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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
amg56's avatar
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amg56
887 posts
 
Chakster
The Luxman PD-444 (and 555) are some of the best “vintage” tables available. I am moving on acquiring both at the moment. My two current tables are a MS-91L and a Luxman PD-350. I have a PD-310 and my first born JVC QL-Y5F.
I had to move my Nakamichi Dragon CT and importantly for this post was a MS DDX-1500 with 2 arms. It was one of my best performers. Maybe I happened to get a good one from Germany.
The best acquisition I am on to is a MS SX-111FV or a 777. It’s hand wringing time with my beautiful wife looking at the price figures. One or two of my current tables will need to move. But with the current exchange rates poorly, I may just sit and wait. 😟
chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
Yeah, Luxman 444 is like a Cutting Lathe for me, the engineering is so nice that in terms of usability this is definitely the best turntable, because i use so many different tonearms and cartridges and only this turntable allow me to swap whatever tonearm quickly. Here is a pair of mine.  

I could sell all turntable, but not Luxman, it is a keeper. 
It became my favorite so quickly, so i even sold my Technics SP-10 mkII after i bought my second PD-444. 

Designed my custom rack especially for PD-444 and now nothing can compete with it in my system. 

When i will make racks for Victor TT-101 and Denon DP-80 i wish i could use them all together, but it's crazy idea. I love vintage DDs, but PD-444 is what i like the most.  


amg56's avatar
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amg56
887 posts
 
Chakster, nice setup.
I note a CU-180 on the far 444? What tone arms do you have in use?

I will be forgoing all my tables for either the Luxman PD-444 I have my eye on, or the Micro Seiki SX111FV, which ever comes first.
chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
Chakster, nice setup.
I note a CU-180 on the far 444?


thanks, been working on it for a long time
You have to be careful with CU-180 for LUX platter, because there is a slight tolerance (+/- 0.2mm) between different samples of CU-180 in diameter (this is stated in the original manual). One sample can fit, another can’t. The problem is that LUX platter is like a round frame, look at the edge, the mat must be inside the round frame on the platter and a tiny difference in diameter is critical. 

Sadly mega rare my CU-500 is too heavy for LUX motor and i can’t use it, it was my best mat on SP-10 mkII

SAEC SS-300 and The Mat (Sakura System) is what i use too.


What tone arms do you have in use?

I tried so many, right now i have in use my FR-64fx with W250 and N60, Lustre GST-801, Denon DA-401. Before there was SONY PUA-7, Victor UA-7045/7082, Luxman TA-1, Technics EPA-100 

Ikeda IT-345 is waiting here, FR-64s with B60 too

I have only one tonearm that is impossible to mount on LUX, this arm is EPA-100 mkII




mammothguy54's avatar
mammothguy54
951 posts
 
Hello. I am new to Audiogon and this is my first post.  I have owned the MS DDX-1000 since it came to market.  I am the original owner of this turntable.  I am seriously considering selling it. I see that billwojo had some interest in one of these.  If so, or anyone else, please let me know.  I can tell you a few details now.  It is in impeccable condition, including the feet.  The rubber is like new because I have always had a sorbathane disc under each foot.  The entire unit looks as if it just came out of the original factory packaging.  I have the Micro Seiki MA-505 tonearm mounted to an armboard.  That tonearm is a very good performer, especially with medium compliant MC phono cartridges.  I also have two additional armboards, both new (1 in the box and the other without the box), one for an SME mount and the other is the standard mount.  I never had any acoustic feedback issue with this turntable.  Maybe because of the sorbathane and also because I have always had it on a 1" thick granite platform.  It performs quite well and is a pleasure to use.  Anyway, if you should wish for pictures or any further details please let me know.  
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