I'm also pretty sure there isn't one budget belt drive TT within 20 square miles of Shaizada's house.
"With the PLX-1000's platter removed, I could see that its motor mounts and interior construction were completely different from (but possibly sturdier and more serviceable than) those of the venerable Technics machine. Musically and mechanically, the new PLX-1000 seems more heavy-duty and sure-footed than the vintage, near-mint SL-1200MK2 I borrowed for comparisons."
Their review sample also arrived with loose tonearm bearings, good thing Turntable guru Mike Trei was in the house to fix it. I'm sure everyone has their own turntable guru right? Or does Pioneer send one out to you when you buy one? Platter wobble is also a problem from what I've read. Aside from that, the Stanton, Reloop, A-T, and various other DJ-5500 rebadges including the PLX-1000 are "fine," and probably a match for whatever the equivalent Rega or Pro-Ject is, but that's as far as I'd go. The fact that a VPI Traveler couldn't beat it says more about the Traveler than it does about the Pioneer. I've never been impressed by VPI's budget tables. For the record, I've got nothing at all against direct drive, or Pioneer for that matter. As I said, a heavily modded SL-1200 can actually be a formidable table, I'm just not sure it's worth the money it costs to get it there. I've also heard proper Pioneer tables, like the PL-707, which are quite good, as are many of the higher end JVC, Yamaha, and Kenwood DDs from the late '70s and early '80s. Tables like the Exclusive P3 and Kenwood L-07D could probably send more than a few $5K belt drives home.
It's all relative. If it makes you feel any better, it's possible the Doctor's SL1200 is screwed up, bad bearings, etc. A lot of this stuff is old. We really have no idea the condition they are in.On the DD vs. belt drive, it's more implementation and trade-offs. I don't think you can make generalizations about it when you've only owned one budget DD TT and listened to one budget belt drive TT for a collective total of 12 minutes. Motor or other extraneous noise become more obvious with MC or more resolving carts. Then again, the way you're headed, you are probably going to say that MM carts are all that he necessary.The fact is, if you are happy where you are at, you don't need to worry about it. It's actually a good thing.
What is there to dismiss? You have been comparing one kind of turd (budget dd) to another kind (budget bd).Next level up from what youve heard would be the VPI Scouts with the acrylic platters and separate lightweight motor pillars, which still were not good enough for me personally. The Linn LP12 came close with mods, but after getting all decked out, it was stupid expensive.I'm no fan of the Rega 1, 2, or 3 series. I've owned two Rega 3 series with various arms and in the end sold them. Never again.I've been out of this for a while. But the VPI Classic series caught my eye because they shifted to all metal platters and decided to secure the motor to the plinth. A more cost effective solution than an external motor encased in DU. I find this solution better than the prior VPI lower end Scout, Scoutmasters, Aries of the years past.In short, the SL1200 and Rega 3 and Projects are not good enough for me personally to make a radical switch from digital. I'm not looking for another budget table.I like value and in some ways I am cheap. If the SL1200 was any good, I would have stolen Craig's by now.
