Old Pioneer Turntable...good buy?

Posted by Alan L. Maier [SysOp] [IP: 38.27.144.135] on August 01, 1999 at 22:53:34
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In Reply to: Old Pioneer Turntable...good buy? posted by Scott Nordlund on August 01, 1999 at 19:24:47:

Scott,

The older Pioneer you found is a good example of how better mass-market turntables used to be built. I must say the PL-540 is not ringing a bell (and I don't have my Blue Book handy) but the champagne color and heavy build puts it in a good era. The OM10 is an okay cartridge (still in production as the OM10Super - street price $50) and is a good starting point. Too bad it does not have a OM20 or 30.

Unless I am off a bit with what I am thinking this turntable is - I do believe the price is a bit high. They were good, but they were also popular as were comparable models from JVC, Technics and Sansui - not to mention the Duals and Thorens of the day. These factors all bring the value down when the market is flooded with similar products. The desirable Dual CS-505/506 series with an Ortofon ULM series cartridge is worth roughly $150 in absolute mint condition this time of year.

Alan

: I just saw an old (I think) Pioneer Turntable in a local Hi-Fi shop with a good reputation around town. It's a Pioneer PL-540, has a champagne-colored base, very heavy. It has a new Ortofon OM-10 cartridge attached. It looks to be in really, really good shape. They are asking around $200 and seem willing to deal somewhat. Thoughts?

: The price is around what I'd like to pay, since I am not yet a hard-core phono nut, but I'm getting warmed up. I have some older 180-200g vinyl in good shape and would like to be able to play it well without ruining it.

: Any help would be greatly appreciated.
: Thanks in advance.

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