Sony PS-LX5 (1981)
A fully automatic quartz-locked direct-drive turntable from Sony’s early 1980s lineup.
Overview
The Sony PS-LX5 is a full-auto player released in 1981, built around Sony's "3-stage block" rotational technology for precise, quiet operation. Designed with usability in mind, it features automatic record size detection, a muting mechanism to prevent needle drop noise, and integrated setup guides for centering records and adjusting needle pressure. It comes equipped with the XL-200 moving magnet cartridge, a straight tone arm optimized for light tracking force, and a die-cast aluminum platter.
Specifications
| Production year | 1981 |
| Wow and flutter | 0.02% WRMS (Rotating System) |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 78dB(DIN-B) |
| Tone Arm Effective length | 216.5mm |
| Tone Arm Total Length | 280mm |
| Needle pressure adjustment range | 0 ~ 3.0g |
| Usable cartridge weight range | 7.4g ~ 11.7g (including shell) |
| Cartridge | MM Type (XL-200, Shell Integrated Type) |
| Cartridge Frequency characteristic | 10 Hz to 30 kHz |
| Cartridge Output voltage | 3 mv (1 khz, 5cm/s, 45 °) |
| Cartridge Needle | 0.6 mil-round diamond |
| Cartridge Dead weight | 8.2g |
| Cartridge Exchange needle | ND-200G(¥3,500) |
| External dimensions | Width 430x Height 105x Depth 355 mm |
| Weight | 6.3kg |
| Turntable | 31 cm Aluminum Die Cast |
| Drive type | Quartz Lock D. D. Full Auto Player System |
Design
The PS-LX5 uses a 3-stage block rotational system: a brushless slotless (BSL) linear DC motor eliminates cogging for smooth, quiet rotation with high torque; a magne-disk speed detection system reads high-density magnetized signals on the platter to detect minute speed variations across multiple gaps; and quartz lock ensures stable rotation by leveraging quartz oscillation accuracy, maintaining consistency despite temperature or power fluctuations. The tone arm is a low-mass straight design suited to high-compliance, light-tracking cartridges. An opto-electronic disc size selector enables automatic record size detection and accurate lead-in, while a muting mechanism prevents audio noise on needle contact. The cabinet is constructed from SBMC material for enhanced internal damping and structural strength, and includes built-in guides for needle pressure setting and LP centering.
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