Which tonearm for vintage Micro Seiki BL-91

Tgaral, please don't misunderstand my previous comments. The BL-91 is a great deck. But turntable technology (or our perception of such) has changed a bit since the late 1970s. The BL-91 is constructed of veneered plywood. This was quite good in the late 1970s, and was considered to be non-resonant. Improvements in materials and construction techniques have led to significant changes in plinth technology over the last 25 years or so.

Remember, the original (standard) tonearm for this deck was the MA-707, which is rather low mass unit. I believe that the MA-505 will provide a much better sonic result withour breaking the bank. Can you do better? Probably, but what is it worth for the small additional gain? (this, of course, being the original audiophile conundrum)

If I read your last note correctly, you are being offered an MA-505 for $300? If this is a "real" MA-505 (and not a re-purposed DD-40 variant) this is a very good price. Is it a MkI or II (S-shaped) or a MkIII (straight) model?

Regarding your questions about additional damping for the BL-91, frankly I wouldn't bother. You might make some minor improvements but in doing so you may jeopardize the resale value of the unit. Unless you hear a problem when played, I would just leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is: a very nice vintage turntable.

Bpoletti,
thanks for the explanation I will have a look at the vinyl engine with my friend.
Br3098, don't worry I didn't misunderstand your comment at all. I realy appreciate your and BPoletti's input on this. I do realize that this is an old design, which is one of the reasons why I like it. The turntable arrived yesterday evening and it looks very good almost no damages. I will need to clean it but that is part of the enjoyment, isn't it. Both 33 and 45 speed are stable. No play on the spindle which was my biggest concern.
This evening after reading about the antiskating on Vinylengine we will try my friends MA-505 which is a MK1.
The reason for the low price is because he prefers selling it to me, as a friend, rather than listing it for sale out also we don't know how are the bearings etc.
With my BL-51 I removed the original spring loaded plastic feet that are fixed to the plinth with a simple screw, and coupled it to a 4cm thick japanese maple slab as big as the turntable, with 3 vintage (again) Harmonix MY-T TU-210 feet (without using their metal base). The Maple slab is resting on 4 square pieces of very heavy slate that are each supported by Vibrapods level 4. Probably this reads and even looks a bit strange but not having a decent audiorack (just a handmade pinewood bookshelve) This selfmade damping/insulation was the best we could hear for the money ( I only paid the second hand Vibrapods that I bougth at HiFi-do here in Japan). I will certainly try the same setup with the BL-91 but haven't tried yet to remove the original plastic feet.
thanks again to both of you

Last evening we installed the MA-505. We used the tonearms mounting templates and a Feickert protractor. So far we have been listening to my Miyajima Shilabe with a Yamamoto ebony headshell. In comparison with the the BL-51 static balance tonearm this is an improvement in clearity and bass. Most probably this is not only the tonearm but also the Turntable itself which is a step up in the Micro Seiki BL-series. The BL-51 must have been already dark because we can hear a significant improvement in detail and clearity while the bass is also deeper much deeper. Soundstage is a bit wider but can be better I think. I haven't tried my Micro Benz Ruby 2 yet. That will be for tomorrow. The tonearm cable is an old Micro Seiki but time and smoke have erased its typename. Would like to know how a recent tonearm would sound on a BL-91. Anyone?
Thanks

someone else with experience comparing newer designs with MA-505 .. if possible on Micro Seiki BL series?
thanks in advance
Tony

Tgaral.

i have a micro seiki ddl-120 with a MA-505. I have a Denon another deck with a FR64s and Grace 704. so I can move cartridges around.

The MA-505 is quite good and checking out cartridge combinations that work well is fun.

Also like me you have an armboard there are not many arms you can use without some modification. You can look up the manual on vinyl engine.

mt