Which one would you buy

Neither - as a Pilot 240 sounds better than the 81 (owned an 81 that I had refurbished once in the late 70's and still own a 240).

Hifi poser Jeff Day brought the 81 back into focus @ one point.

Didn't care for the phono sections in either, but tape through the line inputs was stellar as is CD through the 240.

DeKay

The rebuild on the less expensive unit looks good, but I used Yellow Illinois coupling caps on mine @ the recommendation of the friend who rebuilt it (he used Orange coupling caps in my Dynaco gear).

The only time we disagreed was when he wanted to put a brass nut on my Ibanez PF300.

DeKay