Log in or Sign up

Home Forums Members Bookmarks

Search Forums Recent Posts

Home Forums Discussions Audio Hardware

Japanese "Golden Era" Direct-Drive Turntable Standouts

Thread Status: Not open for further replies.

< Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next >

Peter van de Beek

Forum Resident

My contribution is the Luxman PD121, designed by Micro Seiki, made by Lux. First released
in 1975 and stopped at around 1979 (at least in Europe). The picture shows a AT33PTG/II but
I got it replaced by a AT-ART7 sinds a month of 5.
:
 Last purchased music #1 by Peter van de Beek, on Flickr
Aug 5, 2020

Danilo, mackat, Dignan2000 and 1 other person like this.

Daedalus
I haven't heard it all.....

What you have is a great collectible TT, but if you want another vintage collectible-the SR 929
by Sansui is an excellent model. They are pretty hard to find. I have one which I enjoy very
much. Mine has to arm made by Micro-Seiki.
Aug 5, 2020

Peter van de Beek and Soundgarden like this.

manxman
Forum Resident

Not Japanese, but you might find the Beogram 8000 a very interesting turntable. It was very
much ahead of its time, with microprocessor control and an unusual "magnetic" form of
direct drive that produced excellent results:

Beogram 8000

If you do decide to go down this route, I'd suggest you buy the slightly later iteration as the
Beogram 8002, though it will cost you more: this replaced the plastic tacho disc, which
tended to crumble and degrade, with a metal alternative, and you'll find it easier to pick up
original NOS cartridges too.
Aug 5, 2020

Soundgarden likes this.

Peter van de Beek

Forum Resident

If I would replace it with another Direct-drive table, I would like to have a PD441. But I would
realy like to go for something like a Micro Seiki BL-91 with a nice SAEC arm.
Aug 5, 2020

MRL_Audio and Davey like this.

:
 McLover
Senior Member

Soundgarden said: ↑

I really like my DD-5. It looks and sounds wonderful. I'm running it with a Pickering XV-15 625e and
sometimes a Nagaoka MP-150. I've got two head shells for easy swaps. There's really no need to replace it. But
it's the first nice vintage table I've had and so I find my eyes wandering.

The DD-7 and DD-8 makes sense to me because they're essentially better versions of the table I currently have
and love. And I think what I really want is a DD-8 and to re-veneer and perhaps upgrade the MA-505 Mk1
tonearm to one of the "improved" variants and really make it my own. By all accounts it *should* sound better.
Will I be able to tell the difference? Who knows. But that seems like a worthwhile experiment to me... and
possibly an endgame table.
Click to expand...
Of course, I got curious and began looking beyond Micros. First with the Yamaha GTs - and based on
Another comment, that Pickering XV 15/625e happens to be one of my all time favorite
cartridges. Pickering and Stanton moving iron for me has been my favorite cartridges. I am
presently using a Pickering XV 15/400 with a Stanton D6800EL stylus on my Technics SL-
1500 direct drive turntable, it just makes music. I love the musical accuracy of these MI
classics. Your love of the Nagaoka MP 150 is making me interested in one in the future.
Aug 5, 2020

jusbe, JohnO and classicrocker like this.

Davey
NP: Julia Holter ~ Something in the Room She Moves

Peter van de Beek said: ↑

If I would replace it with another Direct-drive table, I would like to have a PD441. But I would realy like to go
for something like a Micro Seiki BL-91 with a nice SAEC arm.

That is a nice combo, pretty popular back in the day too, especially the WE-407/23 like
below, so not hard to find, I almost went that way myself, but I do really like the MA-505XII
tonearm on mine. In any case, with a good arm, it can be a very good sounding table ...
:
 Aug 5, 2020

TheVU, Philo Beddoe, Dignan2000 and 1 other person like this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Davey said: ↑

That is a nice combo, pretty popular back in the day too, especially the WE-407/23 like below, so not hard to
find, I almost went that way myself, but I do really like the MA-505XII tonearm on mine. In any case, with a
good arm, it can be a very good sounding table ...

Click to expand...

These tables are gorgeous and seem to be really well regarded. But out of my price range. Any
perspectives on the less expensive BL-71?
:
 Aug 5, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Peter van de Beek said: ↑

My contribution is the Luxman PD121, designed by Micro Seiki, made by Lux. First released in 1975 and
stopped at around 1979 (at least in Europe). The picture shows a AT33PTG/II but I got it replaced by a AT-
ART7 sinds a month of 5.

Click to expand...

