2. analog
  3. 1350008574

Micro Seiki, or TW AC-1

I'm trying to decide between Micro Seiki RX 5000 and TW AC-1.
They are approx. the same price used (about $10K)
Both are belt drive.
Unfortunately, I don't have a first hand experience with either of the tables.
You can see my current set-up in my system page.
The reason, I want to make a change from DD TT to belt drive is just to try a different approach.
Also, I have a feeling, that the bass would be one of the areas, where MS and TW might have an edge over my current DD Technics SP-10 MkII
My endeavor into analog is fairly new, so I'm not sure what my final choice in analog would be, unless I try it in my own system.
What I'm really interested in is the following:
Sonic differences b/w MS, TW and Technics SP-10 MkII
Reliability
Service availability.
maril555
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Dev, are you saying that you can tap the armboard or the spindle on the MS table while the needle is resting on an LP and hear nothing through the speakers? If so, that would mean the platter and tonearm are incredibly inert. Very impressive. I've not seen another table pass this test.

Halcro has also commented in other threads about the speed accuracy of his Raven.
lewm
13,108 posts
 
Rsf507, Do you mean to say that you can perceive perfect speed accuracy without the aid of any measuring device? (This is different from saying you have a perfect sense of pitch, which may well be the case.) With all respect, I doubt it, but maybe you had a Sutherland Timeline or similar device at hand.
suteetat
435 posts
 
Not to argue with anyone but I am really curious how relevant is the tapping test as far as airborne vibration is concerned?
Certainly if MS does not transmit any noise through the cartridge when tapping, then it is more immuned toward airborne vibration than turntable that does. However, to be immuned toward airborne vibration, how far do you have to go? Airborne vibration is certainly much much less forceful than tapping directly on the turntable. However, I feel that a turntable that failed tapping test does not neccessarily means that it is susceptible to airborne vibration. To pass tapping test, may just be an overkill in engineering or may be not! I don't really know. What do you all think?
dover
2,247 posts
 
Thanks Dev for the informed comments. They tally with what I've heard in terms of the superior speed, articulation, noise floor of the Micro 5000 v the Raven AC1.
rsf507
2,324 posts
 
Lewm you are correct it's a perceived feeling of perfect pitch and yes this was hard to initially tell until it was heard and then it's easy to understand. It's like most people don't understand or hear polarity but once understood I can tell if a song is in or out of phase.
Listen to an SME 10 then a Lenco or most DD tables and you begin to understand having a correct speed is extremely important to the sound of a piano. I'll be the first to admit I never understood this until I moved away from a belt drive table myself and with the help of others opened my ears and it all became clear.
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