I had the Pioneer PL-600 (c. 1980) which was a close cousin of the Technics 1200 series...quartz locked DD, about the same price, pitch control sacrificed perhaps in favor of an auto arm return/shut off feature. Good enough turntable. Lasted nearly 30 years and was outfitted, first with an ADC ZLM cart, later a Shure V15 Type 5. I replaced it with a Music Hall MMF 5/Goldring 1012 combo when it gave up the ghost. For my limited funds, the Music Hall was a vast improvement in SQ but I suppose this is subjective as is the case with a lot of things....Fender Strats Vs. Martin acoustic guitars, etc...
