Pioneer Direct Drives - Now and then?

I’m blown away at your post Eric.  You have been a member since 2005, 9000 posts, and you sound like this will be your first turntable. You want to spend $1000 but you claim you will buy as little as 5 albums.  You also want to set it and forget it.  Unlikely.   Why bother?
Having said that my first table was a Pioneer PL -530.  Semi-automatic.  It worked wonderfully for many years including being packed for several international moves. One of these might scratch your itch on the cheap.

So weird!  Earlier this year, I bought a Lyngdorf integrated with a built in MM phono preamp and said to myself--Hey remember that old Pioneer PL 51 table you bought in 1973 that you've had in storage since 1982?   Maybe it's time.  The drive still works, but the cantilever was broken on the Shure 97HE I was using.  I can't find a replacement stylus, and I've sort of choked on the cost of buying a decent replacement.  I've still got my modest vinyl collection, but--- do I want to start putting cash into this?  There are two ways this could go.   I could fall in love with vinyl again, which is going to be crossing the event horizon into the black hole for me and my cash.  Or, I could just keep the thing around as an exercise in nostalgia.   But along comes Eric, and I think, maybe Eric will run this experiment for me.  @erik_squires , do keep us posted on how you decide to go.  I may be following in your footsteps.

helomech, Was interested in your comment about "forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables".  Would you care to back that up? Exactly what turntables have exhibited those qualities in your system?  And can you define "forced-weightiness"?  Thanks.

helomech, Was interested in your comment about "forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables". Would you care to back that up? Exactly what turntables have exhibited those qualities in your system? And can you define "forced-weightiness"? Thanks.

Herb Reichert does a better job describing it in his review of the PLX. In fact, "forced-weightiness" might be his term. I read it somewhere as I recall and felt it very apt to what I've heard from the PLX and various DD tables I've owned. Some of those would include vintage Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics and MCS tables. 

"Would I care to back that up?" Well, I'm not the only one who has noticed this trait but most things in this hobby are subjective. A bit of Google searching will turn up posts from others who've noticed the same.

Hi Erik! Start your vinyl journey right, and you'll buy not only 5 records, but definitely more. If you want a set and forget set up just to get started, I agree that a good DD turntable is what you need. And good tonearm, cartridge and electronics of course. 

I started my vinyl journey not too long ago with a  70's-era Technics SL-150MK2 sporting SME Series III and Shure V15 Type IV with NOS MR stylus. For peace of mind I recapped the turntable electronics. Phono output went into a vintage Scott 340b receiver. This receiver was also painstakingly restored. That set up got me hooked. Now I have a VPI and c-j phono stage, thanks to a wonderful first experience.  A friend of mine who inspired me to get into vinyl started out with the KAB SL-1200MK2. 

I suggest you listen to the gentleman from St Petersburg. Happy listening!