To me a new Music Hall MMF 2.2 or a Pro-ject Debut III from Music Direct, Audio Advisor etc. makes more sense. You’d have to step up $50 (both are $299), but you’d have a brand new table with the benefit of 40 years TT building experience. You obviously like vintage, and I get that sentiment (both styling/nostalgia or in the case of tubes, audio superiority). I sold mainstream audio in the 70- 80s in retail, and then some more esoteric stuff out of my house in the 90s. Ive sold and owned,(who hasn’t!), the PL12 or one of its variants. I doubt it offers the same degree of isolation between the cartridge and motor/ environment that the two newer tables would, (or track as well). In addition, that $50 gets you a new cartridge, belt, flawless dustcover, etc. You might get a new belt for the vintage Pioneer only to find out the four decades old motor is having issues. The new ones of course do have a warranty and typically a trial period, (tables may be tricky, so I’d check if you are concerned). Better yet, I’d run these prices by any local brick and mortar stores that carry these tables, I know my local Pro-ject dealer is very competitive with online sources.
Looking for not too expensive Turntable
I want a vintage turntable for a second system with a tube amplifier. I read the Pioneer PL-12 is good sounding without any jitter due to being belt drive. I can actually hear jitter. I owned a direct drive TT and it had jitter. My Garrard 401 did not have any jitter either. Suggestions? Pioneer PL-12 good?