Description
Pioneer PL 550 turntable. Classic Vintage. Fully revitalized. Shure V 15 III cartridge.
In 1937 Nozomu Matsumoto created the first magnetoelectric speaker in Japan, and a year later, he registered in Tokyo the company with the name Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho. In 1961, the company’s name was changed to Pioneer Electronic Corporation. However, the breakthrough came in 1962, when the company entered the Tokyo Stock Exchange and created the world’s first stereo system with speakers in separate housings. Four years later, Pioneer opened branches in the USA and in Europe. In 1978, the company created one of the best-known and most powerful receivers in its history SX-1980. Pioneer can also be proud of great successes in the world of auto-moto, as it introduced in 1975 the world’s first automotive stereo subassembly, then in 1984 a CD player and GPS navigation in 1990. The company also played a major role in the development of DVDs, plasma TVs and Organic LED display technologies (OLED). The company is currently a part of Pioneer & Onkyo Corporation.
Pioneer XL-1550 is the Japanese equivalent of the PL-550. It is a cult Pioneer turntable from the second half of the 1970s, featuring a direct-drive system. This model is distinguished by its very solid and precise construction, as well as its simple and elegant wooden cabinet combined with brushed aluminum elements.
The cabinet of this unit has undergone complete revitalization – rosewood was used, finished with Chinese oil based on natural oils and natural beeswax based on turpentine. All metal elements and the underside of the turntable were cleaned and painted using automotive wet-painting techniques. A black lacquer was applied and sealed with a satin clear coat.
In addition, the turntable has been fitted with the legendary Shure V15 III cartridge with a dedicated elliptical stylus.
The device has undergone a complete review and service.
Technical specifications:
– professionally calibrated with the Shure V15 III cartridge and dedicated elliptical stylus
– direct drive – quartz-controlled Hall motor
– low-distortion, static-balanced S-shaped tonearm
– platter – 324 mm, die-cast aluminum alloy
– high vibration damping factor
– selectable speeds – 33 or 45 rpm
– pitch adjustment range +-6%
– adjustable anti-skating and damped cueing mechanism
– solid, mechanically damped aluminum platter with thick antistatic mat
– wow and flutter – 0.025%
– signal-to-noise ratio – 70 dB
– dimensions – width 49 cm, depth 39 cm, height 18.5 cm
– weight – approx. 14 kg
– year of production – 1976/78
– made in Japan
Professional turntable service:
– platter mechanically polished to restore a like-new appearance
– brand-new dust cover
– all aluminum components cleaned and polished
– tonearm fully disassembled, cleaned, and polished
– new power cable and braided signal cables
– all screws replaced
– feet stripped of old coatings and refinished using automotive wet-painting techniques
– cabinet made of rosewood, finished with natural Chinese oils in natural wood color
– dust-cover hinges cleaned and powder-coated to look like new
– switches cleaned and maintained
– electrolytic capacitors replaced
– motor lubricated and serviced
– lubricants and oils in the tonearm replaced
– complete mechanical servicing
– parameters adjusted according to the service manual
– 110 V operation – built-in autotransformer converting 110 V to 220 V included
– black and white slipmats included
– record clamp included