Pioneer PL-12D

[DarrenHW]

I picked one of these up a few months ago with the intention of selling it on but my brother saw it and decided it would be a good replacement for his current belt drive Technics. Yesterday I eventually had the time to give it a quick service (stripped down, cleaned and reassembled the spindle (BB still present) and oiled the motor, both with 5W30 (I've run out of sewing machine oil:doh:)), fitted a Shure M95HE and let it spin for a few hours. After playing a couple of records I'm disappointed by the sound of the Pioneer, I think it sounds lifeless, dull, flat...

These TT have quite a following so what's everyone else's experience of the Pioneer? Am I just too accustomed to the Garrard 401, is the 5W30 too thick for the spindle, is there something I've missed?

[Gordon Steadman]

I reckon your view is pretty accurate. I have the PL112D and in comparison to my main TT its everything you say. However, for what it cost and as a starter deck I think it represents extremely good value. It can actually handle a better cartridge which helps a lot. I tried the Shure M44 in it and it sounded quite good.

[DarrenHW]

Thanks for the reply Gordon (even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear :(), I'll just have to get him to bring his Technics round with him and see which he prefers (only going from memory, it must be about 3 months since I've heard his TT) I think he'll stick with the Technics, I don't think he'd get on with a suspended deck anyway. Looks like another item destined for eBay, quite disappointing.

[DSJR]

I had a go at a good few PL12D's (and was profoundly disappointed in the PL112D when it was launched I remember) and was surprised how it just couldn't seem to improve with mats and cartridge 'upgrades.' Having had a similar experience with two Technics SL1500's very recently, I discovered with these latter that despite the tonearm exit leads to amp looking good, they really did hobble the sonics. replacing the set on my second 1500 with Van Damme Pro-Patch mic cable (screen connected to return in the phono plug (Neutric Rean) at the amp end and the inner conductors only at the tonearm) transformed the deck's sonics into something really serious (I need to get at the first 1500 I sold to Alex_UK a few years ago). Just maybe, doing this (less than a tenner's worth of cable and plugs), the PL-12D might take on a new sonic lease of life...

[DarrenHW]

Just maybe, doing this (less than a tenner's worth of cable and plugs), the PL-12D might take on a new sonic lease of life...

I had planned on rewiring the arm with some silver tonearm wire I have left over and some Van Damme XKE with Neutrik plugs (as you say for what it costs well worth doing) and swapping the headshell for an ADC LMG-1. I thought this would be a pretty good direction to take it in, I don't have any IC wire at the moment or I'd give it a go.

[Gordon Steadman]

I had planned on rewiring the arm with some silver tonearm wire I have left over and some Van Damme XKE with Neutrik plugs (as you say for what it costs well worth doing) and swapping the headshell for an ADC LMG-1. I thought this would be a pretty good direction to take it in, I don't have any IC wire at the moment or I'd give it a go.

I forgot about the headshell. Mine sports an SME shell now and that too does help the sound a little.

I do still use the deck from time to time in a bedroom system or when digitising stuff. Now I use the Mac more for music than I did, I will have to start using the main TT but I don't find the Pioneer too bad. Its just when you compare directly that things really fall apart.

[DarrenHW]

Its just when you compare directly that things really fall apart.

I do wonder if this is my issue, obviously I didn't expect it to compare with the Garrard, but I did expect it to be a bit more involving, will just have to see how it compares to his Technics.

[walpurgis]

I've had several PL-12Ds and found they respond well to a heavy rubber mat and a rigid, cast alloy or Magnesium headshell. Spending more on one is not worth it really. Given a good belt, a lube and a check of the arm bearings (not too loose or too tight) and it should run fine for another twenty years. They like low compliance carts!

[paskinn]

Let's be fair here; the 12D was a pretty cheap deck when available in the 1970s, and offered impoverished students, such as me, the chance to spend part of their grants (remember them?) at the local Comet. Matched with a Shure 75ed they gave huge entertainment to many of us...my first playing of Pink Floyd's DSOM was on a 12D.
They were never offered as state-of-the-art decks, they were the Ford Escort of the growing hi fi world. The fact that they still work, and work pretty well, forty years later in testimony to their basic good quality.
Someone mentioned the Sansui 212. That was another fine deck for beer-budget money.
Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be.

[karma67]

that might have been me,before getting my AR Turntable i used a sansui 212,i thought it was good.

[Gordon Steadman]

Let's be fair here; the 12D was a pretty cheap deck when available in the 1970s, and offered impoverished students, such as me, the chance to spend part of their grants (remember them?) at the local Comet. Matched with a Shure 75ed they gave huge entertainment to many of us...my first playing of Pink Floyd's DSOM was on a 12D.
They were never offered as state-of-the-art decks, they were the Ford Escort of the growing hi fi world. The fact that they still work, and work pretty well, forty years later in testimony to their basic good quality.

Absolutely agree. The fact that you can get one for £30/40 represents terrific value (prices seem to be going up a bit - I got my PL112 for £20 including the M75ED last year - all it needed was a new belt)