Hello
I do not know the problem between USA and Micro-Seiki, but in France nobody want to talk about these turntables. As says Briceeboy, I totally agree. These turntables are built like sovietic tanks. Undestructible. This is the first point.
Next: you do not have to take months to adjust arms, feet or anything. It works as it. Well you must have a flat room, but you do not need to be graduate of an ingeenier university and must understand a 1000 pages owner manual with some esoteric words and magnetic incantations.
At last the sound: well, you just have to listen in the same comparation system, and make your own idea with some 150,000$ turntables.
I don't want to hurt anybody, but I own a DDX 1500 (the last Micro they made) from a long long time with a 505 Mark 3 tone arm and a Sumiko Blue Point Evo 3 (I suppose it's possible to have better with some others new cartridges). I frequently listen to other modern turnatables in french audio shop, just to assure myself. Not one, for instance, works as well mine Micro.
It's simply incredible, but true.
Just a last word. These turntables are not so big. Of course they are heavy (good point) but if you compare with some others, you will notice a reasonable size, wich can integrate your system quiet discreetly.
To resume we could say, who's afraid by Micro-Seiki ? Answer: everybody except Micro owners of course. You can run with closed eyes.
Pardon my english, and enjoy your Micro if you can find one.
Regards Yves from France