound. Also, I feel based on the level of gear you have vinyl on such a table may come up short. Is there any place that would allow an audition of at least something in the $1500.00 range like entry Clearaudio, the Marantz Reference, even a Rega P2 or 3. If not, I still think you can buy a used vintage table cheaper.

I had a list of those recommended DD tables but must have deleted it. There's a Kenwood model that sells used for about $4k, not sure what it was new but it wasn't close to that.

[blackraven]

Mr. P, I have heard many a high end TT here in the TC's. The Clear Audio Concept is high on my list along with the Music Hall 7.1se. My issue is cash flow and all the unexpected expenses that I have had this year (besides the $3K I spent on the BAT preamp and the $2800 on the Pass amp). Before dropping $3K-4K on a TT, Cartridge and Preamp I want to upgrade my DAC to a Wyred 4 Sound DSD DAC or the Bel Canto 3.5. My digital collection is much bigger than my old vinly collection from the 70's and 80's. And with the recent sudden change in the sound of my system (probably from the 8 tubes in the BAT finally breaking in) to a warmer and slightly darker sound, my CD's are sounding fantastic.

All I want is a basic TT to play some old vinyl that I have. I all ready have a Bellari VP-129 phono preamp that a friend gave me. I plan on upgrading the tube, some caps and op amps in it along with a better power supply.

A few months ago I missed out on a used Rega P3 with a nice cartridge for $400.

[blackraven]

I have another option for a used vintage TT. A guy here in town has a Thorens TD-145 TT in excellent condition, tuned up and lubed with modern phono interconnects. It comes with a new Ortofon Red Cartridge. He is selling it for $300 with a 90 day warranty and free lifetime labor. ($225 without the Cartridge) The guy is also willing to let me take it home for a few weeks to see if I like it.

I am going to take a look at both the Thorens and Pioneer. I am assuming that the Thorens is the better of the 2 TT's.

What do you guys think?

[blackraven]

sorry, duplicate post

[hifitommy]

i think the pioneer is priced fairly. it would be a good starter and gateway to further exploration which is what this whole hobby is about. hopefully it comes with a cartridge so you can get a quick start.

being in the twin city area, i am sure there are plenty of used record stores and plenty of $1 choices that feed the budget minded enthusiasts needs.

if i get a dollar record that is great music but is in grim shape, it gives me a reason to seek out a better copy for perhaps more money. that happened to me with the direct to disc recording of "For Duke" by bill berry. i got the first one for ten bucks and it was noisy BUT it was so good musically that i kept looking. the usual price for a good one on the 'net was about $90. i found one in vg condition for $40 at a local store.

go for it.

[blackraven]

Thanks Tommy! I took home the Thorens on a trial basis. They guy told me to live with it for 2 weeks. He did not ask for any money. It is in excellent condition and sounds great with the cheap Ortofon Red cartridge. My only issue with it is the spring suspension. The platter and the tone arm are coupled to a spring suspension and it is not very forgiving of my wood floors. Just walking by makes it bounce, so I may have to go with the Pioneer which has a less sensitive suspension system. The Pioneer looks high tech compared to the Thorens and seems very well built. The Pioneer is heavy and sits in a metal chassis.

Tommy, there are several stores here in the Twin Cities that sell vinyl and one store sells only vinyl. There is a huge market here for TT's and vinyl. The 2 needle doctor stores here sell a lot of TT's.