+The Bright Pixel Thats the truth! Thanks for this video! I've seen some very hardcore feedbacks at parties with pioneer turntables and now i know where it comes from! Thanks for the inside view too, very interesting! Your comment about the pitch fader proves you know what you talk about! youtube needs more good quality videos like yours!
While I found your review quite insightful, I felt it was biased towards the technics. Am back here after viewing this video 3 years ago while hunting for a pair of turntables to purchase, am glad I ended up with the PLX, They have served me very well for 3years with almost daily use in various conditions both outdoor and indoor. They have faced all the kind of conditions and hardships and I have only ever changed were the needles. Fine they're not 1200 but damn they're work horses and I have rocked many parties with. Nostalgia shouldnt hinder people from a good thing. Thanks anyways!!!
This wasn't too long, this was perfect, you nailed it, you let your results be your guide, which is what more reviewers should be doing. You got out of the way of the hype and told the truth, great job!!!
I've got a gut feeling that the SL 1200 / 1210 / MK1 / MK2 / MD3 OR MK5 will outlive any of the new turntables...including the new MK7 that is being released this year.
Was considering this on my shortlist of TT's to buy. Thanks to your review I will definitely remove it from my list. Thanks for a very informative review!
Two thumbs up. Better review than any review in the audiophile press. You seem to be the only reviewer who has access to a screwdriver and is willing to perform a simple objective test. Good job.
I had already purchased a set of PLX's for my son as a birthday gift when I came across your video. Lucky me, I didn't open the boxes yet and returned them within 3 days. I found a set of early 80's MK2's for $350.00 (Gotta love craigslist) and put the money I spent on the Pioneer's to refurbishing these MK2's. Now I have a set of practically brand new decks in my sons favorite color. Thank you. I tried posting images up but could not.
I was on the fence as to whether to purchase the PLX 1000's or repair my 1200's. this video was very informative and I think I will save my Technics. Thanks!
When you travelling your turntable, always remove the platter too! It puts a lot of pressure to the motor bearing... I never miss to remove the platters from my SL-s, and I put them into my vinyl bag ;)
This is by far the best review I have seen for a product. So much opinionated fluff in so many reviews that I have seen online, but this cuts through the crap and actually tests functionality and quality I would not have thought of.
You don't know how much I appreciate you doing this review. Seldom do people give the longevity of electronics any consideration. But in all honesty, this table is built as well as any other good quality turntable is. At least as far as I can tell from your video. I have serviced a lot of tables in my day, and this is on par with many of the better units.
From my own experience, I bought a used pair a couple of years ago 100% best working mechanical condition however there was some oil stains from sweat on the unit.. I then had them professionally repainted instead of buying OEM cabinet replacements as those would be prone to becoming stained again with their matted finish. I had them painted with pearl white which Cadillac uses on their Escalade SUVs where oils & sweat from your hands just bead up on the surface and is easily wiped away leaving no staining residue! Well worth the money!!!!
Dude, in this era, where, increasingly, the internet population have the attention span of a gnat, it was an absolute pleasure to watch, in full, an entertaining, thorough and illuminating video. Loved it. I was fascinated the whole length of it. Please keep it up. I've subscribed and am about to post it to my network. Also I've been dj'ing professionally in Australia for 20 years and there were 3 tips in that video that are new to me, for which I am immensely grateful. (Namely: 1. use the rubber mat for recording and 2. take the counter weight off when travelling and 3. Don't screw the feet on all the way to reduce resonant feedback. Great work.
I seriously was about to buy these since my 1200s got stolen. Thank you, this review was exactly what I looking for on my purchase decision. They dropped the ball bad!
I often look back to this review to show how much better Technics got it over the Pioneer. However would like to see another in depth review such as this comparing the Technics 1200mk2 vs Technics 1200mk7.
This is just the beginning for pioneer turntable, I'm sure they'll get it in a few years but that said. I'm impressed and remember they do own the market in the pioneer cdj's.
Great work. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this. I've started to put my toe back into the market for a second pair of decks and this is very helpful. Used M3D's still seem to be the best current option for my purposes. I plan to hand my MK2's down to my kids in a few years.
Great video, on first look the PLX1000 appeared to be equivalent to the SL1200. Excellent thorough test! Would rather see more of these thorough long form videos than short videos that only cover a few aspects. Keep it up!
THX Mate! That was nice and solid bag of information about Pioneer. No bull shitting about how pretty is Pioneer. You looked to inside and you now what is what and you explain in very simple way how it's work. So now I'm sure I going to choose Technics. Waiting for next movies. Take care.
Thank you SO much! This video has already become my reference when trying to dissuade people from buying a PLX. Also, PLEASE do make more videos! Your format and content is killer.
That was excellent mate, really digging deep into the design and showing the effects of the good and poor elements. Would love to see more of these types insides/teardowns/side-by-sides with contenders vs. industry standards. Cheers
Whoa! Surprised this is your second video and the amount of information delivered. Liked and subscribed. The new battle for 2019 turntables will be the Reloop rp-8000 mk2 $700 vs technics sl-1200 mk7 $1200. An in-depth review like this one, side by side would get you all the views in this category.
Patariki Te Rei Unfortunately, I cut out of the video the part where I put brand new stylus on both decks. I also did swap headshells to make sure that wasn't a factor
The club where I have a residency installed a pair of these a couple of weeks back. One broke down already. They are installing their 10+ year old 1200's again after just 2-3 weeks. Not a good sign.
Great video my friend. What most people also don't know is that the Pioneer turntable is actually made by "Hanpin" which makes the Super-OEM turntables that are re-badged in over 15 different brand names. They are made in Taiwan and or China. Yes Pioneer had some hand regarding the design like the start/stop button being like that of the CDJ with the blue light ring and other internals mentioned in this video. Once Panasonic's patent for their SL-1200 MK series expired and was not re-newed. Hanpin was open to take much of the motor and tonearm design but even after fully watching this video the internals of the PLX is still way below the Technics 1200 quality and tooling. Also parts of the Technics 1200 MK series was put together by hand in Japan ONLY! Yes the Super-OEM turntables are good and will work for anyone in the end and most of the time get the job done and yes the PLX unit is a very nice looking turntable but after seeing this video I don't understand how can people pay $700+ for just one of these turntables. You can get used 1200's that probably been owned by more than 3 people and still perform just as good. Either way it's your money you spend it how you see fit. My 1200's are almost 26 years old and still look and perform the same since out the box. If I had to choose a Super-OEM turntable go for the "RELOOP RP-6000MK series. Those are fantastic turntables made by Hanpin and are cheaper than the PLX and include a built in PRE-AMP and have a rubberized plinth. Again top notch video and thank you for posting it. I enjoyed it very much!
Is there a way to adjust the actual torque of the PLX? Through altering the circuit I mean (so in a way other than the "Start"/"Brake" knobs seen on other Super OEMs, which the PLX doesn't have).
Most excellent video, especially considering it's only your second one! You did what I'd been searching for in a review, which was to actually take the turntable apart and have a look at the inner workings. (I would have loved to have seen the inside of the Technics as well.) I've been looking at affordable turntables to replace my old Technics for home use and was intrigued by the Pioneer. Now I think I'll just try to find a second hand Technics 1200 in good order. Many thanks for an exceptionally wonderful video review.
