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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
amg56's avatar
amg56
887 posts
 

My keyboard acts like English is it's 5th language. For those who thought I might be mimicking someone, let me repeat it properly:

@edgewear Both my MS TTs and the Kuzma have platter spindle and/or the leg suspensions sitting in a small niche of oil. This dampens the negative vibrations and overall, as I have nothing better to compare (except for my Nakamichi which is also oil dampened).

I've never done a 1 on 1 with more expensive TTs. I think my TT may hold their own, but there are a whole lot of pieces that make a whole on audio. And those pieces all need to be compatible.


I rushed my next message to get out and drive my wife to work. Like anything in this hobby, don't rush things and take your time.

@rauliruegas I realise English is not your 1st language and your posts reflect this. However this is not a criticism. Your phrasing and wordage are quaint, and that makes for an interesting picture I have of you.

There are times you can see the way a person writes can describe the person more than the content itself. Raul, you strike me as a very passionate man who is VERY knowlegible in audio by way of experience in being able to collect and own (and sell) so much audio equipment. Additionally, I know you have such an extensive and desirable vinyl collection, such that you can use these to test and trial any equipment using the same known test material.

Raul, I do respect you, your knowledge and your contributions. As I said previously, I was not trying to disrespect you, and what I wrote was insensitive.

@opus111 I don't have an extensive knowledge of tonearm performances especially with many different cartridges. Technology has moved on and manufacturers now have extensive modelling tools to emulate operational performance even before one hits its vinyl test target.

I see the difference between an arm like the MAX-237 and modern day top flight arms, like the muscle cars of the 60s/70s and the cars today. A VW Golf GTI would put most older muscle cars to shame. But the older cars still are desirable because of their character. Some new arms are good, but too clinical if you understand what I mean.

Cheers. A.

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear @opus111 :   """  Is this a joke? Having owned 1500, 5000, and 8000 I am a MS fan but the 237 and 282 arms are by far the most overrated tonearms of all time, and nowhere near the level of their better turntables. They sound thin, sterile, and downright unmusical....."""

That you owned all those MS TT models and that you think are really good only speaks that you are totally unaware of all its design faults and that you like all the distortions degradation the TTs makes to the cartridge signal.

In that statement you confirm what I'm saying on what you like it when you said that the MX MS tonearm models sound: thin, sterile and dowrigth unmusical ". Well, first than all a tonearm must has not sounds by it self, I owned too the MAX models and are very good tonearms and very well damped and maybe is because of this that you did not like it because you like higher distortion/coloration levels. .

Good for you are still a MS TT fan, this fact only says you are a fan of a wrong designed TT.

R.
opus111
58 posts
 
Wrongly designed or not, I rather like my 8000, at least more so than 90% of the turntables being made today. I'd take the "higher distortion/coloration levels" of the arms you don't like over the MS tonearms any day, and you can continue enjoying well damped accuracy of MAX-282 if that's what you think you are hearing
edgewear OP
543 posts
 
@amg56, your analogy with old cars is sort of interesting. It seems to me that all the electronics and software in modern cars put up a barrier between the driver and the actual driving experience. Yes, everything is much more sophisticated, but is it also more real?

Might the same be happening in audio? While the limitations of early digital were painfully obvious, I was nonetheless able to enjoy the music. But the exponential increase of digital processing power hasn't improve my listening enjoyment and it seems that the higher the bit rates, the more manipulated it sounds. It is a barrier between the music and the listener. You hear every detail, but it's just a lot of information (a 'data dump'). The musical message seems to be 'lost in translation'.

With analog audio this should be different, as the source material is untouched by digital manipulation (unless of course you buy those vinyl reissues pressed from digitalized sources). But perhaps to some extend all these computer aided tools do more harm than good in designing turntables, tonearms and cartridges as well?

It touches on the many 'thorny' questions around digital technology. I'm not a Luddite, but I don't belong to the 'technology will make everything better' crowd either. I try to be mindfully optimistic, perhaps against my better judgement. If a singularity is inevitably and we get this intelligence explosion, what will it mean for the human listening experience?

For this analog forum it might all come down to this question: what will the first AI designed turntable sound like? Will we enjoy it as much as we will enjoy 'driving' autonomous vehicles?


ferrari275
71 posts
 
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


Makes sense.  Fundamentally, Micro Seiki's famed RX 5000 belt drive remains relevant even today from both a playback perspective and engineering point of view. 

Solid design.  Ultra high analog playback capability.  Nothing superfluous, timeless really.

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