That's a gorgeous table! I've read that MS did a lot of work for Lux. I'll have to add that to my
list.
Aug 5, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

McLover said: ↑

Another comment, that Pickering XV 15/625e happens to be one of my all time favorite cartridges. Pickering
and Stanton moving iron for me has been my favorite cartridges. I am presently using a Pickering XV 15/400
with a Stanton D6800EL stylus on my Technics SL-1500 direct drive turntable, it just makes music. I love the
musical accuracy of these MI classics. Your love of the Nagaoka MP 150 is making me interested in one in the
future.

I love the Pickering. I have a NOS d1200 stylus on the way now and it will be interesting to
compare that to the d625. It's such a complete sound and captures all the details without
being bright or harsh. The MP-150 sounds a little bit softer to my ears and on my system. But
still wonderfully balanced and detailed.
Last edited: Aug 5, 2020

Aug 5, 2020

jusbe and McLover like this.

:
 Peter van de Beek
Forum Resident

Thanks Davey and Soundgarden. That SAEC WE-407/23 is indeed the tonearm I would like
to have with that great ULS-3X headshell. Luckily that the BL-91 was sold here in The
Netherlands back in the 70's and the tonearm isn't region bonded.

About the BL-71 (or BL-51). They are all great tables. But the BL-91 isn't build for nothing and
was sold well. There should be a reason. But when I go for such a choice, I will go for the BL-
91, instead of first another one and then look for a -91 in the end. Thanks for the great photo.
Should almost print it out and hang it on the wall.
Aug 5, 2020

Soundgarden likes this.

BrentB
Urban Angler

Sony ps-x50!
Aug 5, 2020

findog3103
Forum Resident

I have the Sony PS-x70 and SP-1o mkii and I think they are fabulous.
Aug 5, 2020

BrentB and jusbe like this.

bluesky
Senior Member

Sansui
1979 SR-929 - nice!
1980 SR-838, I like & have the 838 - a wonderful TT !!

Both are TOTL.

Last edited: Aug 5, 2020
:
 Aug 5, 2020

Davey
NP: Julia Holter ~ Something in the Room She Moves

bluesky said: ↑

Sansui
1979 SR-929 - nice!
1980 SR-838, I like & have the 838 - a wonderful TT !!

Both are TOTL.

The SR-929 is pretty nice, I think that's another one engineered by Micro Seiki, they got a lot
of turntable work in that time frame. Not sure how much of it they did, though, doesn't look
quite like a MS tonearm, the knife edge bearing probably means it was a SAEC design. Cool
table with the gloss black finish, and the black aluminum platter housing with the lit up
displays, really stood out...

Aug 5, 2020
:
 jusbe, TheVU, Philo Beddoe and 4 others like this.

krisjay
Psychedelic Wave Rider

VinylSoul said: ↑

Maybe a used sl-1200 doubt you could better.

Why used. A new SL 1200 MK7 is $999.00. Probably will be my next table, I bought a AT
LP140 to tie me over for a year or so. I am a bit surprised how much I like it, and it is certainly
is working great for me right now. Within a year or so though I want to get an MK7, fit a
decent cart on it and be done, probably be the last table of my life
Aug 5, 2020

jusbe, patient_ot and Stanton56 like this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

This is probably crazy, and totally not the type of table I'm looking for but this one on is
fascinating: BE Broadcast Turntable Model 12C / Rek-O-Kut Tonearn All Original Mint. |
eBay

Anyone have any knowledge of or experience with this BE Broadcast Turntable Model 12C?
Aug 6, 2020

jusbe likes this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Well, I bit the bullet and picked up a Micro Seiki DD-8 minus the tonearm/base for a good
price. Then purchased the correct tonearm base and an aftermarket dustcover.

But I'm struggling on the tonearm. I'd like to be buy an upgraded tonearm. MA-505 MkI is
the base model. The other 9" S-shapes MA-505 models are, near as I can tell, as follows:

MA-505 Mk II - Improved Mk I
:
 MA-505 S - Improved Mk II with silver wire.
MA-505 X - MkII featuring a heavier arm base
MA-505 XII - Improved MA-505 X with silver wire.
MA-505 XS - MA-505 X w silver wiring.

I have no idea whether the differences between models will be audible. Right now on Ebay are
several MkIs and a couple X models. The prices are all over the map. Sometimes the MkIs are
more expensive than comparably quality Xs. Then there's one labelled a MkIII which looks
different on the margins than the others, but I'm not sure what it is cause MkIIIs have
straight arms. (I've inquired...)

