Pioneer Direct Drives - Now and then?

I owned the PLX-1000 for a spell. Contrary to fanboy myth, it does sound and perform just as well if not better than the fabled 1200 MKII. Also feels like a higher quality machine in my opinion. 

I think to get a DD that's significantly better you'd have to spring for the 1200GR. 

Note that cartridge overhang for the PLX is different than the 1200s so you can't use the Technics plastic headshell jig. No loss really as that thing only achieves a ballpark alignment anyhow.

The KAB arm damper fits the PLX.

I also preferred the PLX to a VPI Classic 1, though that was not with a particularly good cartridge admittedly. 

It's a good performer in the objective sense, however, it does play with the forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables. Though, to get better objective performance out of a belt-drive  you'd be looking at $3K^. 

helomech, Was interested in your comment about "forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables". Would you care to back that up? Exactly what turntables have exhibited those qualities in your system? And can you define "forced-weightiness"? Thanks.

Herb Reichert does a better job describing it in his review of the PLX. In fact, "forced-weightiness" might be his term. I read it somewhere as I recall and felt it very apt to what I've heard from the PLX and various DD tables I've owned. Some of those would include vintage Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics and MCS tables. 

"Would I care to back that up?" Well, I'm not the only one who has noticed this trait but most things in this hobby are subjective. A bit of Google searching will turn up posts from others who've noticed the same.