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Help with Pioneer PL-707

I just bought one of these in perfect functional and quite nice cosmetic condition. Has a carbon fiber tonearm and a silent running direct drive motor.

Any advice on good mm cartridge matches? It came with an Audio Technica LS-400 that'll need a new stylus so I'm open to change.

Should electrolytic caps be replaced given the table is nearing age 30?

Would the table benefit from a professional refurbish (I found a shop in PA that specializes in vintage Pioneer tables)? Purchase price was $180, and I'd invest a bit more if it will extend the life of this table as it really seems well-made.
jb0194
jb0194 OP
476 posts
 
Correction:

I found a spec sheet that states the arm and headshell are "graphite polymer".
johnbrown
195 posts
 
"Would the table benefit from a professional refurbish?

Depends-how much, and what's involved? If the service is a DeoxIT, and a check for leaky caps, that's something you can do yourself.

If they're *very* experienced with this particular model, and can reference future trouble areas that should be addressed, it might be worth a go. If not, and since it's working great, I'd just clean/look/enjoy.

Those are great looking decks, btw. Congrats.
jb0194 OP
476 posts
 
Thanks, Johnbrown.

I'm leaning toward the "clean/look/enjoy" plan. I'd not trust my soldering skills on cap replacement, but I can do the DeoxIT thing and swap out the output cables for new and hardwire them on the inside. The tonearm moves smoothly and tonearm lift still seems well-damped. The motor is absolutely silent. I read that it is the same motor used in the P-3/P-3a Japanese statement tables. I gave it a good outside cleaning, and it was obviously well taken care of in the past.

I think I've answered the cartridge question. I tried two: vintage Stanton 881-MKIIs and Nagaoka MP-30, both with new original styli. The Nagaoka sounds very nice, the Stanton a bit shrill.

jb
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