Pioneer PLX 1000 ancestry

Well, if you insist on going down this rabbit hole, Google and research Super OEM turntables.  Loads of videos on YouTube.  

Most of these turntables are produced & rebadged out of the Hanpin factory in China or owe some of their heritage to the Hanpin designs.  Most have the same look, but have some differences, i.e.:  built in phono preamp.  They are sold by Stanton, Audio Technica, Numark, Reloop, etc.  

They are DJ turntables, but they can be used in regular home set-ups.  

Does it matter at the end of the day?  Only you can answer that.  If you own the Pioneer and like it, than does it matter that it was made in China by an OEM?

I used a Stanton ST 150 for a few years, when I got back into playing records and it was just fine.  I prefer direct drive turntables and I liked the ability to swap out cartridges.  About a year back, I upgraded to the new Technics GR 1200 and it is pretty easy to see (and hear) how the OEMs may look like Technics 1200s, but they do not necessarily perform like them.  Then again the Stanton cost $550 versus the new Technics at $1600. 

Rich 

Hi Boofer -

Pioneer has never said word one about the PLX 1000's ancestry.  As opposed to Denon, for example, who said that its DJ V12 was designed new from the ground up.

As I mentioned earlier (2nd post), most of these turntables come out of the Hanpin factory.  

http://www.hanpin.com.tw/4_Products_02.html

If you visit Hanpin's site, you will notice that the Stanton ST 150 and the Reloop 7000 and the Audio Technica 1240 and the Numark turntables not only bear a resemblance to each other, but also bear a resemblance to Hanpin's product line.  

Depending on how much you wish to research Super OEMs by digging through the web, You Tube, and various discussion boards, it certainly sounds that if many of these turntables are not rebadged copies of Hanpin designs, then the companies are contracting the specs out to Hanpin to make a turntable by taking a part from X and a part from Y and a part from Z ... well, you get the idea.

It is almost like the Family Guy episode when Quagmire sees all these kids from different cultures that all bear a resemblance to him and say giggity.

As to the definitive answer to your question ... who knows?  Pioneer sure as heck isn't saying.  For years, I was flamed on this site for owning a Stanton 150 and claiming it was a decent alternative to the Pro-ject and Rega starter turntables ... all from people who never owned or auditioned a Stanton.  

There is plenty of information on the web.  Time to do some research and come to your own conclusions.  No one responding will have the definitive answer for you.    


Rich