MICRO SEIKI RX-1500

Pre owned. In excellent conditions. No visible signs of wear. Without original packaging.

With SME 3009 tonearm.

The Micro Seiki RX-1500 stands out as one of the most sophisticated and ingenious turntables ever created, the result of the Japanese manufacturer’s masterful craftsmanship. Its most distinctive feature is the ability to separate the motor from the platter, a design choice that minimizes vibrations and ensures impeccable mechanical isolation.

The build quality is extraordinary, with extremely tight tolerances, a platter suspended on springs that dampens unwanted resonances, and a speed-adjustable motor capable of delivering stable and precise rotation.

The RX-1500 consists of two distinct sections: the platter, equipped with a central spindle and designed to accommodate one or more tonearms, up to four at the same time, and the motor unit, positioned laterally on the left, which integrates the power supply, on/off switch, speed control, and pulley for belt transmission.

Over time, this model has proven to be extremely versatile and open to customization: it can be paired with tonearms from different manufacturers, dedicated supports, and even components reproduced using modern 3D printing technology, which has helped preserve its original spirit.

When the motor is placed at a distance from the platter with a longer belt, induced noise is further reduced, allowing for the installation of a second tonearm and confirming the modular yet purist philosophy behind this masterpiece.

The Micro Seiki RX-1500 therefore remains an absolute reference point for audiophiles, capable of combining mechanical precision, engineering elegance, and uncompromising musicality.

SME 3009 Tonearm

The SME 3009 tonearm still embodies the excellence of British engineering applied to high fidelity. Designed in an era when mechanical precision was a true art, this arm represents a perfect synthesis of technical refinement and practical functionality. The polished, lightweight anodized aluminum tube, in a “J” shape with a diameter of 9.5 mm and a wall thickness of only 0.56 mm, provides structural rigidity and low moving mass. The support system uses ball bearings for vertical movement and a pair of hardened steel knife-edge bearings for horizontal movement, solutions that ensure extremely smooth and precise operation.

One of its most ingenious features is the cartridge alignment adjustment system. Unlike the common practice of the time, SME chose fixed holes on the headshell and made the arm base sliding, allowing simple and accurate overhang adjustment without compromising overall rigidity. Tracking force adjustment also reflects this meticulous design approach: a threaded main counterweight allows the arm to be balanced at zero grams, while a secondary counterweight, mounted on a side arm (the so-called “rider weight”), slides along a graduated scale to apply the desired pressure with great accuracy.

Despite its delicate appearance, the SME 3009 is very easy to install, provided a compatible mounting base is available. Once properly set up, the arm proves stable, intuitive to adjust, and remarkably consistent in sonic performance. The tactile sensation is one of controlled lightness and measured fluidity, the result of a design aimed at minimizing mechanical friction and interference.

In listening tests, the 3009 impresses with its open sound and natural midrange. The tonal balance is refined and never artificial, with timbral qualities that shine in acoustic, classical, or jazz recordings, where transparency and microdynamic detail come to the fore. Despite its age, its tracking performance remains competitive with many modern tonearms, thanks also to its ability to maintain harmonious interaction with cartridges of varying mass and compliance.

Technical specifications Micro Seiki RX-1500:

• Type: analog turntable with detachable motor
• Power consumption: approx. 8 W
• Speeds: supports 33⅓ and 45 rpm
• Motor: separate unit (RY-1500D), with dedicated on/off and speed controls
• Platter suspension: four-element system including coil springs, rubber-diaphragm piston, compressed air, and high-viscosity oil, for isolation from vibrations and acoustic feedback
• Speed stability: approx. ±3% adjustment range
• Wow & flutter: approx. 0.025% WRMS
• Signal-to-noise ratio: ~75 dB (DIN B)
• Weight: approx. 33.1 kg

Technical specifications SME 3009:

• Tonearm: 9″ J-shaped anodized aluminum tube
• Mounting distance: 215.4 mm
• Effective mass: 6.5 g (with fixed headshell); 9 g (with detachable headshell)
• Connection: SME standard 4-pin parallel
• Total weight: 0.82 kg