Are you looking for a complete Pioneer PL-990 review so that you can easily decide to buy this equipment or not? There is great confusion among the people about the authenticity of vinyl players letting them make the wrong choices. However, there is no need to worry as our website’s main motive is to help the readers in making the right vinyl equipment.
Now let’s get straight to the business. The PL-990 manufactured by the Pioneer brand that has made quite a strong reputation in the musical equipment industry. They have started their business about 80 years ago and still going strong manufacturing a variety of things for the music lovers.
About the Pioneer PL-990 player
The Pioneer PL-990 is a complete automatic turntable that created for the individual who prefers equipment having simple operations. It comes with a built-in phono preamp and completely automatic forearm that can be plugged straight into an amplifier for listening to your favorite vinyl records. Overall, it is a balanced and high-quality musical equipment that can fit anyone’s budget easily.
Construction
If you love traditional designs, then this turntable should be your pick. It gives a great sense of the classic musical equipment that produced during the 1960s & 1970s. They have crafted it in a beautiful & classic black design. You won’t find many decorative features that come in the turntables nowadays. It is like going old school and gives the classic feeling to the music. The manufacturer has also added their logo in a quite simpler manner on the left side of the front panel.
On the other hand, the PL-990 has buttons located on the same side of the front panel. It has a very smaller size when compared with modern standards, but the durability and sturdiness are on the better side. Overall, the company has made it by keeping the needs of the buyers who prefer traditional products over the ones with a modern touch in it.
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Main Features
The Pioneer PL-990 automatic stereo turntable looked to be focusing mainly on creating a quality sound instead of design. This belt driven turntable offer pretty lower level vibrations and ensure that the record never slips. There are cables installed for the auxiliary line along with a user manual and hinged dust cover. The company tried to make the operation simpler, and they have become successful in doing that to some extent.
It is an entry-level turntable that is available at a very budget-friendly price. However, the addition of automatic operation makes it one step better than them. There is a solid construction provided to the tonearm that works smoothly on the records. It goes back to the original place once the record finishes.
The important thing to look in the Pioneer PL-990 review is its speed ability. This equipment can play both 33 and 45 RPM records. There is a switch on the equipment using which the user can change the speed from 33 to 45. Also, the manufacturer has added a pitch control feature for the convenience of the users.
How well the PL-990 performed?
There is a tremendous sound produced by this affordable cost turntable. We found that its sound is better than the majority of its competitors. It has added features in the form of Phono EQ and pre-amp that boosts up the sound and makes it mesmerizing for the ears. Our team checked out the turntables for a variety of genres and frequencies and results were same, crisp and clean music.
The automatic operation let the buyers enjoy music very conveniently without any disturbance. All you need is to press the play button, and the player will start its operation by rotating the platter. At the beginning of the record, the tonearm will be lowered and lift itself when the record finishes. It will come back to its original position making the operation completely automatic. We say that this turntable performs very wonderfully when considered its price range. You won’t complain about its performance at all after buying this turntable.
What are the major pros of having Pioneer PL-990?
Check out the major benefits that you can enjoy after buying this equipment mentioned below:
- There is an aluminum platter and dust platter added on the equipment. These things are usually available on the turntables that come in a higher price range.
- It is lightweight equipment that can be transported from one place to another with minimal effort.
- The Pioneer PL-990 automatic stereo turntable has a fully automatic operation that let tonearm return to their original position after completing the track. It is not a must-have option but can turn out to be very handy for the beginners.
- Despite being available at a budget-friendly price, there is a built-in phono equalizer that enhances the sound and its quality. It can also turn out to be very beneficial if someone wants to connect turntable straight to the powered speakers.
- It comes with a high-quality cartridge that usually found in the costly cartridges.
What are the Cons of Pioneer PL-990?
In addition to having a long list of pros, there are some cons associated with this turntable. Check out the detailed information about them below:
- There is no headphone added on this turntable, and one has to connect a receiver first if they want to listen to music through headphones.
- It comes with a pretty short RCA cable whose length could be increased.
- This turntable lacks in the 78 RPM capabilities. However, one can’t complain after seeing its price.
Conclusion
The Pioneer PL-990 is an amazing turntable for the individuals who still admire the traditional designs. It has an extremely lightweight and simple operation that can be hugely beneficial for beginners. After creating this complete Pioneer PL-990 review, we found that it is an amazing choice considering its price range. We suggest you don’t forget giving your experience with the turntable in the comment section as your fellow-readers will found it very beneficial.
Carlos says
I have one of these turntables for four years and I have a very good experience with their performances, especially with the quality of the sound. The Pl-990 has advantages that can be easily appreciated, even with respect to more expensive alternatives. My opinion is that, if you want a rotating platform for a good listening experience, this is a very good option. Obviously you need good amplification and quality speakers.
Mr Walter white says
Thanks for your valuable opinion dear Hope it might help our readers 🙂
Ric says
it should say: “What are the CONS of Pioneer PL-990?”
Very nice read otherwise. Thanks for sharing
Mr Walter white says
Thanks for reading 🙂 it’s has been fixed