Just get your old Technics serviced! A good repairer will get them tuned up like the day they were new. I like seeing the older ones with cosmetic blemishes performing flawlessly. Personality scratches :)
Bro thank you so much for the video!! I watched every second!! You just saved me from buying the Pioneer TT..I sold my 1200s MK 2 back home in Sydney due to the fact I moved to Germany! I had my brought my 1200s brand spanking new back in 2000!!! Sold them after 14 years...Hurts bro I'm on the hunt for a pair of 1210s!
Also the dj tech tools review say the isolation & feedback is minimal even on a big club system I'd test again on a unit you haven't opened up, maybe there was an error in the rebuild which caused the vibration
Thanks for covering all the particulars and peripherals. I don't have the patience to refresh my technics and prefer a new deck and feel this will be the *one*
Thank you for this video sir. I would never sell my technics. Ever. But I almost bought a set of these pioneer decks yesterday. $1500 back in my wallet today..yay!! But I do respect pioneer for stepping up to the plate and attempting to release a turntable for professional use. But like you said they need to make a lot of improvements before I ever consider buying a pair again. Technics 1200s are a work of art. Mine have been going strong for 19 years now.
I'm sorry Technics but no matter what upgrades were made to the classic sl-1200 design $4000.00 dollars for this turntable is absurd, I personally think Technics will be taking another nose dive on this one the same way they failed on the SL-DZ1200 cd player, this turntable will have a limited market and will have bad reviews world wide because of the price gouge not a smart move in today's selling market. I'm sure that in most retail stores it will be a back order item leaving room for other competitor products. retailers will limit stock because of the price leaving customers to reconsider and once they don't move retailers will not stock them, and just like the SL-DZ1200 there will be many returns. I personally think $1995.00 ~ 2495.00 would of been a more considerable price. The high end market Technics is aiming at will make sure they stay competitive to Technics and marketing strategies will not be in their favor, Technics should learn from past experience that price is key to marketing, high volume sales is what makes $$$ not focusing on audiophiles which is really a small market compared to the whole industry out there. Good luck on this one Technics you're going to need it.
The Bright Pixel 5:07 I had the tonearm on my technics unsecured and boucing around in the trunk of my car once when returning from a gig. Do you think my tonearm and Gimble is damaged?
Easiest way to test it, is with a single sided press record - you know the ones that are smooth on one side (no groove)? They are not so easy to come by these days, but a lot of Whitelabel test presses 'back in the day' were like that. Just spin the record on 45 rpm with the needle down, and adjust the anti skate. The needle should appear to float accross the record with no hitches or 'sticky parts'. This is also a great way to set anti skate - adjust so the tonearm just sits in the middle :)
The Bright Pixel You can get the same effect with 0 grams of weight and no record at all, just blow it around. It if moves smoothly, it's fine.As far as anti skating goes; It CANNOT be setup with a 'blank' record. Not sure who ever came up with that, you're far from te only one saying it, but it doesn't make any sense at all. The only way to set up anti skating properly is by using a test record with some loudly modulated grooves on it and an oscilloscope (or a PC scope, we all have PC's, right? :D). Start at a low weight (under a gram) and adjust the anti skating so it gives you a round scope shape without flat or distorted tops. Next (harder) groove, adjust agin. Can't make it? Add some weight. Continue this until you get to the last groove, which is usually too tough for most players to manage. If you don't have a test record, use a record you know, set your weight really, really very low (0.3 grams or so) and turn the anti skating so distortion levels are as low as they get. Careful though, your stylus might skate over the record. Don't use a precious record for it. I probably should make a video tutorial
Stijn Kraft The method you're describing is to set up for optimum sound quality, not tracking. The method I describe is for optimum tracking in a DJ booth, where you are using the mechanism to counter the centrifugal forces created when backspinning, cueing, etc. In my opinion if you want to set up your antiskate for perfect sound quality, you should start by not using an SL1200. Ps. Using zero balance weighting with no record removes the centrifugal force from the test, rendering it useless for tracking purposes.
I have had a couple people sell me their decks because the tonearms were "broken". First thing I do is loosen the gimble, sometimes that is all it needs. If the gimble gets hit, sometimes it doesn't damage the bearings, it just pushes it down a bit, making it too tight.
Enjoyed your video mate, I have an ageing set of Technics which I've refurbished and kept going over the years and they are still the champion. Was very interested in looking at what is new out there - thanks again, Fintan - Ireland.
Great stuff! Keep up the vids because we need people like yourself who have the experience with the inner workings of DJ equipment! Thank you for sharing!
I was first sold on the Technics ability to reject feedback in a warehouse party in Dallas over ten years ago when most djs were still spinning vinyl. The dj setup in this particular room was on a bouncy floor (you could feel the people dancing on it), 6ft table, and a JBL dual 15" with horn on each side if the table. I was flat out amazed to hear no discernible feedback, I'm sure there was some rumble coming through but it was easily masked by the high spl out of the JBLs. I don't remember what cartridges were being used at that time but i know ortofon nightclubs were popular. Definitely light years ahead of my Gemini tables I used at the time. I rock 1200 M3Ds now.
You could have cut the driving part, but i appreciate your in-depth review and knowledge, it was great. i was really considering dropping the 33 hundred and getting the gold edition with the djm s9. you definitely saved me 1700 because i will just get the mixer now, thanks for the review
I own the PLX 1000 and just tried your feedback test. Mixer channel fader, trim knob, and master level all at full volume, and NO feedback from the turntable.
The Bright Pixel I sold my technics after 20 years of use, and bought the Pios. No regrets. Your feedback test is a bit pointless as literally nobody turns their gear up that high in any situation.
I have a semi short attention span but please make your vids as long as you want. I'm an AV repair tech (gear of all quality and eras) and every bit of info is fine and good! I can clearly see from your vid that this isn't junk but is suffering from the all-too modern dive in values. At least it looks like they might have some decent motor drivers in there, lets hope that aside from the feedback issue they put the meat where it counts!!
Haha. Thanks for the feedback. Yep, indeed the windings on the motor and transistor drivers seem good. Just that opto mech at the base of the spindle is worrying, when you compare it to the Technics mag system which is up under the platter near the top of the spindle, out of harms way.
Looks like the Pioneer would be a nice step up for me from my LP120, though. The absence of a preamp is a positive IMHO. I'd only be using the Pioneer as a listening table, not for club use.
Thanks buddy. For the past week I've been deciding whether to buy these decks. Your video has saved me a lot of cash because what you say is true which is why I have thought long and hard. First I am a bit shocked at Pioneer for selling something which is not of the same usual good quality which in turn is a terrible marketing move from a usually good supplier. This was a one off chance to show us that they are still amazing but sadly it has not done that and I feel they have tripped themselves up now. Thank you kindly.
Not defending the unit or Pioneer in general, but you did take it apart fairly extensively. Is it possible that there may be a loose screw securing the PCB or the base which is creating the resonation/feedback?
Fair point, I thought the same thing - it can't be that bad right? I have gone over everything a couple of times, and as far as I can tell, the test results are not flawed by some silly mistake made by me.
The Bright Pixel Have you tested them in another room. I can't believe they are that bad, lol!!! I've had nightmares with 1210's over the years so these would just be unusable. I notice when you speak there's a resonance in that room picked up. Be interesting to see how well they cope with people jumping up and down near them.
it's just a rebranded hanpin OEM, wondering if all the other hanpin OEMs have the same feedback and other issues or if some of the brands have improved the innards a little...
