How good is the Micro Seiki DDX-1000 Direct Drive turntable ?


Here is the MICRO DDX-1000 direct drive. Never tried myself, but it is the most compact DD designed for 3 tonearms.

*The question is how good this turntable really is, compared to some other vintage Direct Drives ?


Some information from VintageKnob website:  

The DDX-1000 is the original design, with two sculpted strobe markings around the 2kg / 31cm die-cast aluminium platter. The resulting moment of inertia is at 330kg / cm2 and the top mat in fact covers a thick cork sub-mat set inside the platter itself.

The DDX-1000, in real late 70s modernism is a direct-drive. The motor is a DC-Servo with FG frequency generator reference set through the strobe neon lamp which "checks" how many stripe it sees and rectifies if necessary ; the resulting speed accuracy is of 0,03%.

The starting torque is of 1,2kg / cm and load characteristics allow the DDX-1000 to remain below 0,04% deviation up to a 3g load set at the outer limit of the platter - specs-wise, we're here under the contemporary Sony TTS-8000 for instance...

The heigh-adjustable feet are typical Micro Seiki (or Luxman, of course :) and contain a mix of inert damping (neoprene stuffing) and mechanical damping (spring).

The is no Quartz Lock on the DDX-1000 ; the MD-1000 power-supply box holds the power on/off, start 33rpm, start 45rpm and stop buttons plus two ± 6% speed controls.

The AX-1G to AX-6G tonearm bases fit everything from the ubiquitous SMEs to the Technics EPA-100 or PUA-1600L.

Of course, the motor of the DDX was used as basis for the Marantz Tt 1000 (1979), and that of the DQX-1500 (an updated DQX-1000) for the Tt 1000 mkII (1992). And, as often, Micro's direct-drive motors came from... Victor.


DDX-1000/G :

April 1976 limited edition (really limited : 30 units) custom made in... bronze. Howerever, it is black-looking for the most part, with the bronze only kept visible for the top of the three feet ; the platter was kept in AL and the command box was anodized in all-black style ; even the AX-1/G was in-bronze-but-painted-black...
Names of the people they were made for (and offered to - these were gifts !) were silkscreened on the (bronze...) motor's cache (...but painted black) - a rarity to say the least.


The DDX-1000 naturally spawned a myriad of lookalikes and still does today - perhaps better than the original, perhaps not. Or not that much :) 

128x128chakster
You do what you do, and I will do what I do. I just wanted to present both sides of the story. I haven’t change my opinion, which is based on real world experience. And I’m sure you feel the same way.
Not sure why a DUST COVER is a subject of this post, i don't use any dust covers on any turntables. Object like that is not good for room acoustic just like glass and must be avoided. 

I assume Micro DDX-1000 is probably lower level TT compared to what i have, so it will be deleted from my wantlist. It's a shame, because i like those Micro tonearm brackets.  
It was a mediocre table built for the convenience of multiple arms. Its design is flawed having arms mounted directly above and on top of the feet.
A material added to muddy the vibrations the arm saw is not a brilliant design. Its a bandaid for a design flaw . The material also breaks down and degrades . Its convenience and flash over sound principles. 
I have owned the DDX, it's brother the DQX and I have an RX 5000. They all share this basic flaw and require help to attempt to lesson a serious flaw in design to optimize playback. 
In my opinion, based on ownership and first hand experience when they were actually more current. ... a mediocre table albeit interesting in looks vs the box plinths of the Era. Many like to oversell their actually ability now , vs the sales hype and glory of the past. If you just want something to have a mm, mc, and a mono cart to enjoy a record collection for the music and get a deal, why not.
If it is to post endlessly how it is better than everything else and makes all belt drives toys...move on...biased ownership doesn't change reality.....



Chak, You're right about the subject is not dust covers.  My bad, but I didn't want to leave Mijostyn's comment in its unvarnished form.  There are two sides to it. On the DDX-1000, I think you made the right decision.
Chakster
A wise decision as from the looks and feel of the build and solidity the Victor tt-81 in Victor plinth and tonearm was a much better move on my part.

Maybe nice as a static display!