If anyone has knowledge of the differences and whether they matter, I'd love to know. Again,
as with most things Micro Seiki, details are hard to find.
Aug 7, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

Davey
NP: Julia Holter ~ Something in the Room She Moves

Soundgarden said: ↑

Well, I bit the bullet and picked up a Micro Seiki DD-8 minus the tonearm/base for a good price. Then
purchased the correct tonearm base and an aftermarket dustcover.

But I'm struggling on the tonearm. I'd like to be buy an upgraded tonearm. MA-505 MkI is the base model. The
other 9" S-shapes MA-505 models are, near as I can tell, as follows:

MA-505 Mk II - Improved Mk I
MA-505 S - Improved Mk II with silver wire.
MA-505 X - MkII featuring a heavier arm base
Click to expand...
MA-505 XII - Improved MA-505 X with silver wire.
MA-505 XS - MA-505 X w silver wiring.
ebay isn't a very good place to buy turntables or parts, the prices are generally far above
market value, especially on something like Micro Seiki. I'd also be cautious buying a turntable
that is parted out, it is generally done because it is damaged so worth more as parts. There
was a DD-8 on ebay just recently that fit that description, it was offered as a complete table,
but the plinth had some damage so would be a tough sale, and then another seller was
offering the same table without the tonearm, and not really showing the damage, for a little
less. And the dust cover didn't look like it was the right one either. They are likely both
brokers.

In any case, I have the MA-505 XII on my BL-91, don't think it has silver wire, but it has a
more hefty base, and they moved away from the VTA on the fly capability to a simpler
mechanism. I also have the Mk 1 version that I bought via hifido for $386 about a year ago
:
 according to my email, it's for another project.

And yes, the MKIII is the later straight arm version. It's similar to the MKII in most respects.

MICRO MA-505XII/MA-505SII/M-505LXIIの仕様 マイクロ

Last edited: Aug 7, 2020

Aug 7, 2020

patient_ot and Peter van de Beek like this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Yup. That was me. I recognize the gamble. Because I wanted a DD-8, am planning to re-
veneer anyway, and intend to (likely) install an upgraded arm, I figured this might the best
way to go. $440.

Despite all the considerations and input offered in this thread, I couldn't pull myself away
from the allure of the DD-8. Largely because it's clearly an upgrade to the DD-5 that I know I
love. So I bit the bullet. I've been watching for the right DD-8 for months. The same ones
have just been sitting there and I got tired of waiting. And I couldn't find one anywhere else.
Then this popped up.

What I may do from here though is wait for the table to arrive and have my tech go through it
before purchasing an arm. I intended to send whatever I bought to him anyway, so this isn't
an unexpected expense. But what will show up on my doorstep in perhaps three to four weeks
time? I guess I'll find out and go from there.

Lastly, if this is a table that's salvageable and may have otherwise ended up out-of-service and
in a junk pile, I'll be happy to have saved it. And because this is likely my endgame table (for
now, hah!) I don't mind spending a little extra if it gets me where I want to go.
Last edited: Aug 7, 2020

Aug 7, 2020

Peter van de Beek and Trabik like this.

John Buchanan
I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

Peter van de Beek said: ↑

:
 If I would replace it with another Direct-drive table, I would like to have a PD441. But I would realy like to go
for something like a Micro Seiki BL-91 with a nice SAEC arm.

That Stax UA7 arm with the carbon fibre is a nice one.
Aug 7, 2020

McLover and Peter van de Beek like this.

Davey
NP: Julia Holter ~ Something in the Room She Moves

Soundgarden said: ↑

Yup. That was me. I recognize the gamble. Because I wanted a DD-8, am planning to re-veneer anyway, and
intend to (likely) install an upgraded arm, I figured this might the best way to go. $440.

Despite all the considerations and input offered in this thread, I couldn't pull myself away from the allure of the
DD-8. Largely because it's clearly an upgrade to the DD-5 that I know I love. So I bit the bullet. I've been
watching for the right DD-8 for months. The same ones have just been sitting there and I got tired of waiting.
And I couldn't find one anywhere else. Then this popped up.

What I may do from here though is wait for the table to arrive and have my tech go through it before
purchasing an arm. I intended to send whateverClick to expand...
I bought to him anyway, so this isn't an unexpected expense.
But what will show up on my doorstep in perhaps three to four weeks time? I guess I'll find out and go from
There was a post on audiogon that helped me when I was looking for more info on the MA-
505 differences, beyond what I could glean from the manuals... I added a couple comments
below.

There is a lot of confusion over the differences between various MA-505 models. I can only provide you with
what is my understanding and others may correct me if I am mistaken.

