Today I just picked up a Pioneer PL-115D turntable for $30. The original Grado ZT+ (how is this anyways?) cartridge's stylus had been broken off so I threw on an LP Gear AT95SA and I have to say it sounds pretty awesome! I'm very impressed, much better than I expected. The speed is perfect although the belt looks like it's on its last leg and will be replaced in the near future. Anyways, I've seen that there has been an issue with others.. the auto return only seems to work some of the time. I'm no techie and really don't know what to do about that. One other issue is that when I put the arm into the "up" position I noticed it didn't raise very high. This would be a problem I'm sure if the auto return does work and the stylus is dragged (perhaps this is the reason the original stylus had broken off?). The slipmat seemed quite thick though so I put in a thinner one I had from another table. Maybe these two issues could be taken care of with a bit of lube as I noticed the arm raised quite slowly but as I said I'm not techie. Any suggestions?

Today I just picked up a Pioneer PL-115D turntable for $30. The original Grado ZT+ (how is this anyways?) cartridge's stylus had been broken off so I threw on an LP Gear AT95SA and I have to say it sounds pretty awesome! I'm very impressed, much better than I expected. The speed is perfect although the belt looks like it's on its last leg and will be replaced in the near future. Anyways, I've seen that there has been an issue with others.. the auto return only seems to work some of the time. I'm no techie and really don't know what to do about that. One other issue is that when I put the arm into the "up" position I noticed it didn't raise very high. This would be a problem I'm sure if the auto return does work and the stylus is dragged (perhaps this is the reason the original stylus had broken off?). The slipmat seemed quite thick though so I put in a thinner one I had from another table. Maybe these two issues could be taken care of with a bit of lube as I noticed the arm raised quite slowly but as I said I'm not techie. Any suggestions?

Well, you can't beat that price. And the sound quality of the 95Sa coupled with this arm doesn't surprise me. I see you've discussed the auto-return problem with fotno. Regarding the arm not lifting high, there should be a set screw on the arm lift bar that allows it to be raised. As long as it lowers slowly, it should be fine. Check out the manual for the 117D for maintenance at vinylengine.

Thanks, Howard. I might have trouble explaining this, but is the screw for adjusting how high the arm lifts when placed in the "up" position on the actual pole that holds the black plastic thing that pushes on the arm to lift it? If so I've found the screw but it is smaller than my smallest screw driver and I think if I were to fiddle with it anymore I'd strip it. Tomorrow I'll take a look downstairs or in the garage and see if I have anything smaller, which I'm sure I do. I've played probably 5 sides now and so far I think on only one of them the auto-return didn't work. On this record though there wasn't much room left for the auto-return "loop" I guess you can call it and I have seen this happen on other tables in the same case. Or perhaps fotno just fixed that! Once I get the arm to raise higher and replace the belt it'll be pretty well perfect. But what cartridge to use... the supplied Grado ZT+, Pioneer 5MC, Ortofon OM20, or the AT95SA (I sort of need this on my Dual table though as I use it for 78s)? One slightly annoying thing I'm trying to figure out is why do I always hear a POP through the speakers just after a side is done and the auto kicks in? I hope it isn't dragging for a split second. Maybe this will stop once I adjust that screw. At least with the old Dual the thing would mute the sound when moving the arm!

By the way Howard, I'm a (quite) distant relative of Lawrence Welk!

Yes, that's the screw. If you can't find a screwdriver, go to a dollar store and they (at least Dollar Tree does) sell a whole set of jeweler's screwdrivers for ... a dollar! :D

Forgot to mention that the Grado is the equivalent of a Black. I believe that the 5MC was good (I think HOMC), but for this tt the AT95Sa is a perfect match both sonically and with regard to arm/compliance match. Do not use it for 78s. You need a special 3mil conical stylus for 78s. The OM20 works better on a lighter arm.

Not sure about the popping. I think the 117D has the muting feature because it's fully auto.

And the fact that you're distantly related to LW will not score you any brownie points. :D

Or, if you have a Harbor Freight Tool store near you, you can pick up the jewelers screwdrivers AND a neat headband magnifier thing with lights, which makes cartridge and turntable stuff SO much easier, AND a digital 'dope' scale for setting tracking force accurately AND a little machinist's rule for setting overhang. :D They probably have bullseye levels for leveling the table as well.

If I may be so bold as to jump in here, allow me to sday that my PL115D, bought new in 76-77, still performs flawlessy and sounds much better- more robust- than my 'high end' JVC Q y66f. The 70s gear from Pioneer continues to amaze me. I found another PL115D at the Thrift Store...had a Shure M70 cart with a usable Shure stylus...set me back $5. But I jumped at it. If nothing else for parts I will evidently never need...

I have been thinking about building a new wood base/plinth to replace the stock vinyl covered stuff. It would be heavier and bigger and hopefully more attractive...I thinkt the PL115 deserves it?

Howard: When I bought the AT95Sa there was some promotion on and I got the 78 stylus for that cartridge for free. I could also buy the 78 stylus for my Ortofon but the tip is only 2.5mil which is pretty well only good for the 78s of the 50s. I have more 78s from the 1900s (old Caruso stuff) all the way through the late 40s and only a few pop ones from the 50s. Because of this I might have to use to Ortofon unless I pick up another AT95Sa. I have confirmed that the popping isn't happening because of the stylus dragging; it's more like something causing a slight movement of the table inside when the auto kicks in that causes a slight pop on the stylus still in the record grooves (this I guess is why the other tables mute it; I thought this one did too but could it be faulty?).

Sansui Louie: Already got the digital scale on the way that I bought on eBay :P Don't need to worry about the screwdriver set, I know there's one around here somewhere! I got some jeweler magnifier (my grandpa was president of some natural resource company and I "borrowed" it from him years ago) that might come in useful too; never even thought of that.

Dire McCain: I agree, the 115D does deserve a better base. If I knew anything about woodwork I'd build one. Sort of wish I took that in school now! One day...

Well you wouldn't have to buy another AT95Sa. That has the expensive Shibata stylus. You could just buy the cheapest version, the AT95E and put the 78 stylus in that.

You can use the OM20 if you remove the metal weight from the cartridge. That effectively reduces the total arm mass by 2.5g making it a better match to the Pioneer arm.

And you can use the 5MC as long as you're sure the tip is okay, and as long as it's high output, unless you have an MC stage.

Yeah the 5MC is high output but I'm waiting for a seller to get the styluses in stock so I can buy a new one. That has the original stylus on it from the early 80s I guess. The OM20 is good though and never used so maybe I'll just remove the gold weight and use it rather than buy a new cartridge. Is the Grado ZT+ any good? I'm not familiar with Grado and this I'm sure is the one that originally came with the table. I bought the table off the original owner, a nice Arab lady in her 60s, and for some reason I doubt she would have changed it.

Yeah the 5MC is high output but I'm waiting for a seller to get the styluses in stock so I can buy a new one. That has the original stylus on it from the early 80s I guess. The OM20 is good though and never used so maybe I'll just remove the gold weight and use it rather than buy a new cartridge. Is the Grado ZT+ any good? I'm not familiar with Grado and this I'm sure is the one that originally came with the table. I bought the table off the original owner, a nice Arab lady in her 60s, and for some reason I doubt she would have changed it.
ZT+ is the equivalent of a Black.

ZT+ is the equivalent of a Black.

Is that a good thing?

Is that a good thing?
Sorry about that, I assumed you knew about the current Grado models. The Black is the entry level, so it's not a bad thing, but it's nothing to celebrate, either. :D