Micro Seiki BL-51: Anything I need to know?

[MR F]

Hello,

I am soon to come into possession of a well-kept BL-51, I have wanted a Micro for ages but never had the opportunity to get one until know. I'm just wondering if there's anything I should know in regards to maintenance and upkeep? Some questions:

1. Belts. Apparently the ones from my-micro.de are the closest to OEM spec, are these the best to buy?

2. Bearing. Supposedly this is supposed to last forever without any maintenance. Were they just underestimating its expected service life?

3. Any capacitors or other electronics that should be replaced (I am not handy enough to do this myself, so I'd have to find someone else to do the work eventually)?

4. Isolation. What kind of support do these decks like? It won't fit on the shelf I have my current turntable on, so I'll need to make a platform or something for it.

5. Anything other issues, or any general information about this turntable that you can provide?

Thank you, any input is appreciated.

[davidsss]

A few of us have one of these, I run a BL51 and so does Blue Angel.

Great deck. Made by Micro Seiki so pretty much indestructible and very well engineered.

Now to your questions:

Belts: I have bought mine from Vintage Electronics and they fit and work well.

Bearing: yes it is sealed and supposed to last forever. I suppose if a problem arises there would be a way of getting it open. Mine has given me no problems.

Electronics: no idea, never had an issue. Then again not much to go wrong on a BL51.

Isolation: this is a non-suspended deck so some isolation is good. I use a sandbox. Google TNT sandbox to find it. I made it myself and it does a very good job.

The only issue I have is that I can't get the platter off. Good thing I don't need to but it is a bit irritating. I also have a spare arm board which I am keeping. The arm board originally comes with no hole and you cut a hole to suit the length and mounting of the arm.

My BL51 has a Stax UA7 arm, what arm do you have?

DS

[Blue Angel]

Hi

I agree with everything David wrote. BL-51's are firsclass in every way and I have never had any issues with mine.

@ David

I have removed my turntable's platter by using the same method as with my Garrards.

One can use a small block of hardwood but it's best to use a small, 150g plastic-coated mallet which is cheap enough to purchase.

If you're right-handed, lift the platter with the finger tips of your left hand and strike a single 'medium' blow on the spindle crown while the platter is raised with your left hand's finger tips. That's all that's required to remove the platter.

Do not use a metal-faced mallet as this will damage the spindle crown.

ba

[MR F]

My BL51 has a Stax UA7 arm, what arm do you have?

Mine is fitted with a Lustre GST-801. I am going to park a Zu DL-103 on it (and later probably a Shelter 501 MK II). It has the standard wood armboard. Do the metal Micro Seiki armboards fit this model as well?

Thank you both for the information. I've looked into the sandbox option for my current table but I don't have the tools handy to build one. Any idea on where to buy something suitable?

[davidsss]

No idea where you could buy anything like the sandbox.

Not familiar with the Lustre arm, maybe I should look it up. A Zu cart? I've heard their speakers but didn't know they made carts.

All sounds good. The BL51 should give years of service.

Blue, I'll try the platter again one day!

DS

[MR F]

This is Lustre's top of the line arm, apparently it was meant to be a "poor man's FR-64s". High mass dynamically balanced arm with silver wiring, the balance utilizes magnets instead of the more common spring mechanism. Very interesting piece of Japanese engineering.

The Zu is a standard DL-103, hand picked for a certain level of voltage and impedance tolerance between channels and potted with epoxy into an aluminum body. I must say I'm quite impressed with it so far, I also have a 103 in a wood body but the Zu is a fair bit better to my ears.

[MR F]

I've run into some issues with the motor, it's running very loud. Any easy fix, or does it need a professional?

[lynnot]

Hi,

a Koshin Lustre GST-801 in good shape is at least equal to a FR-64S. But there isn't such a hype about the Lustre tonearm.

About the metal tonearm bases, they won't fit the BL51. But you can have someone produce a brass copy of the wooden inlay. That has been done before!

Rgds, L

[MR F]

a Koshin Lustre GST-801 in good shape is at least equal to a FR-64S. But there isn't such a hype about the Lustre tonearm.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. What little info I was able to find did seem to suggest that it was very close to the FR-64s in performance, but ~half the price. It certainly is a very impressive looking arm, unfortunately mine was not shipped correctly and has bearing damage. Hopefully Johnnie at AO can sort it out.

About the metal tonearm bases, they won't fit the BL51. But you can have someone produce a brass copy of the wooden inlay. That has been done before!

Good to know, now looking at the wood armboard it does not seem to be lacking much. A lot thicker than I thought it would be. If I ever want to experiment with other arms I will look into having one machined.

The bearing is indeed impressive, a little push on the platter and the thing seems to spin forever. Though there seems to be a small amount of oil that has leaked on to the top plate, does this mean the seal has been broken?

Cheers