If you are looking for a budget-friendly turntable, then we give you an entry-level belt-driven turntable – The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable. It is a classic design and one of the best vinyl designs in the market.
The turntable is fully automatic with stereo features and has a low tonearm. If you are willing to enjoy good music and balanced sound, then this turntable comes with an integrated phono equalizer.
You cannot miss out on this fully automatic and easy-to-use turntable with resonance resistance. There won’t be any wobbly spins, as the device comes with accurate and smooth platter rotation.
Let’s have a closer look at the design, performance, features, and price so that you can find your perfect match as a beginner.
In This Article:
Product Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 35.3 x 41.9 x 9.9 cm; 2.3 Kg
- Weight: 2.65 kg
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required.
- Product color: Black
Design
The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable has a simple traditional design and nothing flashy, like the ones manufactured these days. The designers have kept the appearance minimalist with a belt-driven turntable. You can choose the black color with a universal cartridge connector, which is meant for a fast connection build-up.
It also has a moving magnet cartridge with a P-mount and a diamond stylus. The platter mat is made of rubber and is hinged, and this turntable stays protected from dust and debris.
Features
Pioneer PL-990 Turntable is an automatic belt-driven turntable that uses a belt to spin the platter. It helps in enhancing your music listening experience, and if you are a DJ, then you can rely on the spin feature without damaging the motor.
You don’t have to bother about raising and reducing the tonearm manually. You can start the automatic process by just pressing the Play button, and you are good to go. If you haven’t used any vinyl device previously, then this Pioneer PL-990 Turntable would be the best choice for your use.
With this Pioneer turntable, you do not even have to worry about damaging the stylus or scratching the records. It has a built-in preamp, so you can directly connect with any receiver or speaker based on the setup you are trying to prepare. It also saves you money from buying a phono preamp.
The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable comes with non-replaceable cartridges, which can be disadvantageous. You also would be disappointed to hear that the turntable lacks Bluetooth or USB connectivity, so you cannot play any MP3 song.
Performance
The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable is a two-speed record player that is played at 33 or 45 RPM. The sound quality is also pretty much acceptable. The audio is balanced, but if you are looking for details such as a high-end setup, then it might be a little disappointing.
Price
The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable comes at a price of $200 to $300, and chances are there that you can also get it at a much lower price if there is a sale or discount. You would definitely not want to miss out on the ability to adjust the pitch and stroke, so this is the must-have turntable for beginners. Also, the price is quite justifiable based on the features that the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable offers. It comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
What are the Pros and Cons of Pioneer PL-990 Turntable?
There are obvious competitors of the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable in the market, and with the pros and cons list, you can make an informed decision about the expenditure.
Pros
- The Pioneer PL-990 Turntable is easy to set up.
- You can listen to records without any fuzz.
- It is quite affordable.
Cons
- The design is outdated.
- You get an average sound quality.
Can you connect the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable with an external speaker?
Yes, you can connect the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable with external speakers. You can also connect it with audio receivers having standard RCA input and amplifiers.
What type of record can you play on the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable?
You can play 33 ⅓ RPM and 45 RPM vinyl records on the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable. However, it does not support 78 RPM records.
Can you upgrade the cartridge of the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable?
Yes, you can upgrade the Pioneer PL-990 Turntable, but prior to that, you need to make adjustments so that the cartridge that you want to add can easily fit with the turntable setup.
