Pioneer DJ PLX-500-K Direct Drive DJ Turntable, Black

Product Information

Lastly, the metal platter underneath isn’t as dense as the PLX-1000. It doesn’t feel as solid as the flagship. First Impressions / Setting up The Pioneer DJ PLX-500 is an entry-level turntable meant for ripping vinyl and home use.

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.

What is the Pioneer PLX-500?

The characteristically beveled, patterned platter edge, and strobe speed control system resembles the famous SL-1200. The tonearm belongs to the 9-inch category, and it is S-shaped. The head is tightened (the possibility of its replacement increases the turntable’s tolerance field for various types of inserts). The design of the column and the gimbal suspension system, with a large frame and bearing arrangement, also refers to the SL-1200 scheme. 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. With the directly driven PLX-500, Pioneer has an attractively priced turntable in its range. Its torque, synchronism, and robust chassis with solidly anchored platter provide the basis for professional application and scratching with vinyl. The sound has largely convinced me. Another argument for the PLX-500 is its integrated sound card, which sends the signal to a connected computer without additional hardware. Vinyl lovers can thus digitize their record treasures via record box. DVS operation with a record box, even an app on the iPad, is possible without additional “dongle” hardware. For me, the PLX-500 is a great turntable in its price range.

Yes. To figure out whether a turntable is good for scratching or not, you need to see the torque. This particular turntable is labeled with a > 1.6 kg/cm which means that it provides high resistance to the motor when the platters are physically manipulated. Both the Audio-Technica and the Pioneer support the three standard vinyl record speeds – 33, 45, 78 RPM (revolutions per minute). Let’s make this clearer. It’s what’s on the inside that matters, so let’s take a look at the “brains” underneath the rugged design. The Pioneer PLX-500 is a direct drive turntable, just like the Audio-Technica AT LP120 USB. This is a good option because the alternative would be a belt-drive turntable, which is not the best choice for a DJ. The difference is that direct drive means that the engine is placed right beneath the platter and rotates it directly.

Build Quality

The S-shaped arm is static-balanced, meaning the user can also adjust the tonearm’s height and weight thanks to the counterweight and anti-skating dial. But remember to dis-engage the anti-skating if you are going to be scratch DJ’ing. The column base is equipped with a large ring with which (after releasing the latch) we can conveniently adjust its height. This is one of the best solutions of this type and quite unique in this price range (it is not easy to find VTA regulations here at all). The base of the column is equipped with a large ring, with which (after releasing the latch) we can conveniently adjust its height. This is one of the best solutions of this type and quite unique in this price range (it is not easy to find VTA regulation here at all).