Do you have any vids of people using it? I'd be interested to see. But then the turntablists will find a way to use any feature creatively - I remember seeing somebody play a tonearm with a rubber band :)
Yea the Sound Science vinyls with the up pitch then down pitched is awesome... something I've Seen a few UK kats use on the Vestax Turntables with the ULTRA pitch.... Thanks for the vid man was awesome to see the inside of one... I've Played on one myself and feels awesome but not in a club environment... even with DVS I could see bad tracking happening with feedback.. thanks
You did a great job in this video and got the message across perfectly! This was an excellent video and HUGE reminder that pioneer is cosmetic company, that sells a name, not necessarily quality. I found this to be true after I decided to make a brand change with some of my equipment, buying the cdj 900 along with the their flagship mixer the djm 2000nexus. I was not impressed at all, especially for the dollars I spent. I ended up replacing the mixer with a DENON dnx-1700 which I'm quite pleased with. I was actually considering getting a set of these plx tables, but after this video I will just wait for the re-release of the tech 1200's coming summer of 2016 and continue to use my 30 year old tech 1200's that are still in perfect working order.
+Sean Mcdonald Pioneer Pro DJ is really designing some amazing products recently. I would not put all their products in the same basket. The NXS2 line has a LOT of technology and design put into it.
Finally, someone actually opens one up and takes a real look at the build quality of this unit. One would have to be as dumb as a friggin' rock to miss the fact that the PLX-1000 isn't built anything like an SL-1200MK2. Great video. Thank you, very much. I am positive all manner of idiotic, deceitful, spiteful and trolling comments will follow my comment. Whatever. The truth remains unchanged.
did you ground both turntables? i don't think you grounded the pioneer (Tech seems grounded)...because when you touched the PLX (at 25.08),thus grounding it,the hum went away...this is why pioneer included the earth ground (although the tables are internally grounded) for places with a faulty power source. By the way Serato and Traktor don't need that high of an output from the Turntable to work on the input side which is managed in the software. The PLX's i have are perfectly fine on a Rane 57 Mixer. Check your cables or you may have screwed something up when you opened it(ESD),the cartridge could be faulty,bad cables also cause hum etc...i'd recommend everyone test these for them selves...there's so many reasons why you're getting that feedback problem
Deejay Core Yes they are grounded. Touching them stopped them vibrating. The turntables output cannot be changed as it has 0dB gain, so I'm not sure what you're on about with regards to Serato and Traktor gain. From your statement about the Rane mixer, I'm guessing your tables are in a home setup with not much volume. Cables are fine, carts were brand new, and were swapped and retested before uploading the video. Also since this video I've set the PLX up in proper booths and the results stand. ESD? Only thing ESD could damage is the motor speed control, and that is not even used in this test.
The Bright Pixel What i'm saying about traktor and serato is,they don't need a loud volume to read time code...playing real vinyl would suffer the most but this would depend on PA setup and channel/Master volumes which you didn't explain or show.i do agree,there should have been a pre-amp.
Crist Synapse Yeah this dude is just using scare tactics in my opinion...i use the PLX and have never ever had hum like that...but in software mode,which is Serato for me...there is absolutely zero feedback with all knobs at max,channel and master...zip. I just got my TTM-57 MKII by the way...zero feedback with that too. people just swallow up what they see.investigate for yourself....there are too many variables...bad power,bad mixer,grounding issues etc
Lol. What is my motive for "scare tactics"? I wanted to replace my Technics rental stock with Pioneer. How on earth did I win by finding out that the Pioneer turntables have bad feedback problems? Actually I lost because of it.
Excellent video, I was considering buying these and selling my 1210's but thankfully I saw this first! Technics tried and tested so if your going to copy them then you need to make sure they are as good or better!
You mentioned the optical sensor on the speed feedback. In my opinion, Hall Effect sensors are always more reliable than optical sensors. How many times have we seen an "end of record" optical sensor go bad? Many, many times.
Good video, nice clean shots of the stuff that mattered, no terrible hard lighting or shadows. A little echo-y on the audio but nothing that a lav and acoustic panels can't fix. Knowing little about turntables I initially was a little bit skeptical when you were stating their appearance similarities, but when you showed them side by side I had to do a doubletake. I'm curious how much money single sided PCBs would save them - that "main" PCB could certainly be significantly smaller if it were double sided, same with the motor driver board... IMHO longer videos are generally better - if its too long you can always skim, if you cut stuff out, theres no option to get that "extra" stuff back.
Thanks. I got some feedback on my first video saying people won't pay attention to it for long enough. Next video I will include all with options to skip ahead.
I think my response may be out of sequence somehow. Anyway, your video and analysis is very thorough and educational. Agreed from jump. Considering this is a flagship unit like the Pioneer DdJ SZ controller was at the time; I'm hoping for a recall also to address the feedback problem in an environment similar to what you created in the video ( a large club venue ). There are others who played on these in large clubs who have had no feedback issues and some reportedly have. It would be an epic fail for Pioneer not to address a problem as huge as this if indeed there is no resolution outside of returning the PLX 1000. It's hard for me to believe that Pioneer expected us to never take them out of a bedroom studio. Thanks for your feedback
onedjlovedeluxe Ground not connected !!! I posted the following under my real account before he removed it and blocked me! Please explain why is it that every time you touch the PLX the feedback is gone. 25:04 and 27:16 in your "sound test" where this happens." you are doing a massive disservice to the DJ and HiFi comunity just for attention and hits! IN TERMS OF RELIABILITY!!! GIVE ME A BREAK! The detachable power and RCAs alone make the pioneer 100x more relaible compared to the 1200! For crying out loud what is the most common 1200 repair? REPLACE THE CABLES OR GROUND WIRE! (NOT THE PITCH FADER!) FULL STOP ON YOUR RELIABILITY ARGUMENT! SHOW ME ONE 1200 MKIII WITH ORIGINAL CALBES! 1, Did you calibrate your turntables? If you did what was your measured resonant Frequency using a test record? from each? We would all hope that you actually did a proper TT setup before you concluded you science experiment. Did you measure the basics at least? Needle pressure, VTA etc...? (In your video you say this and that is the same...NOTHING IS THE SAME! MFG materials etc all different. The tonearm is very different and a better design with inner damping etc...the motor has way more torque and the platter is far heavier! Compared to the SL 1200. ALL A REALLY GOOD THING!) It looks the same but its not a duck! 2, Like others I noticed how the hum went away as you touched the PLX. A bit of noise for feedback right? Like a touch your voice or hum etc....So please repeat your scientific "feedback" test when both are calibrated and share the same ground. 3, Try removing those cable tie posts! After two days when the adhesive is cured you will need a freaking crow bar to remove them! (When applied correctly) They cure harder and faster over 20 Celsius! I use them all the time and in my experience they basically impossible to remove when attached to a clean surface, after two days. Will not fall off even in Dubai. 4, Seems like it is pretty impossible to pour beer into the opto sensor compartment unless you use the deck upside down....Btw, Oh what was your measured Wow and Flutter? A 10 year old MKIII I tested recently was way worse (0.23) before a total overhaul (caps and some resistors etc...) compared the very conservative Pioneer specs. All old Technics need a recap at least! Nobody cares! most old 1200 are crap due to abuse lack of understanding of maintenance... how long you think those electrolytics are good for? 1000 Hours is the spec! 5, I understand you have " repaired a lot of Technics in the past from gunk and drink spills and cigarette ash gone inside" (so you cleaned them?), but would you trust a monkey to repair your precious 1200? no so why is desoldering a fader is an issue? When it brakes? And you assume that the one the pioneer one is less reliable compared to that of the technics? Have you worked for ALPS perhaps or Penny and Giles? Having worked for a company that co developed the most sophisticated and reliable fader ever, I can tell you there has been some materials science applied to mfg in the past 39+ years. firstrun-pro.com/euphonix-moving-faders/ FWIW It is third of the cost to replace a fader in the 1200 compared to swapping the whole (although much smaller PCB mounted) assembly in the 1200! (Again it's about who is fixing your deck and what tools are used, screw driver only yes you make a lot of sense...trained tech with basic soldering skills you make 0 sense and your repair cost 3x!) Not sure what your affiliation or purpose here is, other than getting hits (sensationalist hits not unlike on "chemtrails" ) Your presentation looks fancy but please clarify all your affiliations and qualifications for such review....school before you comment on engineering related items...you may also want to sharpen your expertise about turntables in general. (Read comments below from those who do understand the difference between tonearms etc...) Sounds like you read few prints here and there and collect enough lingo to shoot some shit, but boy you are far off on a lot of stuff in what you say so convincingly. Fox News comes to mind! Again your test is flawed... Do it again...please with both decks fully calibrated (Hi Fi News Test LP is good!) and both attached to the same ground. Read the Stereo Review article on the PLX 1000 as well... Overall the PLX is a better sounding deck (to me). May not last as long like you or me but who cares....do you actually know anyone using a 30 year old Technics? Here is a good intro on what turntable setup and calibration is: th-cam.com/video/CnskL8Pe6fk/w-d-xo.html Here is an other tool you need for reviews like this other than a screwdriver: www.needledoctor.com/Hi-Fi-News-Test-Record And yes the PLX 1000 looks like a super OEM from Hanpin with some upgrades and perhaps more QC and yes it is 2010 design with modern cost cutting measures applied where appropriate...like why would one waste precious copper for a double sided PCB for when it's not necessary? As you said there is no audio so why waste a copper plane on servo control? For sure you can do better! You seem talented and screen ready!....so please...continue.... @4 I don't have the skills to do such important review but I hope your will use your popularity (a commercial before watching your nonsense on youtube! $$$) to correctly review and do the rest of humanity a favor and do this right! GO!
