Luxman PD121A - PD441


Hello all

New to the forum so a big thank you in advance and greetings!

I am looking to get my first luxman record player. 
I have been lurking around the internet and initially came upon the Thorens and then the Linn LP12. 

Then by chance came across the Luxman. And now I am hooked on its looks!

After some reading i got it down to the PD121A or the PD441

The 121A comes with an SME 3009 and the PD441 has nothing but I was thinking a Micro seiki 505X. Opinions on the 505X?

Also i read somewhere that the 121A is just a smaller version of the 441. Is this in any way true and to what extent?  What is missing from one to the other???

Look forward to reading some replies and getting into the thick of it all!

Chris

 

chridabs

 

dgarretson, everyone

lots of words, but easy once you understand the image must be on the web somewhere, and you post the image's web address (url), not the image itself. 

1. find an image already online, right click, 'copy image address'.

2. post window, top edit bar, click on 6th icon from left, 'image'

3. paste the url you copied into the window that pops up

4. OK

DISTORTED IMAGE?

sometimes you need to enter 600 in the width to keep a larger image from getting distorted. (height self-adjusts to the entered width)

upload your photos.

Once I figured out how to use Audiogon's Virtual Systems,

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/users/elliottbnewcombjr?_gl=1*15fyfjw*_ga*MTQ0MzA1MzQ4Mi4xNzUyNzEzMTU1*_ga_SR0PMVVEN1*czE3NTM5NjMyOTMkbzUkZzEkdDE3NTM5NjQyMjckajYkbDEkaDE2NzgwMzI2NzA.

To post any image on my computer, I made a separate Virtual System called 'Misc Info' on this site, so I can upload any image to Audiogon's web site, then 'copy image address

 

 

chridabs OP

your best value may be to wait until you find a 441 with an acceptable arm included, get it, and later change to a different arm.

I often see SME 3009 arms on them, I used one for many years on my Thorens TD124, loved it. Easy and precise balance, tracking weight, and anti-skate. Arm height is by clamping screw, not easy for changing VTA like the Acos Lustre GST-801 or Micro-Seiki MA505.

Similar to the JVC Victor, the SME 3009/12 have a rubber sleeve that isolates the rear from the front tube sections. It can deteriorate, the rear counterweight tube slips over it. I renewed mine many years ago. Steve at VAS likes them, he bought mine.

SME’s have a unique bottom connector, a shield that slides onto it, and a dedicated fitting on the phono cable, make sure the cable is included. Conversions to RCA Jacks can be done.

This listing shows it well

https://www.ebay.com/itm/257043523542?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=3cf7a98c-6e12-11f0-b771-346330323932

I got new part from SME, found this just now

https://www.ebay.com/itm/127262758116?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOop4JplseoWQ7A5i1UWMfnVpkrgOJO9wQK6MeRVBZeurV6R6o_tc_rw

 

 

@elliottbnewcombjr

Appreciate the info. Probably saves a ton of server space having external links!

The pd441 is on the way. I got it relatively cheap (is there such a word?) I also managed to get a seac 308SX on the cheap (theres that imaginary word again).

 

I really did like the SME 3009 but just didnt find one at the time with the right price. Also the armboard that is coming with the 441 is Seac size and I didnt want to go and get another one just yet. I really did LOVE the micro seiki 505 MKIII straight arm. That thing is sexy. But the fixed head was a little hmmmm

SO just waiting out on delivery. Luckily all free returns etc just i case. 

Just need to get myself a cart. Currently looking at a Grace f8c (in another post i made)

And then a sound stage :( Just never ends. May post about a decent stage after i have done my daily youtube lurking.

 

Have to say this forum is awesome!

Will post a pic once i get things laid out in front of me!

congrats, best of luck with it.

I never saw/heard the SAEC arm, it looks good, they made an accessory Stabilizer weight, seen here

https://audio-database.com/SAEC/etc/we-308sx.html

Mounting Hole Diameter 30 φ mm
Arm mounting system Nut Tightening (Arm Stabilizer AS-500E Sold Separately)

 

If 308sx needs a 30mm hole, then, for the future, that plate's large hole is big enough for the Micro-Seiki 505, the Acos-Lustre CST-801 or JVC Victor 7045/7082, the one's I know about.

One trick, is to make a pencil mark using the plate with no arm mounted, so you can pre-measure with your ruler flat, 235mm center of spindle to the center of the hole in the plate, (+5mm overhang = 308sx's 240mm effective length).

Make a pencil mark you can see/align with after the arm is mounted in the plate (when you can no longer lay your ruler flat).