Replacing my Pioneer PL-115D

[helijohn]

Hello to you all. I hope 2025 is going to be a good year for you all. I joined this forum for some help over finding a movie BUT I am on this page because I want to replace my Pioneer. I have had it for many many years. I do no know how many but I suspect I played my Animals LP on it amongst dozens of others. I want to replace it because I want to plug a turntable into my TV soundbar which incidentally is Orbitsound. I have no stereo sound system, I parted with it about 20+ years ago. I do not want another sound system as I have no room for one. My question is what should I buy so I can get my vinyl collection going and I DO NOT want to spend big money.

 

[Gray]

Hope it's a good year for you too 👍

Unless you really want / need to replace the Pioneer, a standalone phono preamp may be all you require - to go between it and soundbar aux input.

Have a look at the Pro-ject phono box MM.
And if you haven't already got one, an Audio Technica VM95E cartridge is an idea.
Personally, I wouldn't be in any hurry to lose the PL-115D.

 

[Al ears]

I have no idea about Orbitsound or whether you can actually attach a turntable to it but, if you can, and if you simply must get rid of your Pioneer then you will have to look into getting a turntable with an inbuilt phono preamp within your budget, also of which we know nothing about.
Not wanting to spend big money is not very specific, please be more specific as to your maximum budget .
Unless your Pioneer is knackered I would keep it and go the route suggested above by @Gray
If it is simply because you need something to attach to the Orbitsound then there are other means, as stated, and you don't necessarily have to ditch the Pioneer.
Buying a new cartridge and a cheap external phono preamp might be more economic than buying a whole new turntable.
Which Orbitsound soundbar do you have??

 

[jjbomber]

Project do a phono stage with built in bluetooth. If you are short of room, that may be one solution.

 

[helijohn]

I have no idea about Orbitsound or whether you can actually attach a turntable to it but, if you can, and if you simply must get rid of your Pioneer then you will have to look into getting a turntable with an inbuilt phono preamp within your budget, also of which we know nothing about.
Not wanting to spend big money is not very specific, please be more specific as to your maximum budget .
Unless your Pioneer is knackered I would keep it and go the route suggested above by @Gray
If it is simply because you need something to attach to the Orbitsound then there are other means, as stated, and you don't necessarily have to ditch the Pioneer.
Buying a new cartridge and a cheap external phono preamp might be more economic than buying a whole new turntable.
Which Orbitsound soundbar do you have??

I have three orbitsounds which for the TV have turned out to be brill. The one I want to tap into is model T9-v1 that I use for gaming in a small room which is shorter than the other two.
As for cost, I am shocked at the used value of my Pioneer and terrified at the cost of something equivalent. It has been an eye opener. I was hoping to go to a more up to date machine as mine is about 40 years old and been in storage for 20 years. As I suddenly decided I want to re-live my vinyl experience I started looking on the bay and spotted this because it is sub £200 and I suspected direct drive today would be a good choice. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32254346...449PZbhc6fT1O4jNozRZFj4e7w==|tkp:BFBMqK-AgYhl However????????????

 

[helijohn]

Hope it's a good year for you too 👍

Unless you really want / need to replace the Pioneer, a standalone phono preamp may be all you require - to go between it and soundbar aux input.

Have a look at the Pro-ject phono box MM.
And if you haven't already got one, an Audio Technica VM95E cartridge is an idea.
Personally, I wouldn't be in any hurry to lose the PL-115D.

I can see the thinking behind simply getting the Pro-ject phono box MM. I agree £50 is better than £200. lol I just felt or hoped that modern tech would have made many strides without ramping up the cost - after all, televisions have done just that. Also, as the room is small I was hoping to get a turntable that would take up less room. It needs to have a dust cover as I am not that much of a well trained housekeeper. Also, as a guitarist since the 50's I like to play along to my Bo Diddley stuff hehehehe.

 

[Al ears]

I can see the thinking behind simply getting the Pro-ject phono box MM. I agree £50 is better than £200. lol I just felt or hoped that modern tech would have made many strides without ramping up the cost - after all, televisions have done just that. Also, as the room is small I was hoping to get a turntable that would take up less room. It needs to have a dust cover as I am not that much of a well trained housekeeper. Also, as a guitarist since the 50's I like to play along to my Bo Diddley stuff hehehehe.

Turntables are turntables, if they still work and rotate at the correct speed there isn't much point in spending out a a new one that does exactly the same.
The cartridge itself will need to be replaced though if it's been in storage for that long.
This can be done relatively cheaply.
Otherwise, by going new, you are looking over £200.....
Your Orbitsound does have stereo inputs so a phono preamp and new cartridge is all you need.

 

[helijohn]

Turntables are turntables, if they still work and rotate at the correct speed there isn't much point in spending out a a new one that does exactly the same.
The cartridge itself will need to be replaced though if it's been in storage for that long.
This can be done relatively cheaply.
Otherwise, by going new, you are looking over £200.....

