Good Cartridge for Pioneer PL-10

Poindexter · 17th November 2008, 02:05 AM

Hey,

Panomaniac just gave me a pretty cherry looking Pioneer PL-10, with some unknown cartridge in it.  Now, I know that this is not the ne plus ultra of 'tables, but I'm breadboarding up a phonostage for it, and I'd like to know what its cartridge requirements might be.  I recall that different types of arm, etc. match well with different cartridge types, but that's as far as I've gotten.

Any recommendations?  Pointers to online toots about this?  Noob-type snickers?

Aloha,

Poinz

planet10 · 17th November 2008, 03:13 AM

When those were brand new we put an aweful lot of Grados on them.

dave

sreten · 17th November 2008, 12:29 PM

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pl-10.shtml

Hi,

The PL10 is a very basic turntable and similar to the PL12D.

Budget cartridges are about system matching as much as intrinsic
quality. A basic Grado might suit, but low damping (the wiggle)
and tendency to hum (not when I've installed them) means
you have to be somewhat careful. Audio Technica's are hard to
beat on a budget, e.g. the $35 AT71E, suits the arm mass well :
http://www.garage-a-records.com/prod...p?prod=AT71ELC

/sreten.

Poindexter · 18th November 2008, 07:24 PM

Thanks, guys.  For the sake of reference, what are the defining characteristics of a turntable, as far as choosing the cartridge?  I recall that arm mass was one; are there more?  Is the PL010 arm relatively high mass?  The headshell alone looks like it weighs about a pound.

Aloha,

Poinz

planet10 · 18th November 2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Poindexter
Is the PL-10 arm relatively high mass?

standard japanese CEC medium mass tonearm

dave

sreten · 19th November 2008, 01:09 PM

Hi,

There are basically two types of Japanese S-shaped arms.

A) Alloy armtube and an attempt at low mass headshell = medium mass.
B) Brass chromed armtube and bog standard headshell = higher mass.

THe PL10 I think is the latter and suits lower compliance cartridges.

/sreten.

planet10 · 19th November 2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sreten
A) Alloy armtube and an attempt at low mass headshell = medium mass.
B) Brass chromed armtube and bog standard headshell = higher mass.

I'd call those low mass & medium mass...

The cheap ugly, straight arm tube ones with the headshell held on by a grub screw are on the same order of mass as a mayware F4.

dave

sreten · 19th November 2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by planet10

I'd call those low mass & medium mass...

The cheap ugly, straight arm tube ones with the headshell held on
by a grub screw are on the same order of mass as a mayware F4.

dave

Hi,

Your terminology is somewhat out of step with common parlance.

Medium effective mass is around 12g, eg. Rega RB300 or Linn LVX.
Its also the ~ effective mass of many type (A) SME headshell arms.

Low mass in many books is a F4 or similar ~ 8g or lower, and is
usually applicable to those TP4 cartridge type straight tonearms.

/sreten.

planet10 · 19th November 2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sreten
Medium effective mass is around 12g, eg. Rega RB300 or Linn LVX.
Its also the ~ effective mass of many type (A) SME headshell arms.

That is pretty much the range that the Japanese S-arms fall into.

dave

sreten · 20th November 2008, 10:09 AM

Hi,

I think your being somewhat pointless.

The cheaper chromed brass type arms can be from
around 16g effective mass to around 20g effective mass.
Many cheaper headshells are around 10g by themselves.

e.g. the AT71E is lowish compliance and suits the PL10 arm's highish mass.

/sreten.

17th November 2008, 02:05 AM	#1
Poindexter diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Maui, Hawai'i, USA	Good Cartridge for Pioneer PL-10 Hey, Panomaniac just gave me a pretty cherry looking Pioneer PL-10, with some unknown cartridge in it.  Now, I know that this is not the ne plus ultra of 'tables, but I'm breadboarding up a phonostage for it, and I'd like to know what its cartridge requirements might be.  I recall that different types of arm, etc. match well with different cartridge types, but that's as far as I've gotten. Any recommendations?  Pointers to online toots about this?  Noob-type snickers? Aloha, Poinz

17th November 2008, 03:13 AM	#2
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	When those were brand new we put an aweful lot of Grados on them. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

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17th November 2008, 12:29 PM	#3
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	http://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pl-10.shtml Hi, The PL10 is a very basic turntable and similar to the PL12D. Budget cartridges are about system matching as much as intrinsic quality. A basic Grado might suit, but low damping (the wiggle) and tendency to hum (not when I've installed them) means you have to be somewhat careful. Audio Technica's are hard to beat on a budget, e.g. the $35 AT71E, suits the arm mass well : http://www.garage-a-records.com/prod...p?prod=AT71ELC /sreten.

18th November 2008, 07:24 PM	#4
Poindexter diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Maui, Hawai'i, USA	Thanks, guys.  For the sake of reference, what are the defining characteristics of a turntable, as far as choosing the cartridge?  I recall that arm mass was one; are there more?  Is the PL010 arm relatively high mass?  The headshell alone looks like it weighs about a pound. Aloha, Poinz

19th November 2008, 01:09 PM	#6
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, There are basically two types of Japanese S-shaped arms. A) Alloy armtube and an attempt at low mass headshell = medium mass. B) Brass chromed armtube and bog standard headshell = higher mass. THe PL10 I think is the latter and suits lower compliance cartridges. /sreten.

20th November 2008, 10:09 AM	#10
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, I think your being somewhat pointless. The cheaper chromed brass type arms can be from around 16g effective mass to around 20g effective mass. Many cheaper headshells are around 10g by themselves. e.g. the AT71E is lowish compliance and suits the PL10 arm's highish mass. /sreten.

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