Pioneer Exclusive P3
Pioneer Exclusive P3a
(1978 > 1981 > 1986)

EMT notwithstanding, the Exclusive P3 was the winner of the large test made by the Stereo Sound staff in 1980 and is, undoubtedly, the most successful high-end & high-priced turntable in Japan !
It seems every other audiophile went for the P3 and later on for its upgraded P3a version. And those who didn't have enough cash for it often went for the smaller PL-70LII...

The P3 featured Pioneer's staple Direct-Drive SHR system (Stable Hanging Rotor) but executed in a far larger mode than on the well-known PL-L1000 or the contemporary PL-L1. A triple insulation (oil-damping + spring + rubber) perfects the already immune to vibration 45kg ensemble, while the real 5mm glass dustcover participates in said 45kg.

If the signal-to-noise ratio of the original P3 amounted to a then-tops 78dB, that of the revised P3a skyrocketed to an unbelievable 95dB ! Visually identical, the refinments allowing for such an astronomical ratio were all located in the driving system.

The extensive technical description taken from the original 1978 japanese catalog will soon be translated to english - stay tuned !