Aaah… another empty box that needed ticking in Pioneer DJ’s expansive product offerings. Having taken us all by surprise by releasing a high-end DJ turntable, now they’ve realised that making a high-end product group means that a budget end gap naturally appears. And this low-end turntable gap has been neatly filled with the new PLX-500.
Many many words follow:
Vinyl revolution: Introducing the PLX-500 –
Direct drive turntable for DJs and vinyl lovers3rd August 2016: We’re releasing a new direct drive turntable to offer a more versatile vinyl solution for DJing and leisurely listening at a competitive price. The PLX-500 is ready to use straight out of the box thanks to its line output, which lets you plug it into your sound system or powered speakers with no need for an external amplifier.
Drawing on our heritage in making high-quality decks, the PLX-500 inherits the layout of the PLX-1000 professional turntable and produces warm, clear analogue sound. The high-torque deck is ideal for scratching and comes with everything you need including a cartridge, stylus and slipmat, and its USB out means you can easily make high-quality digital recordings of your vinyl collection in our free rekordbox software. You can use the PLX- 500 and the rekordbox dvs Plus Pack to play and scratch digital files when you combine them with a compatible DJM mixer and the RB -VS1-K Control Vinyl. And you can choose between the black (PLX-500-K) and white (PLX-500-W) versions to match your set-up or the design of your home.
The PLX-500-K and PLX-500-W are available from September at an SRP of €349 including VAT.
Watch our introduction video for the PLX-500 series and find out more here.
KEY FEATURES OF THE PLX-500
1. High-quality analogue vinyl sound
The PLX-500 series inherits design features from the PLX-1000 professional turntable to produce the high-quality sound you expect from vinyl. The shortest possible audio routing from the stylus to the outputs reduces distortion, and the phono and line outputs mean you can connect directly to your sound system or powered speakers to enjoy warm sound.
2. Easy digital recording
An in-built USB output means you can record your vinyl collection to high-quality digital WAV files by simply connecting the PLX -500 to your PC or Mac. Digitising your tracks is easy using our free rekordbox application and, once they’re in your rekordbox collection, you can play them using the PLX-500 and a rekordbox dvs set-up, or on a DDJ controller, or on CDJs via USB. You can also enjoy them on your mobile devices whenever you want.
Using its audio analysis technology, rekordbox detects the silence between tracks and creates a separate file in your collection for each one, so you can just press play and record a whole album from an analogue source to individual tracks without resetting the recording in between songs. After you’ve finished recording you can name and tag all your new tracks.
How to record your vinyl to high-quality digital files:
- Connect the PLX-500 to your computer with a USB cable.
- Open our free rekordbox application (version 4.2.1).
- Click the record button in the software and it enters Record Standby mode.
- Press play on the PLX-500. rekordbox begins recording when the music starts and ends when the track finishes. If you’re recording several tracks, they will be automatically recorded separately.
- When you’ve finished your recording session, press stop. A window opens in rekordbox where you can enter information for each track including name and artist. The tracks then appear in your rekordbox collection and you can search for them by name, artist etc.
3. High-torque direct drive turntable for DJ performances and rekordbox dvs
The high-torque, direct drive PLX-500 is ideal for mixing and scratching on. You can also combine it with the rekordbox dvs Plus Pack to play and perform with your digital files when using a compatible DJM mixer and the RB-VS1-K Control Vinyl (available separately).
4. Dust cover with record sleeve stand
You can enjoy the vinyl sound of your records and their artwork at the same time thanks to the dust cover that incorporates a stand for displaying record sleeves when open.
5. Layout inherited from the PLX-1000 professional turntable
The PLX -500 inherits its slick design from the professional PLX-1000 turntable and you can choose between the black (PLX-500-K) and white (PLX-500-W) versions to match the colour of your gear or the interior of your home.
How to use rekordbox dvs:
Buy the RB-VS1-K Control Vinyl from a Pioneer DJ authorised dealer .Visit rekordbox.com to download the latest version of rekordbox for free, then buy rekordbox dj (€139) and rekordbox dvs (€129) licence keys. Alternatively you can subscribe to rekordbox dj for €9.90 per month and get rekordbox dvs as part of your subscription plan. Find out more about rekordbox dvs.
