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Micro RX 5000 Renaissance?

It may be just a coincidence, but looking through the various reports of the recent Munich high end event I've noticed no fewer than four (!) different turntables that all look suspiciously like the Micro RX-5000.

TW Acoustic and Kuzma launched new models visually 'inspired' by the RX-5000 design, Acoustical Systems showed a table that looks like an exact copy and DB Systems (www.micro.nl) also showed an exact copy, leaving no doubt of its objective by simply calling it 'The Tribute'. And then of course there already was the TechDas AirForce 5.

Does anyone know more about these newbies and what's under their bonnets? It would be interesting to compare their performance vis à vis the original and hear how much technology has moved forward. Or not.

While I'm a happy owner of the RX-1500G, the RX-5000 has been on my radar for quite some time. So with this Micro Renaissance going on, should I wait for a mint original to cross my path or should I go for one of these new tables? It seems Micro enthousiasts are now spoiled for choice........

edgewear

Showing 4 responses by opus111

opus111
58 posts
 
Mirko Djordjevic of Huntington Beach, CA builds a very high quality replica of RX-5000 for substantially less $$$
opus111
58 posts
 
The best of MS TTs are its looking but not its overall quality performance. In the other side the MAX 237/282 tonearms are really a reference product an a true challenge to any today tonearm designs.

Is this a joke?  Having owned 1500, 5000, and 8000 I am a MS fan but  the 237 and 282 arms are by far the most overrated tonearms of all time, and nowhere near the level of their better turntables.  They sound thin, sterile, and downright unmusical.  A cheap Rega 250 sounds better...far better
opus111
58 posts
 
My assessment of the MAX-237 and 282 arms comes from a direct experience of having owned both of them.  I bought a NOS MAX-282 brand new sealed in the box with 3 different armwands from a dealer many moons ago.  I was so disappointed at the sound it produced that I thought there was something wrong with it.  Aware of all the accolades and hype, I figured something must be wrong with it so I ended up buying another one to compare, but it sounded equally bad.  The only good thing was I sold them on Ebay for a lot more than what I paid for them, but I honestly felt guilty selling them because they sound so bad.

Love the way they are made and look, but they are simply poor sounding.  Their used price has nothing to do with the way they sound and everything to do with the myth and rarity. 

The only other audio component that ended up being as disappointing was the Lamm L-1 preamp which was highly rated when first came out.  Talk about a sterile sounding preamp!  

I'd take SME 3012, Ortofon RMG(A), Pioneer Exclusive EA-03 (now this is a great tonearm), not to mention many of the great modern tonearms, over the 237 and 282 any day.

Just because it is highly sought after and fetches good money doesn't mean it sounds good.  Another example of highly overrated arm is FR-66(S) but at least it sounds good (thought not worth $6000+).




opus111
58 posts
 
Wrongly designed or not, I rather like my 8000, at least more so than 90% of the turntables being made today. I'd take the "higher distortion/coloration levels" of the arms you don't like over the MS tonearms any day, and you can continue enjoying well damped accuracy of MAX-282 if that's what you think you are hearing
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