Micro SX-8000 II or SZ-1

Thuchan, the mater is not in the bearing’s type but in the self-damping characteristics of platter. The 8000 has fine platter that is good enough itself, particularly if you have white platter. The 5000 has very ringy platter. It might be addressed by many ways (I did it is quite successfully with my 5000s) but the flywheel has absolutely no benefit for elimination of the 5000s problem. The fly wheeling helps with stabilization of speed but it never was Micros problem. The moment of inertia with 5000 relative to the torque (if the belt it properly hangs) is very good with those tables and stability is never an issue. Micro use to make a very own flywheels for 8000 but looking deeper into the subject I recognized that was all BS and it more serves the owner ego then the purpose of sound reproduction. Anyhow, I do not think that flywheels are a fruitful direction to get improvement with Micro tables. If you are looking for improvement then work with your speaker and amplifiers. The Micros are one of the most bass-capable turntables ever made but your bass is severally compromised with your SS amps and with 4th orders band-pass woofer in your speakers. Addressing it will produce more result then attaching Jupiter to your Micron as a flywheel.

FM Login, I am very happy with the bass reproduction by the SS-design provided by the Classè Omegas, the Stealth Dream and the Wilson LS (not to mention the 1812). It produces a very warm but stable sound. If you have the chance drop in and you might change your opinion quickly. I mean - if you not preconditioned and belonging to a church of SS-design refusers. Nevertheless there is always room for improvement.

No matter if you use the RX-5000 or SX-8000 II- the advantage of a proper aligned flywheel in opposite position to the motor drive is in the fact that the bearing will be free of horizontal force.
This will minimize bearing noise to the lowest possible - in any bearing.
The result in sonic terms will be increase low level detail, ambience and dynamic transient resolution.
Important factor is, to bring the string/belt tension to equal level (as close as possible) on both - flywheel and motor.
So - the advantage has nothing to do with bearing type - its a simple force vector model of two forces eliminating each other.

Fm login:

How did you resolve the ringing gunmetal platters? The only solution I know is either a damping mat - which can work well, or applying a damping material inside the platter - which would concern me from a perspective of rotational balance.

Steve

My personal experience reflects Dertonarm's statement: with my HS-80 flywheel in place (and now in a line with equal tension on the threads), ambience and transients--already wonderful--has improved. So, my ears disagree with Fm login's statement that the HS-80 has no benefit on Micro turntables. But, that's just me!