The silver coloured PC-HS01-S headshell included with the PLX-500 will be available to buy separately from December 2016 in three colour options. Choose from the PC-HS01-K (black), PC-HS01-S (silver) and PC-HS01-N (gold) to complement the look of your set-up.
PLX-500 specifications
Power requirements AC 100 V, 50 Hz/60 Hz Power consumption 11 W Main unit weight 10.7 kg Max. dimensions (WxHxD) 450 mm x 159 mm x 368 mm Output RCA × 1, USB (type B) Turntable Servo type direct drive Drive method Motor 3-phase brushless DC motor Braking system Electronic brake Rotation speed 33 1/3 rpm, 45 rpm, 78 rpm Rotation speed adjustment range ±8% Wow and flutter 0.15% or less WRMS S/N ratio 50 dB or above Turntable Aluminium die-casting Diameter: 332 mm Starting torque 1.6 kgf・cm or more Start time Within 1 second (at 33 1/3 rpm) Tone arm Arm type Universal type S-shape tone arm, gimbal-supported type bearing structure, static balance type Effective length 230.5 mm Overhang 16 mm Tracking error Within 3° Arm height adjustment range 6 mm Stylus pressure variable range 0 g to 4.0 g（1 scale 0.1 g） Proper cartridge weight 9.5 g or less (single cartridge) Cartridge
Cartridge type ： VM type
Included accessories
Slip mat, Dust cover with jacket stand, Adapter for EP record, Balance weight, Headshell (with cartridge), Shell weight, Power cord, USB cord, Audio conversion cord（Stereo pin plug (female) – Stereo mini plug (male)), Operating instructions
Headshell specifications
Weight ：10.0 g
Shell length ：52 mm
Finger Length ：21 mm
WHAT IS THE PLX-500?
It’s a gap filler, one that aims to ride the wave of vinyl resurgence at a price that everyone can feel happy about buying a Pioneer product, with the promise of excellent performance. The video is less about the product and more about how bloody awesome vinyl is, and as ever Pioneer called up a few legends to underline it, but I think we already knew.
Unlike the PLX-1000, this turntable does not look to be a Hanpin super OEM. Rather, it seems to be a Yahorng unit, just like the Audio Technica AT-LP120 USBHC and Numark TT250USB. My personal experience is to look elsewhere for pro DJing and especially scratching. But for those beginner DJs wanting to learn mixing, the PLX-500 is a safe bet. And for digitising vinyl right inside rekordbox, this ticks boxes. The Pioneer DJ logo does generally instil a certain quality level after all.
UPDATE: Upon further inspection and a heads up from reader Mike Cullen, this does appear to be a different Hanpin unit with added USB, but not the super OEM that we’ve become accustomed to.
One thing I feel compelled to clear up — there is much mention of rekordbox DVS in the PR and video. I’m pretty certain however that rekordbox DVS control via USB is not happening here. Do you have 2 x spare USB ports on your laptop? Theoretically possible seeing as you can digitise right into rekordbox via USB, but from a practical perspective it makes no sense. It’ll still be good old RCAs into your mixer I think.
AND THEN?
Seeing as Pioneer DJ is releasing a cheaper turntable, this would logically tie into my original thinking that a cheaper S9 would be released (perhaps called S7?), and one that would be rekordbox specific too. There’s been logic in putting out say a basic S5 with a matching separate audio interface to totally nail every box in this sector. This would give Pioneer DJ a relatively cost-effective DVS setup that’s lighter on the Pioneer tax than normal.
SUMMING UP
The PLX-500 is available in separate black and white models for $349/€349/£269 and will be available in September.
GALLERY
Wouldn’t rekordbox need to have device aggregation to run DVS on two of these?
It’s not gonna use the tt’s usb, I believe it’s not routed for dvs use.
Sorry, my question was directed at Mark’s conjecture in the story.
