New Turntable Advice

No, I don't have any experience with that Table, but my opinion applies to it; it's an interesting product, but if you don't have its provenance, the full history of it, it's difficult to come to any opinion of its condition.  You know, if you're into antiques, purchase a stethoscope, two kinds, one classic style and one for automobiles, both cheap, and bring them with you when checking out vintage gear.  They can help you with pinning down noise-related issues.  First, may I suggest listening to a new table like a Technics, to get a handle on what a quiet main bearing sounds like, or not make a sound.  Then go ahead and check out the used market.  I do this for friends.  You would be surprised at the percentage of turntables that don't pass muster. 

PSX9 is very scarce. I’ve never seen one for sale, even in Tokyo. Competent repair personnel are even more scarce in the US. 

Do Note: The PS - X9 was solely introduced to be a Radio Station /Recording Studio designed TT.

It is so limited in no's as it was up against the Technics SP 10 MkII Models produced in the same era for competitive use.

The SP10 MkII had both the Industry Support and a Vast Consumer Support, the PS - X9 never got a look in.

Sony attempted to capitalise by increasing sales with a version that was the Consumer Market version.

As said, my experiences of the Sony Consumer Market Version when being compared to the SP10 MkII of which I am the owner of many models,  some UK and many Japanese Imports.

Leads to one conclusion, the Sony Model is inferior as a Mechanical Design in many many concerning ways, especially if Speed Control is wanted to be accurate and eccentric rotation is being deemed the cause of the unstable Speed Control.

The conditions witnessed on the Sony is not only going to impact on the Speed Consistency, the Stylus in contact with Groove Modulation can't be protected from unwanted energies being transferred to the Stylus when such poor mechanical interfaces are present.

The Platter being so important to Speed Control on the Sony Model is also a major concern as the thing is fragile. During at least Ten Years I have never discovered a Sony Platter only for sale, but have bought many SP10 MkII Platters and kept them, gifted them and even have one in SS to be used to compare to a Phosphor Bronze Platter that can also be used on the Mk II. The Sony is strictly a one platter only design.  

Never have I been concerned about unwanted movement of a Bearing Housing on a SP10 MkII, only the Spindle / Bush Interface and Spindle / Thrust Pad Interface are the consideration and improvement work undertaken.

The latest used design for the SP10 MkII as the Kaneta Version, removes any concern for movement of the Bearing Housing, as it is a interference fit into the Panzerholz Chassis/Plinth.

As stated previously, the Kaneta Version opens up a whole new thinking for the Bearing Design and a Stator Bowl is already a Donor to be modified to enable the change of Bearing design to become realised.

I can strongly recommend the SP10 MkII to the OP, but know how much of a great experience is on offer from the SR 510, for such low monies, I will keep to this as the route of investigation for them, especially as it is not a Platter with a magnetic film used to control speed, and when scratched is unusable.

The PS - X9 and Consumer Model I have referred to both have Platters with peripheral coatings of Barium Ferrite as the Magnetic Speed Control, when this has incurred a minor damage, it is Kaput, Toast, Pancaked TT, or can be used as an Ornament.       

As stated, a Spare Platter not discovered in approx' 10 Years of regular searches.

I have even picked up a selected of DP 80 Platters in this same Timeline, even a Phosphor Bronze design.  

Good advice yes my Sony PS-X700 has the same encoder on inside of the platter!!

Stethoscope great idea for the bearing. Is there a new model which is at the same precision as the Sp10 Mark II? 
 

thanks great Advice 

The fella that refurbished my Sony PS-x700 is here in the states. He specializes in Japanese TT.  He has both a Nak, and a X9. I'll go see them but will also weight these other tables