Feedback Eliminator Um the ground was connected. And you are a Douchebag who is just making yourself look like an even bigger knob by posting all this nonsense. If I made this video for views and internet fame (lol), then why have I only made 2 other very niche videos? I had no idea thousands of people were going to view this. If I did I wouldn't own a sound design company, I'd own a marketing company. The more you say, the more your lack of knowledge shines through, so keep going. A small tip - do some research on what ground hum is. Record the audio from this video and put it into a spectrum analyzer (seeing you don't have the ears to know it by just listening), and you will clearly see that it could not possibly be ground hum. Then go do some reading on microphonics and dampening, and you may learn the answer to your annoying repeated questions. And now I will just ignore you from here on in, and leave your stupid comments for the rest of TH-cam to judge.
Excellent video. I've been seriously considering selling my aging 1200s and getting a pair of PLX-1000s instead. Now I think I'll get my Technics decks serviced and hold onto them.
Thanx for the video. It has helped me a lot. I'd like to point some things: 1. I don't think many will play in Dubai or in a so hot enviroment. 2. The attached pitch may not be such a big problem due to it's a digital pitch, I mean, it doesnt discalibrate. 3. The feedback seems like a real problem, specially in a club. Any of you know if Pioneer has solved any of this problems? (kind of silly question... but who knows? I know they are aware of this video)
Thanks a lot for this video. I was really wondering about the Pioneer. I'll keep my 1200's for sure. Also, I just thought I would say that when I bought mine new in 2006 they came with slip mats and the rubber thing. Cheers.
im not able to buy a new technics looking at this video should i buy the pioneer or a used technics if someone is selling an old one..confused..thanks for this info.
Excellent and VERY THOROUGH video. Short attention spanners be damned! The only way to truly review a product by taking the time to cover everything. The one thing that sold me on NOT purchasing the Pioneer table was the feedback test. Sadly, the Pioneer had substantial feedback with moderate gain, while the Technics remained stable and quiet with the gain at MAXIMUM. I'm hanging on to my two SL-1200s (Mk2 and Mk5). Outstanding review. 10++++++++++++++++++++++
Great job on the video! You really pointed out the flaws of the PLX in the long term. I was considering buying one but not after this review. Could you please do a take on the Reloop RP-8000? I would love to hear your opinion about it.
this is one of the best reviews of any product I've ever watched on TH-cam..
Many thanks Paul
+The Bright Pixel
Thats the truth!
Thanks for this video! I've seen some very hardcore feedbacks at parties with pioneer turntables and now i know where it comes from! Thanks for the inside view too, very interesting! Your comment about the pitch fader proves you know what you talk about!
youtube needs more good quality videos like yours!
While I found your review quite insightful, I felt it was biased towards the technics. Am back here after viewing this video 3 years ago while hunting for a pair of turntables to purchase, am glad I ended up with the PLX, They have served me very well for 3years with almost daily use in various conditions both outdoor and indoor. They have faced all the kind of conditions and hardships and I have only ever changed were the needles. Fine they're not 1200 but damn they're work horses and I have rocked many parties with. Nostalgia shouldnt hinder people from a good thing. Thanks anyways!!!
This wasn't too long, this was perfect, you nailed it, you let your results be your guide, which is what more reviewers should be doing. You got out of the way of the hype and told the truth, great job!!!
I've got a gut feeling that the SL 1200 / 1210 / MK1 / MK2 / MD3 OR MK5 will outlive any of the new turntables...including the new MK7 that is being released this year.
Was considering this on my shortlist of TT's to buy. Thanks to your review I will definitely remove it from my list. Thanks for a very informative review!
Two thumbs up. Better review than any review in the audiophile press. You seem to be the only reviewer who has access to a screwdriver and is willing to perform a simple objective test.
Good job.
Kenneth Maclean Haha. Thanks
I had already purchased a set of PLX's for my son as a birthday gift when I came across your video. Lucky me, I didn't open the boxes yet and returned them within 3 days. I found a set of early 80's MK2's for $350.00 (Gotta love craigslist) and put the money I spent on the Pioneer's to refurbishing these MK2's. Now I have a set of practically brand new decks in my sons favorite color.
Thank you. I tried posting images up but could not.
+SF4152013 That sounds really cool. A quality, refurbed set of Tech 12's is a very nice thing indeed. Can't go wrong there.
I was on the fence as to whether to purchase the PLX 1000's or repair my 1200's. this video was very informative and I think I will save my Technics. Thanks!
When you travelling your turntable, always remove the platter too! It puts a lot of pressure to the motor bearing...
I never miss to remove the platters from my SL-s, and I put them into my vinyl bag ;)
This is by far the best review I have seen for a product. So much opinionated fluff in so many reviews that I have seen online, but this cuts through the crap and actually tests functionality and quality I would not have thought of.
You don't know how much I appreciate you doing this review. Seldom do people give the longevity of electronics any consideration. But in all honesty, this table is built as well as any other good quality turntable is. At least as far as I can tell from your video. I have serviced a lot of tables in my day, and this is on par with many of the better units.
Most fantastic in depth honest Video I've seen..
great work..
