If some of the readers can’t face the fact that everyone tried to copy Technics SL1200 mkII... when the company was out of business, then they really know nothing about it and don’t understand the reason why they did it.
Pioneer nowadays is the leading manufacturer of professional equipment for DJs (only), their CDJ is the industry standard for years (in digital) for professionals, the only reason they are designed a visual CLONE of Technics, instead of making they own design, it is because Technics is the industry standard for professionals (in analog turntables).
And Technics was out of business at the time when Pioneer jumped in and made those turntables, they are not bad when you compare to OLD Technics SL1200/1210, but please stop living in illusion that you can compare Pioneer to the BRAND NEW Technics with coreless motor like G or GR series, because those models are not cheap, they are made for critical listeners (not for djs).
The GR cost $1700 new and on the used market it’s about $1500 in mint condition. The G is twice as much in price!
The old Technics SL1200 mk2 was $390 turntable when it was new. Before it was discontinued the price was about $500 new. So when you’re comparing Pioneer PLX1000 to Technics SL1200 mkII you’re comparing $1000 to $500 turntable.
Almost every manufacturer making visual clones of Technics, not only Pioneer, but also Audio-Technica and many others. They must keep the price low, because for higher price nobody will buy them if Technics is available, but Technics was not available, so Pioneer price was $1000 (higher than used Technics mk2 on the market). The size, the shape, the platter, the type of the pitch control, the tonearm ... is it all visual clone of Technics. But they’re making them not for audiophiles, but for DJ use, because this design ( a clone of Technics) is important ONLY for DJs (not for audiophiles, they don’t even understand why there is a pitch control). And some audiophiles could use them after M.Fremer told them it’s not bad for the price, without understanding the fact why it was made exactly like a blue print of Technics (visually) and not like some awesome Pioneer design from the past like
PL-70 mkII Think about it, you’re living in the audiophile’s world, but Pioneer is not an audiophile brand anymore. They just made a good turntable for professional market to put it in the DJ setup near their
Pioneer CDJ and Pioneer Mixer, for DJs to replace Technics, but Technics returned with superior series of turntables such as G and GR series DESIGNED FOR AUDIOPHILES (NOT FOR DJs). For DJs Technics made new mk7 version (much cheaper than G/GR and better than Pioneer 1000).
If you want to compare PLX1000 to Technics the equal model is
Technics mk7, everything else like GR or G/GAE are much better.
Used Pioneer PLX-1000 cost $400 and people will be happy to get rid of them, because there are NEW Technics available now.
It’s pretty funny to read when audiophiles blame DJs and for this reason hate Technics, but at the same time using Pioneer as alternative pretending it’s better, but it’s not better and made primarily or DJs. While NEW Technics G series made primarily for AUDIOPHILES.
If you want cheap and quality Direct Drive then there is a Technics mk7, no need for Pioneer PLX1000 anymore.
If you want a top quality then SL1200 G for nearly $4000 or it’s low cost alternative model GR for 50%
** P.S. It’s kind of weird when people think that is one turntable looks similar to another they are performing equally just because they are both Direct Drive.
** If you like Pioneer find the best from this company, it is not the same company anymore, just look what they are manufacturing today. Then look back and see what was their target back then, when it was all about Hi-Fi. If you like Pioneer you’d better
find your self Pioneer PL-70 II from 1981 for $2000 and you will get better tonearm, better drive, better plinth than any new Pioneer turntable. And yes, that was an original Pioneer design, not a clone of Technics from a modern Pioneer brand. As you can see their old is much better than their new.