MA-505 Mk I - the original MA-505 dynamically balanced tonearm. A 9" "S" arm w/ copper wiring. Still very
good by today's standards

Mk II - The MkII is am improvedversion of the MkI

MA-505 Mk III - 9" straight tonearm w/ copper wiring. It was designed to mate with very low [should be high]
compliance cartridges which were all the rage inClick
the to expand...
1980s

Micro Seiki MA-505 variants - any oracles around? | Audiogon Discussion Forum
Last edited: Aug 7, 2020

Aug 7, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

:
 Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Davey said: ↑

There was a post on audiogon that helped me when I was looking for more info on the MA-505 differences,
beyond what I could glean from the manuals... I added a couple comments below.

That was the best summary I could find too. My summary above is basically an abbreviated
version of that one focused only the 9" S-shaped arms and adding the DD-7 variant. Which of
course leaves me with the question: Would my ears notice a difference between the MkI and
any of the others??? Hah. I have no idea.
Aug 7, 2020

Davey
NP: Julia Holter ~ Something in the Room She Moves

Soundgarden said: ↑

That was the best summary I could find too. My summary above is basically an abbreviated version of that one
focused only the 9" S-shaped arms and adding the DD-7 variant. Which of course leaves me with the question:
Would my ears notice a difference between the MkI and any of the others??? Hah. I have no idea.

Well, I think the DD-8 uses a variant of the MkII, but it isn't the universal mount version like
on my BL-91, it has a custom base for the DD-8. I think it attaches with three screws to the
arm base and doesn't have the threaded base and nut type mounting. I'm not sure the
universal type would fit, so be careful and get measurements before committing to a
purchase. I can give you the tonearm base threaded shaft size for the MkI and MkII, if
needed. The MkII is bigger.
Aug 7, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Davey said: ↑

Well, I think the DD-8 uses a variant of the MkII, but it isn't the universal mount version like on my BL-91, it
has a custom base for the DD-8. I think it attaches with three screws to the arm base and doesn't have the
threaded base and nut type mounting. I'm not sure the universal type would fit, so be careful and get
measurements before committing to a purchase. I can give you the tonearm base threaded shaft size for the
MkI and MkII, if needed. The MkII is bigger.
:
 The plot thickens...

I just learned that there is a not just a tone-arm base that's specific the DD-8 but a tone-arm
MOUNTING BASE BRACKET that's specific to the DD-8 too. See here:

MICRO DD-8 Tonearm Mounting Base Bracket Assembly for MA-505 | eBay

So the question is... which of the various MA-505 tonearms will fit this mounting base
bracket? Is there a specific variant of the MkII made for the DD-8 and that's the only one that
fits? Or does it fit the universal types? If there's only one variant that fits, then the list of MA-
505 variants needs to be expanded to include the DD-8 variant. That's a question I need to
answer before purchasing a tonearm. I also wonder if the threads on the bottom of the
universal MA-505 tonearms can be removed to allow those to fit base mounting bracket.
That's another question.
Last edited: Aug 8, 2020

Aug 8, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

Soundgarden
Forum Resident
Thread Starter

Davey said: ↑

Well, I think the DD-8 uses a variant of the MkII, but it isn't the universal mount version like on my BL-91, it
has a custom base for the DD-8. I think it attaches with three screws to the arm base and doesn't have the
threaded base and nut type mounting. I'm not sure the universal type would fit, so be careful and get
measurements before committing to a purchase. I can give you the tonearm base threaded shaft size for the
MkI and MkII, if needed. The MkII is bigger.

Or... maybe there is a way to modify the DD-8 base to accept the universal tonearms with
threads - without having to use the mounting bracket. The bottom on the DD-8 base is
completely flat and the hole in the DD-8 plinth looks to be big enough to accept the threads
and bolts of the universal types.

Or or... I could take the standard DD-8 base and whatever tonearm I purchase to a local
machine shop and have them fashion a custom base that the universal types can fasten to
directly.

Looks like I've put myself in a problem solving situation. If the DD-8 motor/platter, etc. all
turn out to work well, then I can try to solve it. Good thing I don't like things to be easy.
Last edited: Aug 8, 2020
:
 Aug 8, 2020

Peter van de Beek likes this.

< Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next >

Thread Status: Not open for further replies.

Home Forums Discussions Audio Hardware

Classic :: Blue Contact Us Help

Forum software by XenForo® Forum Policies, Rules, and Terms of Service Privacy Policy
XenForo add-ons by Waindigo™
Feedback System by XenCentral.com
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase,
this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and
affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and
the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com.
: