Micro Seki mb 14

[noise gate]

So I been to this thrift store in a small town I travel through on business weekly. In the back there's a couple tables, but they aren't for sale...yet.

Today I actually find a staff member with some initiative, and sense of customer service, and he lets me back to have a look at what's literally "behind the curtain". One table is a Micro Seki MB14. It's not for sale because it was on the floor, and someone broke the stylus off the cartridge.

Anything I can find in searches is several years old. It seems speed can be an issue with these tables. If it's still there next week, what else should I look for. Headshells?

I'd like a second table but don't want to spend a ton, and it's pretty sharp looking with the wood veneer and all.

Advice appreciated.

 

[bobaloniny]

I used to have one, never had a speed issue once a good quality, correctly sized belt was installed. Had it here quite awhile and it sounded good till it finally got bumped out by a Toshiba.

 

[noise gate]

So, how come I never heard of these tables until recently? Was there limited distribution? Is it like Telefunken?

 

[1tumbleweed]

Micro Seiki was a bit of a boutique line. They never had consistent distribution in the US - TEAC handled it for a while, perhaps some others. (Don't know who handled them in Canada) They also built several models for Luxman. Whenever one comes up for sale, they seem to generate numbers out of all proportion to their actual worth.

I owned a DD30 for quite a while; sold it for more than I expected. Some of their models - including the DDX and DQX series - are quite special, and their MA505 arm is highly thought of.

The MB is not one of their high end models, but decent. I'd say grab it, if it's anything less than $100.

 

[sachu888]

I am using Micro Seiki MB14st since 1.5 years and never had any speed issue.It was new in a box,unused since 30 years.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[dosmalo]

That's just about the nicest MB 14 I've seen. Very sweet!

 

[resound]

In my experience, Micro Seiki anything is a quality proposition. They had to build and sell to price points like every other manufacturer of anything. Their better stuff is comparable to the best from any other company and their low line stuff was often found with other names on front.
Their heyday was during the Japanese electronics revolution of the 60's-70's and was a step above their American built counterparts.
I'd grab a Micro in a second unless it was trashed or just way too BOTL.
Similar to Supex, they just couldnt keep up with the Japanese way of manufacturing which includes making and owning all aspects of production. Theres only so many spots at the top. The rest are bought up, fall away or turn to the Chinese model of crap for less.

..

 

[luckyx02]

Micro-Seiki was from 1977-1983 the biggest OEM Turntable Manufacturer of the world and a leading constructor of cutting edge technology. Just for reference :

AES Paper from 1977

http://www.merrillscillia.com/MechanicalResonances.pdf

I am a big fan and put a lot research in their OEM Model list youll find on my HP.

Here are a short version of it :

ADC 1500

ADC 1510

ADC 1600

ADC 1700

ADC 3001

ADC Accutrac 4000

ADC LMF1+2

BSR Quanta 700

BSR Quanta 800

Denon GT 700

Denon GT 800

Graetz HSP 200

Graetz HSP 4000

Hitachi HT 350

iGu Philharmonic PHP 8200

ITT HiFi 8012

Kenwood KD 2055

Luxman : All

Lehnert PS 904

Lehnert PS 907

Marantz TT 6000

Marantz TT 6100

Metz Mecasound TX 4963

Pioneer PL 530

Palladium NSP 7000 (1.Version)

Palladium NSP 830/730

Sansui SR 222

Sansui FR 5080

Sanyo Plus Q25

Sanyo Plus Q40

Sanyo Plus Q50

Sanyo Plus Q60

Siemens RW 444

Siemens RW 555

Siemens RW 666

Siemens RW 777 (1.Version)

Scott PS97XV

Scott PS77XV

Scott PS87A

Scott PS16

Scott PS47

Schneider Team 6011P

Schneider SL 7030P Single Line

Sharp RP 2626 H

Sharp RP 7100 H

Sharp RP 9100 H

Sharp RP 5100 H

Sharp RP 5200 H

Telefunken CS20

Telefunken RS30

Telefunken STS1

Toshiba SR-F 225

Toshiba SR-F 330

Toshiba SR-F 355

Toshiba SR-F 430

Toshiba Aurex SR-630

Toshiba SR-Q 660

Transonic P70

Universum F2001

Universum F2002

Universum F2005

Universum F2010

Universum F2091

Universum F2095

Universum 7500

Universum 8000

Uher PS 950

 

[1tumbleweed]

luckyx02, that's a great list, thanks for posting it. I knew Micro did some of the stuff on that list, but yours is quite extensive.