From my own experience, I bought a used pair a couple of years ago 100% best working mechanical condition however there was some oil stains from sweat on the unit.. I then had them professionally repainted instead of buying OEM cabinet replacements as those would be prone to becoming stained again with their matted finish. I had them painted with pearl white which Cadillac uses on their Escalade SUVs where oils & sweat from your hands just bead up on the surface and is easily wiped away leaving no staining residue! Well worth the money!!!!
Dude, in this era, where, increasingly, the internet population have the attention span of a gnat, it was an absolute pleasure to watch, in full, an entertaining, thorough and illuminating video. Loved it. I was fascinated the whole length of it. Please keep it up. I've subscribed and am about to post it to my network. Also I've been dj'ing professionally in Australia for 20 years and there were 3 tips in that video that are new to me, for which I am immensely grateful. (Namely: 1. use the rubber mat for recording and 2. take the counter weight off when travelling and 3. Don't screw the feet on all the way to reduce resonant feedback. Great work.
Thanks for the feedback (can't say the same for Pioneer)!
I seriously was about to buy these since my 1200s got stolen. Thank you, this review was exactly what I looking for on my purchase decision. They dropped the ball bad!
I often look back to this review to show how much better Technics got it over the Pioneer. However would like to see another in depth review such as this comparing the Technics 1200mk2 vs Technics 1200mk7.
That was a mind blowing review, now I'm sure I will never give up my mk2's for PLX!!!
Well done dude !!!!
fantastic review, you safe a lot of people money here.
Had my 1200s for over 20 years.It been through wars & are still kicking ass.I would never cross over
Just saved me 2000$!! Thanks a ton for the review!! this is what I was looking for when I wanted to get the info the music shops can't provide.
How do Reloop turntables compare to this? I'm curious about their build quality but haven't seen much.
This is just the beginning for pioneer turntable, I'm sure they'll get it in a few years but that said. I'm impressed and remember they do own the market in the pioneer cdj's.
Great work. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this. I've started to put my toe back into the market for a second pair of decks and this is very helpful. Used M3D's still seem to be the best current option for my purposes. I plan to hand my MK2's down to my kids in a few years.
Awesome job. I was contemplating trading my 1200's for the PLX1000, but will back away from that now. AND HELL. DUBAI LOOKS AWESOME BRO!!!
Great unbiased and honest review from an obvious expert, thanks a lot!
Great video, on first look the PLX1000 appeared to be equivalent to the SL1200. Excellent thorough test! Would rather see more of these thorough long form videos than short videos that only cover a few aspects. Keep it up!
Thanks! Yeah, I'm glad I looked more closely before doing major purchases.
Any chance of a similar test on the Reloop RP-8000?
THX Mate! That was nice and solid bag of information about Pioneer. No bull shitting about how pretty is Pioneer. You looked to inside and you now what is what and you explain in very simple way how it's work. So now I'm sure I going to choose Technics.
Waiting for next movies. Take care.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this! The pitch fader being directly soldered to the PCB was a terrible design decision.
Denon VL12 I believe is molded rubber base and also NOT a Hanpin like this Pioneer. It would be worth testing.
Thank you SO much!
This video has already become my reference when trying to dissuade people from buying a PLX.
Also, PLEASE do make more videos! Your format and content is killer.
Thanks Carl. There are more videos coming ;)
That was excellent mate, really digging deep into the design and showing the effects of the good and poor elements. Would love to see more of these types insides/teardowns/side-by-sides with contenders vs. industry standards. Cheers
Whoa! Surprised this is your second video and the amount of information delivered. Liked and subscribed. The new battle for 2019 turntables will be the Reloop rp-8000 mk2 $700 vs technics sl-1200 mk7 $1200. An in-depth review like this one, side by side would get you all the views in this category.
Great work, Bro! You brought the information that needed to be known. Keep up the work.
Thanx for the in depth comparison of the two. I watched the whole video, shared it and thumbed it. 1200's FTW!
Thanks for your support. Much appreciated
the other variable could have been your needles? maybe not though. Excellent video!
Patariki Te Rei Unfortunately, I cut out of the video the part where I put brand new stylus on both decks. I also did swap headshells to make sure that wasn't a factor
I guess thats why pioneer should have stuck to car audio!
great feed back my friend and thnk u for ur time and effort
I wish I knew about the counter weight removal trick when traveling. My tonearm height is stuck now.
Yes that was a very valuable advice.
Can you do the same teardown of the Reloop 8000?
Thanks, you just saved me $1000. Great review by the way, very in depth unlike a lot of other reviews.
The club where I have a residency installed a pair of these a couple of weeks back. One broke down already. They are installing their 10+ year old 1200's again after just 2-3 weeks. Not a good sign.
Great Job, keep the video comin. Thats what a review should look like.
I am looking forward to see you review the Denon in the same manner as u did with this pioneer.You touched on all the key things I had concerns about.
Great video my friend. What most people also don't know is that the Pioneer turntable is actually made by "Hanpin" which makes the Super-OEM turntables that are re-badged in over 15 different brand names. They are made in Taiwan and or China. Yes Pioneer had some hand regarding the design like the start/stop button being like that of the CDJ with the blue light ring and other internals mentioned in this video. Once Panasonic's patent for their SL-1200 MK series expired and was not re-newed. Hanpin was open to take much of the motor and tonearm design but even after fully watching this video the internals of the PLX is still way below the Technics 1200 quality and tooling. Also parts of the Technics 1200 MK series was put together by hand in Japan ONLY! Yes the Super-OEM turntables are good and will work for anyone in the end and most of the time get the job done and yes the PLX unit is a very nice looking turntable but after seeing this video I don't understand how can people pay $700+ for just one of these turntables. You can get used 1200's that probably been owned by more than 3 people and still perform just as good. Either way it's your money you spend it how you see fit. My 1200's are almost 26 years old and still look and perform the same since out the box. If I had to choose a Super-OEM turntable go for the "RELOOP RP-6000MK series. Those are fantastic turntables made by Hanpin and are cheaper than the PLX and include a built in PRE-AMP and have a rubberized plinth.
Again top notch video and thank you for posting it. I enjoyed it very much!
Thats what you call a good review ! Thanks for the work.
I love the detail and don’t mind the length at all. thank you for your in depth coverage
Is there a way to adjust the actual torque of the PLX? Through altering the circuit I mean (so in a way other than the "Start"/"Brake" knobs seen on other Super OEMs, which the PLX doesn't have).
Most excellent video, especially considering it's only your second one! You did what I'd been searching for in a review, which was to actually take the turntable apart and have a look at the inner workings. (I would have loved to have seen the inside of the Technics as well.) I've been looking at affordable turntables to replace my old Technics for home use and was intrigued by the Pioneer. Now I think I'll just try to find a second hand Technics 1200 in good order. Many thanks for an exceptionally wonderful video review.
Just get your old Technics serviced! A good repairer will get them tuned up like the day they were new. I like seeing the older ones with cosmetic blemishes performing flawlessly. Personality scratches :)
The Bright Pixel Good advice, many thanks!
Technics SL1200: Still the daddy.
GREAT video!!! super insightful. I really appreciate this kinda attention to detail.
Bro thank you so much for the video!! I watched every second!! You just saved me from buying the Pioneer TT..I sold my 1200s MK 2 back home in Sydney due to the fact I moved to Germany! I had my brought my 1200s brand spanking new back in 2000!!! Sold them after 14 years...Hurts bro I'm on the hunt for a pair of 1210s!
+GTRMO34 Thanks for your positive comments. I needed some positive vibes after being trolled with negativity in these comments lately.
+The Bright Pixel Brother haters going to hate!!!
