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Pioneer DJ PLX-500 Direct Drive Turntable

Curated from 88 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: October 27, 2024

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Pioneer DJ PLX-500 Direct Drive Turntable

Brand: Pioneer DJ
Price: $369
Snoop Score:
6.1
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
4.8
Technical
7.1
Buy on Amazon for $369See All Turntables Reviews
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Snoop's Take

The Pioneer DJ PLX-500 Direct Drive Turntable is a robust, USB-equipped piece designed for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts. It spins records with a direct-drive motor that promises fast start-up and dependable performance. Community feedback is a mixed bag: while many users claim, "it works great for me," and laud its value and reliable everyday performance, some critics slam its torque limitations for scratching and question its durability for heavy gigs. Overall, this turntable is recommended for home listening and casual DJing, though professionals seeking high-torque performance for scratching might look elsewhere.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Turntables

$120 is a good deal and i'd buy it just based on that.

Positive Feedback

500s are good if your blending but are trash for any scratching.

Negative Feedback
Product
6.1
Pioneer DJ PLX-500 Direct Drive Turntable
Buy on Amazon for $369
Home Entertainment
8 / 10
Vinyl Collecting
6 / 10
Modern Audio Integration
8 / 10
Gift for Audiophiles
6 / 10
See how this compares to all Turntables

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Great value pricing
“$120 is a good deal and i'd buy it just based on that.”➕
“$120 for a direct drive turntable made for DJs? Sounds like a great deal.”➕
Reliable performance in everyday use
“it works great for me”➕
“Works well for home listening too.”➕
“The gear is rock-solid and reliable - exactly what you want when you're in the middle of a five hour set.”➕
Solid internal components quality
“The PLX-500 appears to have adjustable tonearm height (VTA) that was removed from the AT, but the included cartridge is more basic and probably aimed more towards DJ use.”➕
Inclusive DJ features (Direct drive, pitch control, cue lights)
“Direct drive, pitch control and cue lights are the main difference.”➕

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Weak torque for scratching
“500s are good if your blending but are trash for any scratching.”➕
Basic build quality and design limitations
“PLX-500 would not survive a big gig with a big rig.”➕
Weak torque for DJ scratching
“Most complaints are around torque levels.”➕
“Best to get decent equipment from the start.”➕
“She said the difference was huge.”➕

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1.6
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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Industry standard Pioneer DJ equipment and platform
“Controllers aren’t industry standard at all.”➕
“This is definitely the standard equipment you want to use and familiarize yourself with.”➕
“Pioneer stuff is standard.”➕
“Pioneer DJ equipment tends to be fairly similar between models, at least regarding basic operation.”➕
Weight and mass design considerations in turntables
“suggest me a turntable with similar characteristics with the PLX-500, like most importantly the WEIGHT.”➕

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
General tips for using DJ turntables for home listening
“Generally speaking, DJ turntables are otherwise normal turntables that are a bit sturdier, have a stronger motor and a pitch control slider.”➕
“More important to me is a smooth running, heavy platter.”➕
Audio routing for streaming setups
“I would say to look into irig gear in which you can get the audio from your controller nice and clean into ObS or any other platform.”➕
“Seems strange you're not picking them up as they must go through the soundcard otherwise I would not have also been able to record my sets directly within Rekordbox.”➕
“If that doesn’t work I might have to look at getting an external audio card and connect that as an input to OBS.”➕
“Is there anything preventing you from inputting the audio into your DDJ1000 and having your turntables use the DDJ1000 as the Mixer?”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
DJ setup cost justification
“If you can make that money back with gigs then it’s worth it.”➕
“If you can justify the expense in the joy and happiness it brings you having it and being able to play on it whenever you want, gravy!”➕
“Anyone can play well on even the cheapest stuff. It just comes down to their skill and their passion.”➕
“All in all, it's a small Pioneer setup but it works just as well as well as the higher end equipment.”➕
Advice for beginner DJ equipment considerations
“Be wary of one thing: low impedance headphones can be very, very, very loud on a controller.”➕
“Picked mine up for half price.”➕
“Pioneer has great build quality even for its cheaper items.”➕
“Perhaps save a small amount of budget for a deck saver if possible.”➕
Alternative to Pioneer DJ products
“You don't have to buy Pioneer. There are plenty of good alternatives.”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Pioneer vs Technics turntable comparisons
“Anyway technics all the way, buy some second hand, have them serviced, maybe even customised, they will still be spinning when you're not.”➕
“Don't buy whatever 1200s thinking they are "bulletproof". They aren't.”➕
“Go the technics, the pioneer is the same deck as your reloops.”➕
“If you’re going for sound quality, go for technics.”➕

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