Exclusive P3

About the Exclusive P3

The Pioneer Exclusive P3 is a top-class turntable originally launched in Japan in 1978 during the golden era of Japanese hi-fi audio. It features a slotless, coreless linear torque motor with quartz PLL control and a stable hanging rotor (SHR) system with a low-center-of-gravity rotating shaft, delivering exceptional rotational evenness (<0.003% error) and speed accuracy (<0.001% error). The turntable weighs about 49 kg and has a platter made of die-cast aluminum alloy weighing 2.8 kg. It offers speeds of 33 and 45 rpm with a start-up time of 0.3 seconds. The tonearm (EA-03) includes a reservoir for damping oil with adjustable damping level and supports adjustable anti-skating and needle pressure from 0 to 3 grams. The base is made of thick wood particles with natural wood veneer, insulated with spring/oil/rubber, and covered by a 5-mm tempered glass dust cover. The Exclusive P3 was highly praised in a 1980 Stereo Sound magazine test and remains a sought-after vintage high-fidelity turntable known for its stable rotation, low noise and flutter (0.015%), and high signal-to-noise ratio (78 dB). It is regarded as a dream turntable for audiophiles and is comparable in quality to modern high-end models.