Pioneer DJ PLX-500 turntable
DJ turntables · 2016–present In production
$449 US reference price
Pioneer DJ PLX-500 is a current direct-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback dj turntable. Documented convenience features include a built-in phono preamp, USB output. The US reference price is $449.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- No separate phono preamp
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Mapped: PN-X05
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Add amplification and speakers, but a separate phono preamp is not required. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
Pioneer DJ's affordable direct-drive: high-torque motor in the classic 1200 layout, but with a built-in phono stage and USB output for ripping vinyl to a computer. The bridge between DJ and home use.
A club-layout deck that doubles as a home USB recorder.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: mixing, scratching and beatmatching — the torque and start-up speed exist for that job. Less ideal for: a quiet, vibration-isolated deck for critical home listening — belt-drive hi-fi decks are built for that instead.
Compatibility and setup
- Needs a DJ mixer or audio interface with a phono input to be usable — this is a mixing/scratching deck, not designed to feed a hi-fi amplifier directly.
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- Has a built-in phono stage, so it can feed a normal line input on an amplifier or powered speakers without a separate phono box.
- Has a USB output for recording vinyl to a computer.
Specifications
| Drive | direct drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | PC-HS01 (fitted) |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium |
| Tonearm | S-shaped with detachable headshell |
| Wow & flutter | <0.15% WRMS |
| Torque | 1.6 kg·cm |
| Dimensions | 450mm (W) x 158.5mm (H) x 367.5mm (D) |
| Weight | 23.6 lb (10.7 kg) |
| Finishes | Black (PLX-500-K), White (PLX-500-W) |
| Warranty | 1 year (AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ manufacturer standard) |
| Years | 2016–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its direct-drive mechanism is shared by 17% of current models in the database (32 of 183). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 47% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 36% of priced dj decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Pioneer DJ PC-HS01 · replacement stylus: PN-X05 · around $26.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $449. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the Pioneer DJ PLX-500
10 US retailers stock Pioneer DJ — linked directly to the product page where we have one, otherwise to a site search for the deck.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater | music retail | Free shipping on almost every order, no minimum. | View at Sweetwater ↗ |
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | View at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Adorama | electronics chain | Free shipping on most orders over $49 in the contiguous US. | Search at Adorama ↗ |
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| B&H Photo Video | electronics chain | Free expedited shipping on most orders in the contiguous US. | Search at B&H Photo Video ↗ |
| Crutchfield | electronics chain | Free shipping on nearly all orders, with free 2-day delivery on most gear. | Search at Crutchfield ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | Search at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
| Walmart | department store | Free shipping on orders $35+ (free with Walmart+); store pickup available. | Search at Walmart ↗ |