Thanks, I tend to agree so I'll just leave the Pioneer in its box in the loft.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks, I tend to agree so I'll just leave the Pioneer in its box in the loft.

why do that?
if it works and you aren't going to use it then sell it......

 

[Gray]

I just felt or hoped that modern tech would have made many strides without ramping up the cost - after all, televisions have done just that.

You're right about TVs, you can expect to get better for less than you paid for an old model - inflation works in reverse when it comes to TVs.

But to improve on your Pioneer turntable, especially with a new, value cartridge like the VM-95E, would take more than that £200 turntable whose name, I suspect might be the only thing 'Glorious'about it, despite it being direct drive.
Stick with the PL-115D, it's (more than) good enough to feed a soundbar.

You do realise how small something like that Phono box is don't you?
If you really are pushed for space, you could have the necessary phono preamp built in to the TT - maybe something like a Rega P1+??.

But you know what I would do......
(A twin RCA plug to 3.5 mm stereo jack plugs connects from phono preamp to your soundbar input).

 

[helijohn]

why do that?
if it works and you aren't going to use it then sell it......

That has been going through my mind.

 

[helijohn]

This is the sort of thing I had in mind. I do not listen to classical or jazz. I do sometimes listen to brass bands but mostly it is early rock and roll so how about this and then I can sell my Pioneer. lolhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235853752294?_skw=audizio+RP310&itmmeta=01JH2X4D4M94ZHRWJ5AFX5CDC9&hash=item36e9faa7e6:g:Fo0AAOSwGPxnTSiw&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlk08WT%2BPLjKAmaANL%2BMUbN3%2Fmf9Xldbu14ALNrrhKT7Jyjp7G6URl4IohKrNr5tGC5fVO0Jji4cv%2Bd18%2F%2BWErQA61SPw2jwcKNOyaRbmy98fE8loZJ9HixTWM1ddPxZ0uHOd6SZGWIlMApZ6WPtsOZuR9STjnzXampWkgV73YC%2F7h5%2FSAV9j8oQ7YetWngVdwmuL%2FuuR1H9H6PIxdjqQBIqwolrF1bbrNHx%2B8sXAdEIeO6Ja1VsKQmxGaoptzHwBfdZ94f3sBwSnusZeKku2oFTjUYblWQU1%2BeXoIew1cn1g%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7TSkd2IZQ

 

[Al ears]

This is the sort of thing I had in mind. I do not listen to classical or jazz. I do sometimes listen to brass bands but mostly it is early rock and roll so how about this and then I can sell my Pioneer. lolhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235853752294?_skw=audizio+RP310&itmmeta=01JH2X4D4M94ZHRWJ5AFX5CDC9&hash=item36e9faa7e6:g:Fo0AAOSwGPxnTSiw&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlk08WT%2BPLjKAmaANL%2BMUbN3%2Fmf9Xldbu14ALNrrhKT7Jyjp7G6URl4IohKrNr5tGC5fVO0Jji4cv%2Bd18%2F%2BWErQA61SPw2jwcKNOyaRbmy98fE8loZJ9HixTWM1ddPxZ0uHOd6SZGWIlMApZ6WPtsOZuR9STjnzXampWkgV73YC%2F7h5%2FSAV9j8oQ7YetWngVdwmuL%2FuuR1H9H6PIxdjqQBIqwolrF1bbrNHx%2B8sXAdEIeO6Ja1VsKQmxGaoptzHwBfdZ94f3sBwSnusZeKku2oFTjUYblWQU1%2BeXoIew1cn1g%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7TSkd2IZQ

Can't get that link to work

 

[helijohn]

Can't get that link to work

That is cos I put a lol too near.

It is an Audizio

Audizio RP310 Record Player HQ Black | eBay

Removable dust cover. DJ Amplifiers. Solid wooden housing with glossy finish. Built-in preamplifier. Keyboard Amplifiers. Shock Absorbing Feet. Removeable Dust Cover. USB Connection and Software.

www.ebay.co.uk

but now I am looking at the Audio Technica AT-LP60X Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable and I am impressed.

 

[camcroft]

Can't get that link to work

I think that he means this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...294&_sacat=0&_odkw=itm/235853752294&_osacat=0

 

[helijohn]

I think that he means this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=235853752294&_sacat=0&_odkw=itm/235853752294&_osacat=0

Yes, and now I am watching this.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7O21QzDf5E&ab_channel=nloop

 

[Al ears]

That is cos I put a lol too near.

It is an Audizio

Audizio RP310 Record Player HQ Black | eBay

Removable dust cover. DJ Amplifiers. Solid wooden housing with glossy finish. Built-in preamplifier. Keyboard Amplifiers. Shock Absorbing Feet. Removeable Dust Cover. USB Connection and Software.

www.ebay.co.uk

but now I am looking at the Audio Technica AT-LP60X Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable and I am impressed.

Avoid.