Micro Seiki SX-555FVW

1 9 8 5 1985
1 9 9 2
Plus
1992+

Ahhh - chances are you and I will never, ever, see (or hear) one of those - too scarce outside Japan.

Micro's small air-bearing vacuum turntable : small because the bigger equivalent is the SX-111FV. But this would be already big enough for most...

The suspension system is a combination of highly viscous oil, an air chamber, heavy duty tapered metal coils and compressed rubber insulators.

Next up is the all important platter : a duet of aluminium (outer) and bronze (inner) separated by a 0,03mm cushion of air fed by the RP-1110 outboard air pump.
This assembly rests on a glass main sub-platter (remember the 1979 Marantz Tt 1000 ?), a feature inherited from the 1982 SX-777FV monster in which the glass was sandwhiched between the two platters, whereas it is here below the main (outer) platter.

The inner part also has slits to let the record itself be properly bonded to the platter - as Luxman (aka Micro...) and Victor had done since 1979 in the PD555 and TT-801.
The best part being that, when in use, the two platters are separated by air and thus strictly no mechanical friction happens in the vertical plane - pure isolation !
The inertia moment of the motor + dual platter assembly amounts to 1000kg/cm2 ; the dual platter weighs 7,5kg.

Next is the frame : just heavy at 13,6kg of real wood and very good-looking, too, as veneered in rosewood.


Pretty rare, even in Japan - people were already more into CD when the SX-555s and SX-111FV were launched...

Micro Seiki SX-555FVW, image 1 Micro Seiki SX-555FVW, image 2 Micro Seiki SX-555FVW, image 3
Micro Seiki SX-555FVW specifications
Title Value
Type : armless belt-drive
Motor : FG servo DC
Speeds : 33 1/3 & 45rpm
Pitch control : ± 3%
Wow & flutter : < 0,025%
S/N ratio : > 78dB
Platter : duplex (aluminium+bronze)
air bearing isolation
glass main sub-platter
7,5kg
Inertia moment : 1000kg / cm2
Isolation : 4x Quadruplex
PC : ??
Dimensions : 53,2 x 19,3 x 44cm
Total weight : 20kg
Air unit : RP-1110 (6,3kg)
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page online since : november 2008
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