Hello. I am new to Audiogon and this is my first post. I have owned the MS DDX-1000 since it came to market.
Welcome on board @mammothguy54
How good is the Micro Seiki DDX-1000 Direct Drive turntable ?
Here is the MICRO DDX-1000 direct drive. Never tried myself, but it is the most compact DD designed for 3 tonearms.
*The question is how good this turntable really is, compared to some other vintage Direct Drives ?
Some information from VintageKnob website:
*The question is how good this turntable really is, compared to some other vintage Direct Drives ?
Some information from VintageKnob website:
The DDX-1000 is the original design, with two sculpted strobe markings around the 2kg / 31cm die-cast aluminium platter. The resulting moment of inertia is at 330kg / cm2 and the top mat in fact covers a thick cork sub-mat set inside the platter itself.
The DDX-1000, in real late 70s modernism is a direct-drive. The motor is a DC-Servo with FG frequency generator reference set through the strobe neon lamp which "checks" how many stripe it sees and rectifies if necessary ; the resulting speed accuracy is of 0,03%.
The starting torque is of 1,2kg / cm and load characteristics allow the DDX-1000 to remain below 0,04% deviation up to a 3g load set at the outer limit of the platter - specs-wise, we're here under the contemporary Sony TTS-8000 for instance...
The heigh-adjustable feet are typical Micro Seiki (or Luxman, of course :) and contain a mix of inert damping (neoprene stuffing) and mechanical damping (spring).
The is no Quartz Lock on the DDX-1000 ; the MD-1000 power-supply box holds the power on/off, start 33rpm, start 45rpm and stop buttons plus two ± 6% speed controls.
The AX-1G to AX-6G tonearm bases fit everything from the ubiquitous SMEs to the Technics EPA-100 or PUA-1600L.
Of course, the motor of the DDX was used as basis for the Marantz Tt 1000 (1979), and that of the DQX-1500 (an updated DQX-1000) for the Tt 1000 mkII (1992). And, as often, Micro's direct-drive motors came from... Victor.
DDX-1000/G :
April 1976 limited edition (really limited : 30 units) custom made in... bronze. Howerever, it is black-looking for the most part, with the bronze only kept visible for the top of the three feet ; the platter was kept in AL and the command box was anodized in all-black style ; even the AX-1/G was in-bronze-but-painted-black...
Names of the people they were made for (and offered to - these were gifts !) were silkscreened on the (bronze...) motor's cache (...but painted black) - a rarity to say the least.
The DDX-1000 naturally spawned a myriad of lookalikes and still does today - perhaps better than the original, perhaps not. Or not that much :)
Showing 17 responses by chakster
Yeah, Luxman 444 is like a Cutting Lathe for me, the engineering is so nice that in terms of usability this is definitely the best turntable, because i use so many different tonearms and cartridges and only this turntable allow me to swap whatever tonearm quickly. Here is a pair of mine. I could sell all turntable, but not Luxman, it is a keeper. It became my favorite so quickly, so i even sold my Technics SP-10 mkII after i bought my second PD-444. Designed my custom rack especially for PD-444 and now nothing can compete with it in my system. When i will make racks for Victor TT-101 and Denon DP-80 i wish i could use them all together, but it's crazy idea. I love vintage DDs, but PD-444 is what i like the most. |
Chakster, nice setup. thanks, been working on it for a long time You have to be careful with CU-180 for LUX platter, because there is a slight tolerance (+/- 0.2mm) between different samples of CU-180 in diameter (this is stated in the original manual). One sample can fit, another can’t. The problem is that LUX platter is like a round frame, look at the edge, the mat must be inside the round frame on the platter and a tiny difference in diameter is critical. Sadly mega rare my CU-500 is too heavy for LUX motor and i can’t use it, it was my best mat on SP-10 mkII SAEC SS-300 and The Mat (Sakura System) is what i use too. What tone arms do you have in use? I tried so many, right now i have in use my FR-64fx with W250 and N60, Lustre GST-801, Denon DA-401. Before there was SONY PUA-7, Victor UA-7045/7082, Luxman TA-1, Technics EPA-100 Ikeda IT-345 is waiting here, FR-64s with B60 too I have only one tonearm that is impossible to mount on LUX, this arm is EPA-100 mkII |
PD-444 is superheavy DD and it does not required all that hustle with the plinth and feet as the SP10mk2. I preffered Luxman "sound" too, and sold SP10mk2 with no regret. My SP10mk2 was mint condition and fully original just like my PD-444. If i will even buy Technics again it must be mk3 (or SP10R), not mk2. Luxman PD-444 is a serious turntable and i'm happy with a pair of them in the studio |
The situation in this world now is too bad, so i don’t think i will buy EMT anytime soon, it would be nice to try that small EMT 938, i’ve seen them in the studios abroad, i like them. I wish to find one. I never tried EMT cartridges designed for use with those tonearms. DP-80 is the champ in price just like SP-10mkII Actually luxman is so underrated that price is also very nice. Even when shipped by post worldwide it’s safe. EMT normally cost too much, now sure about shipping, do you know the market price for EMT 938 ? |