It seems the opposite, just enabled to DVS making somekind of bypass. The question from Dan makes sense due macOS way of sound driver managment.
I think the usb here is one way, from the tt to pc, and afaik for dvs you need return route, from pc to the soundcard (in this case integrated on the tt) then out to mixer.
It should be the regular way yes but it seems point to the possibility of bypass the tonearm signal into adc dca (from usb interface) to come digital audio output at rca outputs. It could be easy as phono/line switch you see at pics. Phono for full analog (regular mode) and line for full DVS.
Mixars almost did it. They have two outputs, so you can plug one into the mixer for normal vinyl and the other to a small soundcard like Citronic AC1 (or other same oem) for dvs. The soundcard can be somehow attached to the tt, say, on one of the the hinges. I don’t guarantee if the Citronic works but it’s expected.
I mean, you can do the same on any tt by adding a small switch on the other hinge to toggle between the soundcard and the mixer. It’s all about fine physical integration, nothing else.
Yes that’s the idea. The point is make the included soundcard compatible with software in the case of Mixars it works with Serato? It could be the kind of integration Pioneer usually offers and make their “extra” for fans.
Isn’t Recordbox currently open to all souncards? Wonder if two of the Citronics would work with it.
Is open for DVS?
Yeah…is it?
I’m not sure… In their website seems there is only an option for their mixers and specific controllers. Take a look.
https://www.rekordbox.com/es/support/link.php
Where do you read it will possible to “activate” any hardware?
Officially, rekordbox DVS only works with selected Pioneer DJ products. Unofficially however, judging by Youtube videos and forum chatter, there are few if any restrictions on what will work with it. The difference is official support. Even the officially unsupported Serato specific DJM-S9 unofficially works with rekordbox DVS.
It’s a smart move from Pioneer DJ. If they offered official support for every mixer with an audio interface, then their support forums and staff would be swamped. But if the community works out what does and doesn’t work and shares that knowledge, Pioneer DJ has a huge market that costs them nothing. And if rekordbox gets as good as I suspect it can be, the mass migration from Traktor and Serato DJ will begin. The signs are already there.
Workarounds and hacks are possible of course but we were wondering about the possibility of a certified turntable which will be fresh air. Between this Pioneer unit and Mixars described in other comments the “extra” point could be the same manufacturer for hardware and dvs software sides. It’s like NI come with a Motorized platter controller… Wait! #scs.1d&themissingmidicontrolofplayhead ;)
im still happy with my LINEARTECH 1700s phasell direct.drive. i love them
has anyone heard of the new DJ-2300SQ…. i found the turntable,and all the specs are really close to the audio.technia,but NO PRICE.
IF Anyone finds a price for me let me know. also theres another one,that they wont tell the price.when you email them and ask.and i know its under 300.
Hanpin DJ-U45, do we think?
No. The DJ-U45 has another tonearm. Same goes for the DJ-3560 that is linked in the story. It clearly is a crappy OEM but none I found so far to be right.
Looking at the specs and overlaying the Pioneer image over the Hanpin, I’m pretty confident that it’s the 3560, but with added USB.
The 3560 doesn’t have tonearm hight adjustment. Other than that they sure are very similar.
The torque on these units is about the same as the Audio-Technica LP-120. The PLX-500 is definitely not suited for DJ’ing (low torque) but, just fine for playing records. I was really hoping for the same motor as the PLX-1000 without the +/-16% and +/-50 Pitch and cheaper tone arm but, this thing is not for DJ community. Still, Pioneer knows a lot of people are buying turntables for playing records at home and this unit will make it’s way to many homes.
hey, if me and my mates learned to dj on a non-matching pair of thrift store belt-drives (with unstable pitch knobs), these would be a definite step-up from that ;) But good luck trying to translate those skills to a pair of tech12s in a short notice, so your point has partial merit.
I replaced my old broken 1200’s, with a pair of LP-120’s (budget restrictions). You just have to push the record a little bit harder when ending a scratch but I’ve got no problems scratching or juggling. I learnt to scratch on beaten up belt-driven TT’s, and it’s a big step up from those. I think most people just form their internet-opinions on specs without actually using the product. Because most cheaper gear will work quite well, when you give’m a go.
