now, the replacement table comes in the mail. set that up today and practice on it for MAYBE 2 hours. matter of fact the platter wasn't even on and spinning for a whole hour as for the first hour i was just practicing baby scratches with the platter off. WTF. The PLX-500 is a direct-drive turntable with three speeds: 33, 45, and 78 RPM. It looks a lot like the PLX-1000 and the Technics 1200: it has a power knob, a start / stop button, target light, a tonearm and tonearm assembly that looks like what you’ll find in a standard Technics 1200 or PLX-1000, and a pitch fader that lets you adjust platter speeds up to -/+ 8%. Now that Technics have returned, the main selling point of the 1000 over the SL1210 is fairly simple: it comes in at a lower price point. Other than that, the formula is familiar: it’s the same basic look and feel, very similar sound and solid, durable construction. A worthy alternative to the MK7. More info/Buy Pros

Lastly, the metal platter underneath isn’t as dense as the PLX-1000. It doesn’t feel as solid as the flagship. Setting the Pioneer up is reasonably straightforward and should not prove too challenging, especially if you have access to a stylus force gauge. Once up and running, the Pioneer does a fair amount right – but not everything. Listening to Biffy Clyro's Only Revolutions, the PLX-500 has some traditional direct drive attributes. The sound has a rhythmically engaging and propulsive quality and as you might expect, pitch stability is pretty much absolute. In conclusion, the PLX-1000 and PLX-500 are both exceptional turntables from Pioneer, designed to cater to different needs and preferences. The only noticeable noise from the motor is heard when running at 78RPM, which is engaged by pressing both the 38 and 45RPM buttons simultaneously. And, thanks to the mostly hollow design of the shell, harder taps or bumps to the unit can result in some audible changes. This is not a deal-breaker for us, but definitely something to keep in mind. Sound Quality Almost all DJ turntables are now direct-drive models, meaning they have better pitch stability and more power than the cheap belt-drive models which used to be common entry-level options. More expensive options look very similar to cheaper models, which means it’s sometimes not obvious what more you’re getting for your money.

Expert Reviews

The Pioneer DJ PLX-500 has been designed with a wide range of DJing styles in mind. Perfect for any beginner or a seasoned professional for that matter. The PLX-500 is the budget model in Pioneer’s small range, coming in at half the price of the premium model and offering a more basic spec aimed at home DJs rather than professional club use. Switching the 1000’s metal construction for a more basic plastic chassis, the 500 isn’t as rugged and it’s missing some of the features of the top model, like adjustable pitch range. However, it uses the same motor, so it’s fundamentally very close in terms of feel and sound where it matters. It also adds some handy features not found on the top model, such as a USB output.

I would recommend Pioneer PLX-500 to beginner DJs who want to learn how to play, plus have the pleasure of listening to vinyl records from time to time. For people who have already decided on a DJ career, the PLX -1000 will certainly be more recommended. The PLX-1000 and PLX-500 offer a range of connectivity options and additional features to enhance your vinyl experience. Both models include a USB port, allowing you to digitize your vinyl collection with ease. However, the PLX-500 takes it a step further by incorporating a built-in phono preamp, enabling direct connection to powered speakers or amplifiers without the need for an external preamp. This feature makes the PLX-500 more versatile for users who do not already own a separate phono preamp. In contrast, the PLX-1000 requires an external preamp to achieve optimal performance.As we found in our review of the SL-1210 MK7, the new model lives up to the legacy of its much-loved predecessors. What more is there to say? It’s the definitive DJ turntable for a reason, and it’s still our favourite all-rounder. It’s not the cheapest model on the market and it’s easily beaten when it comes to features by models like the Reloop RP-8000, but it still sets the benchmark for solid build quality, reliability and feel. More info/Buy Pros Arm Type: Universal type S-shape tone arm, Gimbal-supported type bearing structure, Static balance type

Pioneer..youguys seriously need to change the description of your product...I was hoping that the plx-500 would be competitive with the Stanton tables of similar price..not the case. The aluminum platter looks impressive thanks to the “spotted” outer flange, which is part of the classic strobe rotation control system. At first glance, maybe glimpsed in a darkened club, the PLX-500 could easily be mistaken for a classic Technics turntable. The PLX-500 is a slimmed-down version of the PLX-1000 that Pioneer introduced two years ago, and is actually a rebrand of a copy. It's made for Pioneer by the Taiwan ODM specialist Hanpin, which manufactures a huge range of cheap and cheerful turntables. Hanpin turntables are often rebranded by companies that no longer have the expertise or resources to make them in-house. Here’s where it gets ugly for the PLX-500. The combination of its plastic build and motor led to problems for me when it came to scratching. I needed a lighter touch to prevent the platter from stopping while I was doing some basic scratches, andit took a while for the platter to spin at its full speed once I let go of the record.

Conclusion

Reloop’s beginner-friendly RP-2000 is a case in point, with a direct-drive motor and sturdy feel that belies its price point. Very much built in the mould of the classic SL1200 MK2, the RP-2000 is a bare-bones offering thatdoes everything well, with no frills and no fuss. More info/Buy Pros Also, the tone-arm shoulder looks a little cheap, but you've gotta keep costs down somewhere, right? And, fair play, it doesn't mess with performance - if you calibrate the weight, height and anti-skipping dial to match your stylus and needle set-up, then you're golden. Turntables are fussy things – they rely on a tiny needle sitting in a record groove. This is why the best DJ turntables are built like tanks, weigh a ton, and often expensive. The added mass and weight make them less prone to unwanted vibrations and bumps, especially when you’re stood next to a pair of bass bins. When you cut corners to make a DJ turntable, compromises are inevitable. Although you would be hard-pressed to tell the PLX-1000 and the PLX-500 apart from just looking at them, however, once you get them in hand, the differences become more apparent. Unlike the PLX-1000 (which has a full metal body), the Pioneer DJ PLX-500 has a mostly high-grade plastic shell. Although the platter and the tonearm are made from metal. Ultimately, the choice between the PLX-1000 and PLX-500 depends on your specific requirements and budget. If you are a professional DJ or an avid vinyl enthusiast seeking top-of-the-line performance, the PLX-1000’s superior build quality, direct drive motor, and audiophile-grade sound reproduction make it the ideal choice. Its precise speed control and excellent stability will elevate your DJ sets or listening experience to new heights.