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Micro RX 5000 Renaissance?

It may be just a coincidence, but looking through the various reports of the recent Munich high end event I've noticed no fewer than four (!) different turntables that all look suspiciously like the Micro RX-5000.

TW Acoustic and Kuzma launched new models visually 'inspired' by the RX-5000 design, Acoustical Systems showed a table that looks like an exact copy and DB Systems (www.micro.nl) also showed an exact copy, leaving no doubt of its objective by simply calling it 'The Tribute'. And then of course there already was the TechDas AirForce 5.

Does anyone know more about these newbies and what's under their bonnets? It would be interesting to compare their performance vis à vis the original and hear how much technology has moved forward. Or not.

While I'm a happy owner of the RX-1500G, the RX-5000 has been on my radar for quite some time. So with this Micro Renaissance going on, should I wait for a mint original to cross my path or should I go for one of these new tables? It seems Micro enthousiasts are now spoiled for choice........

edgewear
lewm
12,854 posts
 
The DDX (which is direct-drive) is a totally different animal from the massive M-S belt-drive turntables, one of which carries the "1500" numeric designation (RX1500, or some other alphabetical prefix depending upon price point).  In fact, isn't the M-S DD turntable called "DDX1000", not DDX1500?  Also, the later quartz referenced version was called DDQ or DQX, IIRC.  Anyway, if there really is a DDX1500, I'd like to see a photo.  Thanks.
amg56's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
amg56
887 posts
 

@lewm Mine is a MS DDX-1500 direct drive. Check https://www.vinylengine.com/library/micro-seiki/ddx-1500.shtml

for detail. I have MS MA-505 and MS MAX-237 arms attached. It plays beautifully, again subtly different to my MS-91L and Kuzma. I do have a couple of more TTs but there are my go to's.

theophile's avatar
theophile
225 posts
 
Tech Das is Micro Seiki. Micro Seiki is Tech Das.

www.hifiplus.com/articles/meet-your-maker-hideaki-niskikawa-of-techdas/?page=2
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
There is a Simone Yorke turntable among the modern belt drives, has anyone tried it? I like the stands he made.  

Here is an interview with Simone Yorke 
edgewear OP
543 posts
 
@amg56, I use three different arms. At the back left position a Reed 3P 12" on an AX-6G armbase, at the back right position an Audiocraft AC-4000MC, also on AX-6G and front right a Fidelity Research FR-64FX on AX-8G armbase. The Reed has a Van den Hul Colibri XPW Blackwood as my ’reference’ (besides that it’s definitely not fun mounting or dismounting a Colibri). With both other arms I use a variety of MC cartridges in constant rotation. Most of these are of the ’vintage’ kind. Comparing them and making new discoveries has become one of the more enjoyable aspects of my ’audio life’.

On a side note: I also have a BL-91 and I’ve made comparisons with the RX-1500. They share the same bearing and by using the same gunmetal plateau (and both using the same arm/cart combo and both on the same wall mounted frame) you can easily hear the difference between the fairly light weight wooden plinth of the BL-91 and the ’heavy metal’ approach of the RX-1500 (and likewise the RX-5000).

Contrary to what others have said here, I definitely prefer the ’heavy metal’ approach of the RX-1500, which is why I have an interest in the even heavier RX-5000. And the matter of ringing of the gunmetal plateau: this is true in ’naked form’, but when you add a CU-180 copper mat, the ringing vanishes completely. I’m sure this will also be the case with the heavier plateau of the RX-5000, although you might need the heavier CU-500 mat for this. But Micro apparently knew very well what they were doing......



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