I’ve used the LP-120’s. I really didn’t like them due to the low torque. I have done a whole party on them and I didn’t die so it wasn’t the end of the world but, given a choice I will always use 1200s str8-150s and plx-1000.
If these have 1.6kg, is that not basically the same as 1200s anyway?
starting torgue 1.6kg means a constant torgue of 1.2kg or less
Shame that manufacturers fool a lot of buyers into clever promotion
Just believe me that the torgue is lower than a Technics 1200, not to mention the wow & flutter and the S/N ratio.
Still this is better than any of the turntables wich i started on, back then you were considered a god if you owned a pair of 12s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On8nHMaDpRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er95lVI-J3o
The torque looks pretty good to me
There’s one more slot to fill in the turntable market now, and one that is rather trendy — portablism. Or should that be piortablism? Imagine if they did bring out a 7″ portable turntable… that would be pretty cool right? Or is the aesthetic more for home-brew hack style stuff?
Not in their masterplan…
Who knows what’s in their masterplan though? They continue to surprise me. I wouldn’t put anything past them these days though. But I agree — I don’t see a PLX-7 figuring highly in their road map.
I’m sure Numark will have one out next week.
They had the chance but V7 is dead too.
Masterplan and 7″ are opposite. Portablism is not a “market” itself yet (and maybe it won’t be never). There are proposals such casio trackformer but again totally missed point from brands so I don’t expect 7″ turntable shape gear from Pioneer or another brand (portable scratcher where are you?) and cheapo… Wonderful dream, Mark…
Yes, absolutely. A direct drive portable turntable with a modern lithium ion battery and a volume fader like a Handytrax would be ideal.
as a purely record playback machine, they could thrown in automatic needle return. Me dad won’t be buying this lol
nice, anything that promotes vinyl use is a good thing. looks better than the citronics i learnt on but they were half the price i suppose.
any idea what format it uses to save files via USB? been looking for a decent way to digitally rip my grandmother’s vinyl collection, this would be perfect, bring 1 deck and my laptop and rip it all up without needing a bunch of other crap.
Behringer ufo202 is enough if you already have a deck.
Isn’t vinyl supposed to be dead?
NO, it isn’t.
NOTHING EVER DIES, it just goes in the closet for a while
NOTHING EVER DIES, it just goes in the closet for a while and when it comes out again ITS the same type as before just a newer fresher look. i love it, but i too Loved my LINEARTECH 1700s
NOTHING EVER DIES,DJ-. i love it, but i too Loved my LINEARTECH 1700s, ilovemy Lineartech1700s. for days.
looking at the stroboscope this cant be a good thing, the AT LP120 is the same rubbish that i wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
however id welcome an S7 analog mixer, like the DJM707 they did back in the day
Oh yeah. 707 was badass.
It seems that everyone is an expert on this turntable and no one has used it yet.
Welcome to the internet.
The “servo” controlled systems are Voltage controlled. A DC Voltage is provided to the motor and the internal tachometer outputs a second Voltage that is representative of the actual speed. The two Voltages/speeds are compared against each other and the control system adjusts the motor control Voltage to accommodate the difference.
The Quartz based system uses a quartz oscillator that is divided down to the frequency to control the motor speed. The internal tachometer reads the speed of the platter and outputs its own frequency that is representative of the actual speed. Both frequencies are compared and the control system adjusts itself until the two frequencies match and are in phase.
The “servo” controlled system is Voltage based and the Quartz based system is frequency based.
The “servo” controlled system may be made up of discrete components whose characteristics and values could drift over time, temperature, etc. However, the Quartz based system is less susceptible to that.
Now if I had to choose, it seems like the Quartz based system should result in more accurate rotational speeds and better long term stability. If I am looking for a lower cost solution then I might go for the “servo” controlled system.
Go to E Bay and get the Technics 1200s
You will be much happier in the long run.