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

I had discussion on these forums and told about my and my friends expiriese how much better DD EMT 950, 948 compared to SP mk2, Garrad 401, Thorens 124, Sota, Nottingham, Lenco and other similar stuff.

Do you realize the price difference between top EMT and everything else in your list ?

Technics is not "similar stuff" if you put it next to Belt Drive turntables like Sota, Thorens or inder drive like Garrard, Lenco. Those are completely different turntables. Do you know what is Lenco (or Thorens) ? Look at the original Lenco before all the tweaks. How can you compare this to the Technics SP-10 mkII Direct Drive ???

But most of local audiophile who have zero experience with EMT turntables told be that SP mk2 is much better turntable.

SP-10 mkII drive cost $1500 in MINT condition, EPA-100 or EPA-100 mkII are much better tonearms than any EMT tonearm (designed mostly for EMT cartridges only).

When someone comparing the sound of the drive itself i’m getting sick.

Most likely they are comparing the sound of cartridge and tonearm, because to compare drives everything else must be identical.

EMT is definitely good broadcast turntable, huge and very expensive (overpriced to be correct). Nice for collection if you’re rich enough, but SP-10 mkII and EPA-100 are "best buy", superb quality for reasonable price. You can pay $20 000 more pretending for improvement, but it will not happen. Technics SP-10 mkII drive in a custom plinth with great tonearm will cost you less than $5000.

However, this is better. 

In my direct experience, the denon Dp80 was superior to the SP 10 Mark 2, as well. I’ve mentioned this several times in the past on this forum, so it must be getting pretty boring right now. And it’s only my opinion. It also goes without saying that there are several other vintage direct drive turntables that in the current marketplace will cost more than an SP 10 Mark 2 that are also sonically superior to it. But we are not talking about big differences here. All of these turntables are good.

Love the looks of the Seiki DDX-1000 table. It’s the same Zebra pattern that my Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar lens has from the 70’s.

I’m with @chakster on the vast range of asking prices for
Vintage DD TT’s.
Certain Brands of Idler Drive can demand a High Price as well.

A Idler Drive and DD TT are perceived with differences in their deliveries as is with a Belt Drive.
My experience is that the better thought out a TT’s Plinth as a design
and use of a Rack System that will have a effective control on Airborne and Mechanical resonances.
When a Off Board Speed Controller Design is used on a Idler Drive TT,
there is a increased attraction to the Performance that is being perceived.

I refer back to Idler Drive TT’s as there are certain Brands that are very affordable, and a great place for a Beginner or Experienced, but
’Yet to be Initiated’ to commence with a experience.
The support network Certain Brands are available with a immediate access, Forum Members offering speedy answers to requests for information and TT Parts that are available within these forums is superb.

As I am now Wed to DD TT’s, I feel the Idler Drive can begin to offer a delivery that moves toward the DD TT when the Idler Drive has the correct design of Speed Controller in use.

As for my own arrangements for experiences to be undertaken with TT Comparisons.
My Friend with the Idler Drive as his preference TT, has the same Tonearm > Headshell as myself.
This Tonearm Model has a detachable Headshell, using a Identical Cartridge during comparisons, is a easy to achieve operation.
We do have different Plinth Material and Mounting Rack Set Ups,
resulting in differences to the Arm Cartridge Set Up environment.

The Engineer Service used by Myself produces the above referred to Tonearm.
He takes his work very seriously and his knowledge of the Subject,
covers all the bases for a very accurate arrangement for a Audible Comparison.
Comparisons undertaken for the work carried out on TT’s,
is always assessed / compared using one of his Tonearms > Headshell of Choice and Platter Mat of choice.
Auditions will be undertaken with the Engineers Cartridge of Choice.
Visitors who use the Engineers Design of Tonearms, commonly all share the same Headshell as well.
Visitors are able to bring their own Headshell > Cartridge along for a
Side Comparison, as a break from the TT assessments.
The only added requirement being a VTA Tweak as and when required, and Tracking Weight Adjustment ’ if required ’ .
Cartridge Assessments like this have been very revealing and insightful.

One other bonus of being at the Engineers residence is that the TT’s have Mimicked Mounting Set Ups from Plinth Material used
and Mounting Rack.
A Decibel Metre is used to match Sound Levels for each performance.

When carrying out such assessments at the Engineers Residence,
the only additional requirement is that the Sweet Spot will be swapped as a seat, so that all attendees can get a time in the best seating as a experience of the Device under audition.

Again a Different Room, Different Plinth and Mounting Rack, with a Different System might change the outcome of my preferences for a TT.
That is the wonderment of Vinyl.

Hi @chakster ,

I had Lenco 78 turntable. My friend built me birch plywood plinth and I changed original tonearm to SME 3009 mk2. I also removed auto stop mechanics.
Lenco is a great turntable and best value for money. I liked Lenco much more that Nottingham Spacedeck/Spacearm that I had too. I used the same Ortofon Jubilee cartridge on both.

But EMT 948 that I have been using after Lenco is a completely different league.
And I don't agree that EMT much more expensive than SP10 mk2 or other Hi End vintage Japanese DD turntable or idle drive like Garrard.
My friend bought EMT 948 with tonearm and TSD15 SPH cartridge in perfect working conditions two year ago in LA and payed just $4200.
OK if you buy EMT from company which does restoration you will pay at least twice. But you will pay the same money if you buy from a similar company, for example, Garrard 301, 401.
I agree that EMT turntables are not good for customization. But I saw some people do custom arm boards for EMT and use other tonearms.

But my main point was that DD EMT are much better turntables vs Sp10mk2.
And dozen people who did comparation when SP10mk2 was with better tonearm (my friend use SP10mk2 with Fidelity Research RF-64 tonearm), better cartridge, better phono stage (EMT internal phonostage is a garbage) told the same.

Regards,
Alex.