Kyocera PL-910
Kyocera PL-901
(1984 - 1985)

Two turntables that were NOT built by Kyocera but by Micro Seiki. Luxman at the same time these were developed also asked Micro to build a super-ultra turntable (all LUX turntables were built & engineered by Micro) but Luxman finally didn't go for it as CD was getting pretty close...
I haven't got images of the prototypes but you can see the Luxman variant of both here on TVK : Luxman X-5P.

So, unexpectedly, the PL-901, shown here to the right,is the big one, and the PL-910, shown below, is the small one. This may mean that the big C-910 and B-910 separates were meant to be the small ones as well... That would make the later A-710 the... tiny one ?

Built like all first generation Kyocera on a composite compound that efficiently suppresses most of the vibrations. It is, however, like all such compounds (Sony's SBMC, Technics' BMC and others) rather fragile when it comes to sudden precise shocks and easily breaks in pieces. It is nevertheless very efficient and quite immune to little scratches.

The platter is full ceramic powder, as used by Audio Technica for its famed AT600 ceramic mat (the best turntable mat ever ?) and Sony on all of its high-end CD players starting in 1987 (and many others in between and thereafter).
As per Micro's then reversed trend (belt-drive vs. direct drive), both the PL-901 and PL-910 (and the Luxman X-5P) are belt-driven with a sub-platter and the ceramic platter ; big shaft, big motor, big power-supply and Star Trek-ish looks which Kyocera indulged into - with success.

The PL-910 allows for pitch adjustements of each speed and has a stroboscope switch ; the pattern for the 'scope is placed next to the belt recess and a confirmation LED on the control block. The PL-901 has none of that : start/stop, 33 1/3rpma and 45rpm switches - pure and simple.
The 901 uses gun metal for the main platter (18cm, 2,4kg), the 910 has diecast aluminium (26cm, 1,4kg) ; both use a ceramic ball bearing (0,5µ tolerance) for the rotation and the same ceramic platter (30cm Ø, 1,72cm thickness, 3,6kg) and the same material for the chassis, shaft (0,5µ tolerance as well) and more : Ceramic Compound Resin (CCR).

However, at 580,000¥ for the PL-901 and 298,000¥ for the PL-910, Kyocera previsibly didn't sell many. The production run is anybody's guess but should be around fifty (or less) for the PL-910 and your two hands and a couple of toes for the PL-901.

Needless to say... I want one.

Click the ZN button below to read a nice anecdote regarding the PL-910 and the "more" button to see detail images of same !!