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Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:16 am
by Stemcor1990
I had been thinking of a change in the turntable department as part of a general “overhaul” of my system.

A recent medical examination has revealed some hearing problems (none of us are getting any younger). In addition, I quite simply was not using my Rega RP10 due to a lack of opportunity.

So the Teddy Pardo amp has to go as I need something with a balance control or left/right volume controls. The RP10 also needs a new home so I can free up some funds.

To cut a long story short I decided to buy the Doc’s PL71. I had heard it a few times at Muppet Labs and thought it was something I could live with especially as it would not be used very often.

I collected the tt last weekend and the Doc also had a Denon dl103 available. Yes, the 1963 designed mc cartridge with a spherical stylus - so old hat.

The 103 was not fixed to the headshell so I had to buy a cartridge protractor and it took a week for me to get my act together and get the tt up and running. So it’s the PL71 into a twin psu phono 2 then a Teddy Pardo amp and monoblocs.

So how does it sound ? In short it’s a bloody great surprise. This is my first dd turntable and I’m now wondering why I didn’t buy one before. It has the most incredible “solidity” to instruments and I have been amazed by the tonality - a piano really does sound like a piano. When it comes to prat, this tt is excellent. My cube 3s are sounding like people playing musical instruments and bands sound like, well bands !

Perhaps the biggest shock has been the way the 71 has the ability to “hold it all together” during complex passages of music. I’m using sound cords between the tt and the phono 3 so I’m wondering what will happen with a cable upgrade. The sound cords must be one of hifi’s bargains.

Needless to say, I played a few records today and I really cannot find fault with the 71. My pre is now sold so it will be some time before the records are spinning again but after the first few hours of listening I can say that the 71 has the potential to be a formidable performer. I’ll try to remember to write an update once I get a new amp (I wonder who is going to be building that...).

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:23 am
by karatestu
Excellent news. It's only the music that can benefit, after all what are we without music :grin:

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:31 am
by antonio66
Just out of curiosity, are you just changing your pre, or going full NVA ? Let's hope the Doc pulls his finger out and you can get back to using that PL71. :grin:

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:33 am
by Stemcor1990
I love my Teddy amps but the hearing imbalance has forced the change. It’s a bit of a no-brainer so at some point in the future the Doc will have to fire up his soldering iron.

The real bummer for me is that this came to light the day after his Black Friday sale so I missed the great deals.

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:34 am
by Stemcor1990
It’s going to be full NVA. A P90SA plus whatever power amp and cables I can afford.

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:17 pm
by karatestu
I remember Teddy Pardo in the pfm diy room 10 yrs ago. He was modding Naim stuff with a lot of success. He then developed his own regulator circuit and the rest is history. I have some teddyreg boards somewhere that i never tried. They were a bit high in output impedannce so i think that put me off a bit.

Never heard any of his finished product but i think his poweramps are chip based. With his regs he said that large transformers were not needed and i am not sure that sat too well with me at the time.

NVA will be better i should think :grin:

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:38 pm
by Ithilstone
I would think that with cubes you hearing imbalance should be barely noticeable even with single volume pot as they evenly fill the space with music - not like conventional speakers where it all sounds ok/right in very narrow spot - but I might be wrong ;]

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:46 pm
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
Ithilstone wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:38 pm I would think that with cubes you hearing imbalance should be barely noticeable even with single volume pot as they evenly fill the space with music - not like conventional speakers where it all sounds ok/right in very narrow spot - but I might be wrong ;]
You are right.

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:50 pm
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
BTW don't make the mistake of thinking the DL103 must be replaced, it may be old design and conical stylus but it plays far better music than 90% of new design carts.

Re: Pioneer PL71

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 1:23 pm
by Stemcor1990
I can definitely hear one speaker “louder” than the other hence the need for a NVA pre. I was also staggered by the performance of the DL103. Once the new amps are in place (and I might upgrade the phono stage) then it might be time for a change of cartridge and then again I might choose to keep it. It is certainly a formidable performer for the money.