Also the dj tech tools review say the isolation & feedback is minimal even on a big club system
I'd test again on a unit you haven't opened up, maybe there was an error in the rebuild which caused the vibration
I've tested it again, in a real world situation, and the results stand. There is an extreme resonance around 250Hz
that amount of feedback is a killer..... tnx for this video, nobody should get fooled now....
Thanks for covering all the particulars and peripherals. I don't have the patience to refresh my technics and prefer a new deck and feel this will be the *one*
Thank you for this video sir. I would never sell my technics. Ever. But I almost bought a set of these pioneer decks yesterday. $1500 back in my wallet today..yay!!
But I do respect pioneer for stepping up to the plate and attempting to release a turntable for professional use. But like you said they need to make a lot of improvements before I ever consider buying a pair again. Technics 1200s are a work of art. Mine have been going strong for 19 years now.
I'm sorry Technics but no matter what upgrades were made to the classic sl-1200 design $4000.00 dollars for this turntable is absurd, I personally think Technics will be taking another nose dive on this one the same way they failed on the SL-DZ1200 cd player, this turntable will have a limited market and will have bad reviews world wide because of the price gouge not a smart move in today's selling market. I'm sure that in most retail stores it will be a back order item leaving room for other competitor products. retailers will limit stock because of the price leaving customers to reconsider and once they don't move retailers will not stock them, and just like the SL-DZ1200 there will be many returns. I personally think $1995.00 ~ 2495.00 would of been a more considerable price. The high end market Technics is aiming at will make sure they stay competitive to Technics and marketing strategies will not be in their favor, Technics should learn from past experience that price is key to marketing, high volume sales is what makes $$$ not focusing on audiophiles which is really a small market compared to the whole industry out there. Good luck on this one Technics you're going to need it.
The Bright Pixel 5:07 I had the tonearm on my technics unsecured and boucing around in the trunk of my car once when returning from a gig. Do you think my tonearm and Gimble is damaged?
Easiest way to test it, is with a single sided press record - you know the ones that are smooth on one side (no groove)? They are not so easy to come by these days, but a lot of Whitelabel test presses 'back in the day' were like that. Just spin the record on 45 rpm with the needle down, and adjust the anti skate. The needle should appear to float accross the record with no hitches or 'sticky parts'. This is also a great way to set anti skate - adjust so the tonearm just sits in the middle :)
If you don't have a single side record, you can use a record you don't like and put the needle guard on your needle in case it bounces off the record.
The Bright Pixel You can get the same effect with 0 grams of weight and no record at all, just blow it around. It if moves smoothly, it's fine.As far as anti skating goes; It CANNOT be setup with a 'blank' record. Not sure who ever came up with that, you're far from te only one saying it, but it doesn't make any sense at all. The only way to set up anti skating properly is by using a test record with some loudly modulated grooves on it and an oscilloscope (or a PC scope, we all have PC's, right? :D). Start at a low weight (under a gram) and adjust the anti skating so it gives you a round scope shape without flat or distorted tops. Next (harder) groove, adjust agin. Can't make it? Add some weight. Continue this until you get to the last groove, which is usually too tough for most players to manage. If you don't have a test record, use a record you know, set your weight really, really very low (0.3 grams or so) and turn the anti skating so distortion levels are as low as they get. Careful though, your stylus might skate over the record. Don't use a precious record for it. I probably should make a video tutorial
Stijn Kraft The method you're describing is to set up for optimum sound quality, not tracking. The method I describe is for optimum tracking in a DJ booth, where you are using the mechanism to counter the centrifugal forces created when backspinning, cueing, etc. In my opinion if you want to set up your antiskate for perfect sound quality, you should start by not using an SL1200.
Ps. Using zero balance weighting with no record removes the centrifugal force from the test, rendering it useless for tracking purposes.
I have had a couple people sell me their decks because the tonearms were "broken". First thing I do is loosen the gimble, sometimes that is all it needs. If the gimble gets hit, sometimes it doesn't damage the bearings, it just pushes it down a bit, making it too tight.
How did he ground the table? Looks like feedback is more of a flatly ground.
Luc Beliveau Does not compute
Now pioneer dj released a plx-500 oem turntable based on AT-LP120 such roland tt99
It is realy piece of shit. Very low torque (when you do backspin? the platter stopped). No quartz control. No damper in body.
Enjoyed your video mate, I have an ageing set of Technics which I've refurbished and kept going over the years and they are still the champion. Was very interested in looking at what is new out there - thanks again, Fintan - Ireland.
Great stuff! Keep up the vids because we need people like yourself who have the experience with the inner workings of DJ equipment! Thank you for sharing!
I wish there are more reviews like this
I was first sold on the Technics ability to reject feedback in a warehouse party in Dallas over ten years ago when most djs were still spinning vinyl. The dj setup in this particular room was on a bouncy floor (you could feel the people dancing on it), 6ft table, and a JBL dual 15" with horn on each side if the table. I was flat out amazed to hear no discernible feedback, I'm sure there was some rumble coming through but it was easily masked by the high spl out of the JBLs. I don't remember what cartridges were being used at that time but i know ortofon nightclubs were popular. Definitely light years ahead of my Gemini tables I used at the time. I rock 1200 M3Ds now.
can you do a Stanton 150
I have a question how about the RP8000 is it good are just wait till the PLX 1000mk2
awesome video bro!! can you do the same with a reloop rp-7000
What a great review! Very proffesional . I need you do a review on the new reloop turntables
You could have cut the driving part, but i appreciate your in-depth review and knowledge, it was great. i was really considering dropping the 33 hundred and getting the gold edition with the djm s9. you definitely saved me 1700 because i will just get the mixer now, thanks for the review
+Big Joe Funny thing is, I wish more commenters actually listened to what I said in the driving part, about my reason for making this video.
You can compare AT1240 vs Technics??
I own the PLX 1000 and just tried your feedback test. Mixer channel fader, trim knob, and master level all at full volume, and NO feedback from the turntable.
Interesting. Which thousand watt speaker did you use? And was your technics also giving no feedback?
The Bright Pixel I sold my technics after 20 years of use, and bought the Pios. No regrets. Your feedback test is a bit pointless as literally nobody turns their gear up that high in any situation.
As my video very clearly states, the purpose of my test is for use in clubs. Literally, everybody turns club monitors up as loud as they can go.
I have a semi short attention span but please make your vids as long as you want. I'm an AV repair tech (gear of all quality and eras) and every bit of info is fine and good! I can clearly see from your vid that this isn't junk but is suffering from the all-too modern dive in values. At least it looks like they might have some decent motor drivers in there, lets hope that aside from the feedback issue they put the meat where it counts!!
Haha. Thanks for the feedback. Yep, indeed the windings on the motor and transistor drivers seem good. Just that opto mech at the base of the spindle is worrying, when you compare it to the Technics mag system which is up under the platter near the top of the spindle, out of harms way.
Looks like the Pioneer would be a nice step up for me from my LP120, though. The absence of a preamp is a positive IMHO. I'd only be using the Pioneer as a listening table, not for club use.
proper look over glossing over it, continue Sir!
Thanks buddy. For the past week I've been deciding whether to buy these decks. Your video has saved me a lot of cash because what you say is true which is why I have thought long and hard. First I am a bit shocked at Pioneer for selling something which is not of the same usual good quality which in turn is a terrible marketing move from a usually good supplier. This was a one off chance to show us that they are still amazing but sadly it has not done that and I feel they have tripped themselves up now. Thank you kindly.
