Being an analogue nut has it's disadvantages, one of which is being almost totally incapable of passing up a good (analogue) deal, even when your finances are a bit stretched. Thus it was for me, when, out of the blue, I was asked to "help" sell something almost as mythical as Unicorn's -- a Huge Micro Seiki RX-5000 TT. I was asked to sell this beast in the USA, where I assured them it would fetch 6K USD no problem -- the only problem was, that when this brute came home with me, it was to roost. As I have tried desperately to explain to my wife, it is sort akin to finding a Picasso in the trash. Something that I have longed for and never dared hope to have has suddenly become mine. Wow! Isn't life strange....
Gone (sadly) Micro Seiki RX-5000/RY-5500 Serial Number: [used]
Description: This is the famous 42kg beast with the 16kg Gun-metal platter that perhaps went furthest in using high-mass damping for vibration control, and high-mass inertia for speed stability. Read the RX-5000 brochure.
History: Purchased at an estate sale from the widow of a Composer/Conductor [original owner] in Minas Gerais, Brazil by Fernando Kalil last month (July 2006), who sold it to Julio Cesar of AudioClassic. I traded a used VPI TNT-JR with an SDS to purchase the TT, with the idea of selling it in the USA [ I have an SME Model 20/2 that I am plenty happy with.]
Condition: AGS 7/10 Good, but not perfect -- basically what you would expect from a 20(?) year old TT -- there are some little dings on the top lip of the platter/plinth, and the vertical columns/posts that support the tonearm arm board clamps are oxidized. Looks good, especially after a thorough cleaning. Seems to have lost any protective lacquer. Look at the following photos.
Pictures: (See below)
Caveats: This item is physically in Sao Paulo Brazil -- shortly it will be in the greater Washington DC area. I plan to ship from a USA based destination. This is not a fake or joke. I am a consultant working here in Brazil who came upon an audio jewel, and who is trying to cash in on the rare beauty of it. If I were just slightly better off, you would never even know it existed. I have not sold anything on Audiogon for awhile, but I refuse to let anyone that buys from me be disappointed -- you will get what is described above, or you will get your money back. I have a positive rating on Audiogon, and I have sold high cost items such as a Thiel CS7.2 loudspeakers and Krell FPB300cx
Payment:This will be an auction with the reserve set to $10,000.00 USD, Plus shipping and handling from the USA based shipping address. PayPal from verified payers only -- US based purchasers only.
The above was what I was writing for Audiogon, but I am afraid, my beloved comrades, that the "or you would never know it existed" aspect applies. The brute stops here. The sound is superb, even with my Incognito wired RB-300 [with Expressismo Heavy Weight and VTA collar], clearly showing the hierarchy of importance -- TT, arm,cartridge (?) maybe TT, cartridge, arm. Whatever -- this is the best I have heard my RB-300 sound, and I think it is attributable to the TT.
I own this turntable, but I have yet to really give it a chance, as I do not have the space to accommodate two turntables in my small apartment.
I have recently read an interesting thread on this table. If it is true that Mr. Ikeda said the following, well then, I really have to put this baby into production.
