Pioneer PC-110/II (circa 1976)
The Pioneer PC-110/II is an MM phono cartridge from the mid-1970s, sold in Japan for ¥6,500 around 1976. Documentation is thin. No production run dates, no market positioning and no contemporary reviews have surfaced. The technical record that does exist describes a carefully engineered moving-magnet pickup from Pioneer's analog heyday.
The vibration system uses an aluminum light-alloy pipe cantilever - 0.6 mm in outer diameter with a wall thickness of roughly 0.040 mm - fitted with a 0.5 mil spherical diamond stylus. Pioneer's design notes describe two specific engineering choices. First, the stylus tip and the press-fit magnet are aligned in a straight line to reduce interference between horizontal and vertical amplitude, which lowers distortion. Second, the vibration system is designed with adjustable braking to improve high-frequency behavior. The shield case is Super Permalloy, with injection-molded frames. Effective mass of the vibration system is a light 0.82 mg.
Specified tracking force is 1.5 g to 2.5 g, with 2.2 g called out as appropriate. Output is rated at 3.5 mV (1 kHz, 50 mm/s, RMS), with output impedance of 3.4 kΩ and a recommended load of 47 kΩ plus 170 pF (30-100 kΩ acceptable). Frequency response is stated as 15 Hz to 25 kHz ±3 dB, channel separation at 25 dB or better at 1 kHz, and dynamic compliance of 8.5 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne. The cartridge weighs 5.1 g and measures 18 mm wide × 17.6 mm high × 31.7 mm deep, with JIS and EIA standard mounting dimensions.
The replacement stylus is the PN-110/II, which sold for ¥2,400 at the time. It is still available today. Nagaoka Gold in Japan has produced aftermarket PN-110/II inserts, and current listings show it circulating on the Russian market (one meshok.net listing at 4,350 ₽) and through JICO. The cartridge itself shows up occasionally on eBay and Avito, sometimes with original Pioneer headshells like the JP-509. One YouTube user has demonstrated it paired with a Pioneer PL-A350B turntable.
Known Specifications
- Type: MM cartridge
- Stylus: 0.5 mil spherical diamond
- Cantilever: aluminum light-alloy pipe, 0.6 mm φ
- Tracking force: 1.5–2.5 g (2.2 g appropriate)
- Output: 3.5 mV (1 kHz, 50 mm/s, RMS)
- Frequency response: 15 Hz – 25 kHz ±3 dB
- Channel separation: ≥25 dB (1 kHz)
- Dynamic compliance: 8.5 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne
- Load resistance: 30–100 kΩ (47 kΩ + 170 pF proper)
- Weight: 5.1 g
- Replacement stylus: PN-110/II (¥2,400 at launch)
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Related Models
- Pioneer PL-115 (1977)
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- Garrard SP (1975)
- Luxman PD-310 (1981)
- Luxman PD-555 (1983)
- Thorens TD-124 (1957–1967)
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