I have to agree that it was a mistake to outsource such an important product to a third party manufacturer.
Indeed which is why I am watching 2 x 1210's on ebay lol. have a fab xmas and cheers for the great vid mate.
Thanks a million. Its really an eye opener. I’ll keep my Technics SL-1200MK2P-K.
Not defending the unit or Pioneer in general, but you did take it apart fairly extensively. Is it possible that there may be a loose screw securing the PCB or the base which is creating the resonation/feedback?
Fair point, I thought the same thing - it can't be that bad right? I have gone over everything a couple of times, and as far as I can tell, the test results are not flawed by some silly mistake made by me.
The Bright Pixel Alrighty then. Looks like Pioneer dropped the ball on this one.
The Bright Pixel Have you tested them in another room. I can't believe they are that bad, lol!!! I've had nightmares with 1210's over the years so these would just be unusable. I notice when you speak there's a resonance in that room picked up.
Be interesting to see how well they cope with people jumping up and down near them.
Yes, since the video I have retested in different situations, and the results stand - bad midrange feedback is persistent.
I wonder how well they handle bass when in a club. If they fail so bad at midrange, they really are unusable. Such a fail from pioneer, lol!!!
Absolutely shocked by the plastic base. thanks for the review.
it's just a rebranded hanpin OEM, wondering if all the other hanpin OEMs have the same feedback and other issues or if some of the brands have improved the innards a little...
is it possible to replace the holes of the pitch / pcb with a socket after its first service
Socket will lift the Pitch slider up which will make slider shaft jutting out extra. May be you have to cut the height of the slider shaft.
do u know is it possible?
Great in depth review !
I just wanted to add my 2 cents. The 50% pitch range is VERY useful for scratching/turntablism.
Do you have any vids of people using it? I'd be interested to see. But then the turntablists will find a way to use any feature creatively - I remember seeing somebody play a tonearm with a rubber band :)
WaksON That is super cool. Today I learned that! Thanks for sharing
Yea the Sound Science vinyls with the up pitch then down pitched is awesome... something I've Seen a few UK kats use on the Vestax Turntables with the ULTRA pitch....
Thanks for the vid man was awesome to see the inside of one... I've Played on one myself and feels awesome but not in a club environment... even with DVS I could see bad tracking happening with feedback..
thanks
so how now. would it still feedback in a flight case ?
You did a great job in this video and got the message across perfectly! This was an excellent video and HUGE reminder that pioneer is cosmetic company, that sells a name, not necessarily quality. I found this to be true after I decided to make a brand change with some of my equipment, buying the cdj 900 along with the their flagship mixer the djm 2000nexus. I was not impressed at all, especially for the dollars I spent. I ended up replacing the mixer with a DENON dnx-1700 which I'm quite pleased with.
I was actually considering getting a set of these plx tables, but after this video I will just wait for the re-release of the tech 1200's coming summer of 2016 and continue to use my 30 year old tech 1200's that are still in perfect working order.
+Sean Mcdonald Pioneer Pro DJ is really designing some amazing products recently. I would not put all their products in the same basket. The NXS2 line has a LOT of technology and design put into it.
Finally, someone actually opens one up and takes a real look at the build quality of this unit. One would have to be as dumb as a friggin' rock to miss the fact that the PLX-1000 isn't built anything like an SL-1200MK2. Great video. Thank you, very much. I am positive all manner of idiotic, deceitful, spiteful and trolling comments will follow my comment. Whatever. The truth remains unchanged.
did you ground both turntables? i don't think you grounded the pioneer (Tech seems grounded)...because when you touched the PLX (at 25.08),thus grounding it,the hum went away...this is why pioneer included the earth ground (although the tables are internally grounded) for places with a faulty power source.
By the way Serato and Traktor don't need that high of an output from the Turntable to work on the input side which is managed in the software.
The PLX's i have are perfectly fine on a Rane 57 Mixer.
Check your cables or you may have screwed something up when you opened it(ESD),the cartridge could be faulty,bad cables also cause hum etc...i'd recommend everyone test these for them selves...there's so many reasons why you're getting that feedback problem
Deejay Core Yes they are grounded. Touching them stopped them vibrating. The turntables output cannot be changed as it has 0dB gain, so I'm not sure what you're on about with regards to Serato and Traktor gain.
From your statement about the Rane mixer, I'm guessing your tables are in a home setup with not much volume.
Cables are fine, carts were brand new, and were swapped and retested before uploading the video. Also since this video I've set the PLX up in proper booths and the results stand.
ESD? Only thing ESD could damage is the motor speed control, and that is not even used in this test.
The Bright Pixel What i'm saying about traktor and serato is,they don't need a loud volume to read time code...playing real vinyl would suffer the most but this would depend on PA setup and channel/Master volumes which you didn't explain or show.i do agree,there should have been a pre-amp.
Deejay Core Excellent observation. I was just about to post the same. Yes when he touched the pioneer the hum and "whale" like sound dissipated.
Crist Synapse Yeah this dude is just using scare tactics in my opinion...i use the PLX and have never ever had hum like that...but in software mode,which is Serato for me...there is absolutely zero feedback with all knobs at max,channel and master...zip.
I just got my TTM-57 MKII by the way...zero feedback with that too.
people just swallow up what they see.investigate for yourself....there are too many variables...bad power,bad mixer,grounding issues etc
Lol. What is my motive for "scare tactics"? I wanted to replace my Technics rental stock with Pioneer. How on earth did I win by finding out that the Pioneer turntables have bad feedback problems? Actually I lost because of it.
Loved how you did this video! Loved the in depth explanation.
Excellent video, I was considering buying these and selling my 1210's but thankfully I saw this first! Technics tried and tested so if your going to copy them then you need to make sure they are as good or better!
Great Video!! Thanks for the In-depth review mate!! never have guessed any of these.
You mentioned the optical sensor on the speed feedback. In my opinion, Hall Effect sensors are always more reliable than optical sensors. How many times have we seen an "end of record" optical sensor go bad? Many, many times.
Well done on the video. Don't shorten them at all, man.
Good video, nice clean shots of the stuff that mattered, no terrible hard lighting or shadows. A little echo-y on the audio but nothing that a lav and acoustic panels can't fix.
Knowing little about turntables I initially was a little bit skeptical when you were stating their appearance similarities, but when you showed them side by side I had to do a doubletake.
I'm curious how much money single sided PCBs would save them - that "main" PCB could certainly be significantly smaller if it were double sided, same with the motor driver board...
IMHO longer videos are generally better - if its too long you can always skim, if you cut stuff out, theres no option to get that "extra" stuff back.
Thanks. I got some feedback on my first video saying people won't pay attention to it for long enough. Next video I will include all with options to skip ahead.
I think my response may be out of sequence somehow. Anyway, your video and analysis is very thorough and educational. Agreed from jump. Considering this is a flagship unit like the Pioneer DdJ SZ controller was at the time; I'm hoping for a recall also to address the feedback problem in an environment similar to what you created in the video ( a large club venue ).
There are others who played on these in large clubs who have had no feedback issues and some reportedly have. It would be an epic fail for Pioneer not to address a problem as huge as this if indeed there is no resolution outside of returning the PLX 1000. It's hard for me to believe that Pioneer expected us to never take them out of a bedroom studio. Thanks for your feedback
onedjlovedeluxe
Ground not connected !!! I posted the following under my real account before he removed it and blocked me!
