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Sonax or Sonex sx500?

Oscarshock

Oscarshock

New Member
I saw a Sonax sx500 turntable which it states that it was made and designed in Swiss, however, I can't find any information about it. The closest I can find is called Sonex sx500 which was also made and designed in Swiss but there is no clear indication between Sonax and Sonex. Is Sonax a fake brand?
 
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The Sonex looks very much like an armless Swiss version of the Thorens 150. The Sonax looks closely related, but in a handsomer guise.
 
Might be a rename by someone refreshing the table. Don't know if there are some out there or just a pic or two on the web.

Sonax is a German car care chemicals company from 1903.
 
Then I guess I will just stay away from it either Sonex or Sonax, both of them I know not much and they are skeptical with the Swiss Made which I have no way to find out.
 
I think you might be making a mistake. They look well made to me, and the similarity to Thorens is promising.

And how else will we find out more about them?
 
The Sonex SX 500 turntable was designed and manufactured in Switzerland by Werner Eglauf AG, Forch/Zurich Switzerland.

3 versions existed, most had the SME 3009MKII or sometimes SME 3009 improved tonearm installed.
Very few the Ortofon AS212 tonearm.

All had a precision bearing for the long 8mm shaft of the subplatter

a) Simple version with black plastic subplatter + very light aluminium platter
b) Precision machined metal subplatter + very light aluminium platter
c) Precision machined metal subplatter + heavy ca 3kg precision machined aluminium platter

Version c) is the one to go for, b) isn't bad but the light platter is not recommended, almost impossible to find
the heavy platter as it never appears on the 2.nd hand market.

The motor is a special 48-pol synchronious motor.
This motor runs with 110V with a simple R/C phaseshift powersupply.

It can be bettered with an electronic powersupply or a Naim Geddon Clone or Naim Armageddon.
The Linn Valhalla was sometimes uses with success because the mechanical speed change allowed 33/45 rmp with a pulley
made of aluminium precision machined.

The motor is fixed to the chassis with 3 scews. Two of the fix, one of them with a strong spring which can be adjusted from the top.This

Soundquality was very good but with an electronic PS it thrilled.

The rare version with an Ortofon AS212 tonearm was the best. This tonearm was used in Switzerland as well on the Thorens TD124MKII
and is known to be an excellent tonearm.

Those 3 versions had the knob for speed-change on the left front side. In the middle front was the On/Off switch

d) "Revised" 4th version came on the market with a slighly different design:
The knobs for speed change and On/Off were now on the right side below the SME 3009, all the other parts remained the same, but it was only delivered with the light aluminium platter.

So version c) is the most desired one, particular if with Ortofon AS212.
 
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