@mijostyn The Plinth is rather basic and you will have to do some work to isolate it. What do you mean? Additional isolation platform under a turntable? I like the idea of almost no plinth, it's basically a frame, but: "The three large insulators of the DDX-1000 form a unique absorber mechanism that not only eliminates entirely the hazards of external vibration, but also serves to isolate the arm from the turntable." "The power supply and transformer are completely isolated in a separate control unit, thus eliminating any feedback or hum interference." |
Not sure why a DUST COVER is a subject of this post, i don't use any dust covers on any turntables. Object like that is not good for room acoustic just like glass and must be avoided. I assume Micro DDX-1000 is probably lower level TT compared to what i have, so it will be deleted from my wantlist. It's a shame, because i like those Micro tonearm brackets. |
Actually i was inspired by this idea of using Micro Seiki bracket/armboards for other turntable, i also have Victor TT-101 (actually two of them). This is not new because i’ve seen something similar before on Verdier turntables. And then OMA turntable with similar arm boards too. Pretty good idea ? I am not interested in anything but a Direct Drive, a turntable in the middle of this kind of "plinth" can be anything, like Victor tt-101 or Denon DP-80. Long time ago i’ve seen a custom made plinth by Steve Dobbins, the arm board also cab be rotated and fixed by one bolt, just like on his Kodo The Beat turntable. After all these i realized that Micro Seiki arm boards designed for DDX-1000 and related turntable is ideal solution and with an appropriate custom bolt cab be fixed to a custom plinth. Not bad, right ? Worth to ask about DDX-1000 turntable ? Micro Seiki made several turntables for use with those nice brackets, the DDX-1000 is the cheapest among them. DDX-1500, very expensive SX-8000 and this monster also designed for the same bracket/armboard. So i believe this method has been approved over the years not only by Micro Seiki engineers, but also by next generation of enthusiasts and custom plinth makers? And there must be a better Direct Drive from Micro, which one ? Thanks |
Never had any issues with my vintage Direct Drive turntables, no matter Technic or Denon. Paid $1200 for MINT condition SP-10 mkII and used for about 7 years myself, sold for $1500 to a friend locally. Tried many SP-20 (all like new). Purchased Denon DP-80 in MINT condition (no problem). Using two Luxman PD-444, one of them has been serviced by previous user in Japan, another is original, no difference in sound! And yes, there is only one vintage DD turntable that must be serviced, it's Victor TT-101 (so we shipped to jp jones). If someone can't buy a perfectly working original unit in mint condition it's not the reason to say that all of them must be serviced. I have no problem with vintage DD turntables and this is MAIN reason I like them so much! |
I had discussion on these forums and told about my and my friends expiriese how much better DD EMT 950, 948 compared to SP mk2, Garrad 401, Thorens 124, Sota, Nottingham, Lenco and other similar stuff. Do you realize the price difference between top EMT and everything else in your list ? Technics is not "similar stuff" if you put it next to Belt Drive turntables like Sota, Thorens or inder drive like Garrard, Lenco. Those are completely different turntables. Do you know what is Lenco (or Thorens) ? Look at the original Lenco before all the tweaks. How can you compare this to the Technics SP-10 mkII Direct Drive ??? But most of local audiophile who have zero experience with EMT turntables told be that SP mk2 is much better turntable. SP-10 mkII drive cost $1500 in MINT condition, EPA-100 or EPA-100 mkII are much better tonearms than any EMT tonearm (designed mostly for EMT cartridges only). When someone comparing the sound of the drive itself i’m getting sick. Most likely they are comparing the sound of cartridge and tonearm, because to compare drives everything else must be identical. EMT is definitely good broadcast turntable, huge and very expensive (overpriced to be correct). Nice for collection if you’re rich enough, but SP-10 mkII and EPA-100 are "best buy", superb quality for reasonable price. You can pay $20 000 more pretending for improvement, but it will not happen. Technics SP-10 mkII drive in a custom plinth with great tonearm will cost you less than $5000. However, this is better. |
The main problem with huge turntables like some of the EMT is their size and weight, you can’t buy them online. It’s extremely difficult, especially international transit. Technics, Denon or Victor drives are compact and can be shipped anywhere (must be protected). They can be purchased online. One of the reason they are so popular worldwide. I wish I could buy this one, but it’s impossible to ship it. |
THAT in the photo looks pristine but it’s a Denon, not an EMT. Denon DP-100M is what I want. http://www.thevintageknob.org/denon-DP-100M.html |
He’s not Japanese. I bought from Alex Tan before, my SP-10 mkII was from his vault. Just like another member of this forum, Alex (who’s not a member) often selling refurbished cartridges without even mentioning they are refurbished, so I don’t trust anymore (it was long time ago). Realistic price is under $10k, but only in Japan. Not my price category anyway. |