Please explain why is it that every time you touch the PLX the feedback is gone. 25:04 and 27:16 in your "sound test" where this happens." you are doing a massive disservice to the DJ and HiFi comunity just for attention and hits!
IN TERMS OF RELIABILITY!!! GIVE ME A BREAK! The detachable power and RCAs alone make the pioneer 100x more relaible compared to the 1200! For crying out loud what is the most common 1200 repair? REPLACE THE CABLES OR GROUND WIRE! (NOT THE PITCH FADER!) FULL STOP ON YOUR RELIABILITY ARGUMENT! SHOW ME ONE 1200 MKIII WITH ORIGINAL CALBES!
1, Did you calibrate your turntables? If you did what was your measured resonant Frequency using a test record? from each? We would all hope that you actually did a proper TT setup before you concluded you science experiment. Did you measure the basics at least? Needle pressure, VTA etc...? (In your video you say this and that is the same...NOTHING IS THE SAME! MFG materials etc all different. The tonearm is very different and a better design with inner damping etc...the motor has way more torque and the platter is far heavier! Compared to the SL 1200. ALL A REALLY GOOD THING!) It looks the same but its not a duck!
2, Like others I noticed how the hum went away as you touched the PLX. A bit of noise for feedback right? Like a touch your voice or hum etc....So please repeat your scientific "feedback" test when both are calibrated and share the same ground.
3, Try removing those cable tie posts! After two days when the adhesive is cured you will need a freaking crow bar to remove them! (When applied correctly) They cure harder and faster over 20 Celsius! I use them all the time and in my experience they basically impossible to remove when attached to a clean surface, after two days. Will not fall off even in Dubai.
4, Seems like it is pretty impossible to pour beer into the opto sensor compartment unless you use the deck upside down....Btw, Oh what was your measured Wow and Flutter? A 10 year old MKIII I tested recently was way worse (0.23) before a total overhaul (caps and some resistors etc...) compared the very conservative Pioneer specs. All old Technics need a recap at least! Nobody cares! most old 1200 are crap due to abuse lack of understanding of maintenance... how long you think those electrolytics are good for? 1000 Hours is the spec!
5, I understand you have " repaired a lot of Technics in the past from gunk and drink spills and cigarette ash gone inside" (so you cleaned them?), but would you trust a monkey to repair your precious 1200? no so why is desoldering a fader is an issue? When it brakes? And you assume that the one the pioneer one is less reliable compared to that of the technics? Have you worked for ALPS perhaps or Penny and Giles? Having worked for a company that co developed the most sophisticated and reliable fader ever, I can tell you there has been some materials science applied to mfg in the past 39+ years. firstrun-pro.com/euphonix-moving-faders/ FWIW It is third of the cost to replace a fader in the 1200 compared to swapping the whole (although much smaller PCB mounted) assembly in the 1200! (Again it's about who is fixing your deck and what tools are used, screw driver only yes you make a lot of sense...trained tech with basic soldering skills you make 0 sense and your repair cost 3x!)
Not sure what your affiliation or purpose here is, other than getting hits (sensationalist hits not unlike on "chemtrails" ) Your presentation looks fancy but please clarify all your affiliations and qualifications for such review....school before you comment on engineering related items...you may also want to sharpen your expertise about turntables in general. (Read comments below from those who do understand the difference between tonearms etc...) Sounds like you read few prints here and there and collect enough lingo to shoot some shit, but boy you are far off on a lot of stuff in what you say so convincingly. Fox News comes to mind! Again your test is flawed... Do it again...please with both decks fully calibrated (Hi Fi News Test LP is good!) and both attached to the same ground. Read the Stereo Review article on the PLX 1000 as well... Overall the PLX is a better sounding deck (to me). May not last as long like you or me but who cares....do you actually know anyone using a 30 year old Technics?
Here is a good intro on what turntable setup and calibration is: th-cam.com/video/CnskL8Pe6fk/w-d-xo.html
Here is an other tool you need for reviews like this other than a screwdriver: www.needledoctor.com/Hi-Fi-News-Test-Record
And yes the PLX 1000 looks like a super OEM from Hanpin with some upgrades and perhaps more QC and yes it is 2010 design with modern cost cutting measures applied where appropriate...like why would one waste precious copper for a double sided PCB for when it's not necessary? As you said there is no audio so why waste a copper plane on servo control? For sure you can do better! You seem talented and screen ready!....so please...continue....
@4 I don't have the skills to do such important review but I hope your will use your popularity (a commercial before watching your nonsense on youtube! $$$) to correctly review and do the rest of humanity a favor and do this right! GO!
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Feedback Eliminator Um the ground was connected. And you are a Douchebag who is just making yourself look like an even bigger knob by posting all this nonsense. If I made this video for views and internet fame (lol), then why have I only made 2 other very niche videos? I had no idea thousands of people were going to view this. If I did I wouldn't own a sound design company, I'd own a marketing company. The more you say, the more your lack of knowledge shines through, so keep going. A small tip - do some research on what ground hum is. Record the audio from this video and put it into a spectrum analyzer (seeing you don't have the ears to know it by just listening), and you will clearly see that it could not possibly be ground hum. Then go do some reading on microphonics and dampening, and you may learn the answer to your annoying repeated questions. And now I will just ignore you from here on in, and leave your stupid comments for the rest of TH-cam to judge.
Great job. Glad I saw this. I was looking into the plx to replace an SL 10, but I will wait.
Excellent video. I've been seriously considering selling my aging 1200s and getting a pair of PLX-1000s instead. Now I think I'll get my Technics decks serviced and hold onto them.
Thanx for the video. It has helped me a lot.
I'd like to point some things:
1. I don't think many will play in Dubai or in a so hot enviroment.
2. The attached pitch may not be such a big problem due to it's a digital pitch, I mean, it doesnt discalibrate.
3. The feedback seems like a real problem, specially in a club.
Any of you know if Pioneer has solved any of this problems? (kind of silly question... but who knows? I know they are aware of this video)
When u put the rubber on the feedback you got was from the technics, according to the faders. (you turned down the pioneer and moved the crossfader).
krikks No. At 26:05 I swap the channels on the mixer. You can even see the meters jump on the right channel when I put the needle down.
Great video, I would have loved to have seen your uncut more detailed video. If I could have I would have done the same tear down. Again great job.
Thanks a lot for this video. I was really wondering about the Pioneer. I'll keep my 1200's for sure. Also, I just thought I would say that when I bought mine new in 2006 they came with slip mats and the rubber thing. Cheers.
im not able to buy a new technics looking at this video should i buy the pioneer or a used technics if someone is selling an old one..confused..thanks for this info.
Great in depth overview of the pioneer plx-1000 vs the technics sl-mk5 now the anyone can find out if the plx-1000 is good or not!!!!
Thanks!!!
Excellent and VERY THOROUGH video. Short attention spanners be damned! The only way to truly review a product by taking the time to cover everything. The one thing that sold me on NOT purchasing the Pioneer table was the feedback test. Sadly, the Pioneer had substantial feedback with moderate gain, while the Technics remained stable and quiet with the gain at MAXIMUM.
I'm hanging on to my two SL-1200s (Mk2 and Mk5).
Outstanding review.
10++++++++++++++++++++++
+phantasm1004 Thanks. Let's hope Pioneer revise the model soon.
Great job on the video! You really pointed out the flaws of the PLX in the long term. I was considering buying one but not after this review. Could you please do a take on the Reloop RP-8000? I would love to hear your opinion about it.