Pioneer - Stereo Turntable - Black

This turntable is one of the many Taiwanese clones of the Technics SL1200 MK II turntable made by Hanpin. That company supplies clones for many companies, such as Audio Technica, Reloop, Stanton and others. While all of them may look like the Technics, they are definitely not engineered like the Technics. Motors are not as stable, the anti-skating is inconsistent, platters may be warped. Hanpin then released an upgraded clone known as the Super-OEM which this Pioneer is derived from (note that the cheaper Pioneer PLX500 is a derivation of the cheaper Technics clone). This model is definitely a step up from the cheaper clones but still not perfect. There is no hinged dust cover (just a drop-on), the motor leaves a bit to be desired compared to motors from the 70s and the arm mass is a tad high. But it is still a good value for its price, although it does not come with any cartridge. Technics has re-released the SL1200 and its price is double the Pioneer. While it is definitely better, most audiophiles will not be able to hear a difference. Just remember, this is a full manual turntable, it does not have any auto functions, just like the original Technics...

If you are planning to use these turn tables for djing I’ll recommend to consider other brand like technics. Pioneer PLX 1000 are good for beginners who wants to start on Vinyl turn tables

If you're looking for a professional turntable for DJs; look at other models. This was a good attempt at replicating the Technics 1200s, but not up to par. There are other options available at this price point.