Pioneer PL-12D-II Turntable

Here we have a vintage turntable from Japanese company Pioneer. Very well regarded in its time this deck is still revered by those in the know for its performance against similarly priced alternatives. It comes in reasonable condition for its age with a few cosmetic blemishes and some worse wear especially to the cover – please refer to product photographs. What’s it worth? We’ll let you decide…
Pioneer Say….
With this well-made stereo turntable, Pioneer proves once again that quality and practicality are synonymous. The budget-priced PL-12D-II gives you more for your stereo investment than you’d ever expect. A fine synchronous motor that helps cut out audible wow and flutter. An extremely steady belt-drive. An anti-skating control to lessen distortion. A cueing device with simultaneous movement with the start lever. And a beautifully-balanced S-shaped tonearm with plug-in type lightweight head-shell. For the man about to make his first investment into stereo components, the PL-12D-II becomes more than a budget investment but a truly professional turntable that will serve him well for many years of
quality sound reproduction.
The PL-12D-II employs a 4-pole synchronous motor and a belt-drive system to ensure stable rotation of the turntable platter that is free from line voltage fluctuation. The synchronous motor is much like the motors usually used only in expensive turntables, and is the quietest that you can own. It gives you an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio, extremely low wow and flutter, and helps cut down on irritating motor vibration.
The tonearm of the PL-12D-II is the static-balanced, S-shaped type that uses a super hard alloy material at the pivot point
of its arm, thereby assuring sensitive, stable tracking at all times. The counter weight of the tone arm is the stylus pressure direct-reading type that gives easy weight adjustment when cartridge-changing is necessary. Then there is a lightweight plug-in type head-shell so that you may use a cartridge with its stylus pressure from 0.75 grams. To cut down on distortion, the PL-12D-II has an anti-skating control to suppress the harmful inward force of the stylus.
The cueing control, an oil-damped arm elevation device, is connected to the start lever and helps prevent damage to
your stylus or your record usually caused by mis-operation. There is a stylus position gauge to facilitate easy installation of your favourite cartridge. And pioneer used aluminium foil on the inner part of the PL-12D-II’s wooden cabinet to prevent external noise often caused by your amplifier or other equipment placed near the turntable. The cabinet itself, elegantly styled, is the spring-suspension type and designed to cope with external vibration. The dust cover of the PL-12D-II is hinged partially in the free-stop manner.
Specifications:
Motor: 4-pole synchronous motor
Drive System: Belt-drive
Speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 rpm
Wow and Flutter: Less than 0.08% (WRMS)
Signal to Noise Ratio: More than 48 dB
Turntable Platter: 12 inch (30 cm) zinc die-cast
Tone Arm: Static-balance S-shaped type tonearm
Arm Effective Length: 221 mm
Overhang: 15.5 mm
Max. Usable Cartridge Weight: 10 grams
Accessory Devices: Anti-skating control; cueing device; direct-reading counterweight; lateral balancer; stylus position gauge (overhang indicator)
Power Requirements: 110 – 130 V; 220 – 240 V; 50 – 60 Hz
Power Consumption: 11 watts
Dimensions: 430 (W) x 362 (D) x 164 (H) mm
Weight: 7.4 kg