Sony ps-x555es (1983-1992)

A full-auto quartz lock direct-drive turntable with linear tracking tonearm, part of Sony's ES series.

Overview

The Sony PS-X555ES is a high-end full-auto turntable built from August 1983 to 1992. It belongs to Sony's ES (Esprit) series. It has a quartz lock direct-drive system and an electronically controlled linear tracking tonearm called the Biotracer. It was the only ES turntable offered for nearly a decade, bridging the peak and decline of the LP era. A microcomputer manages resonance and keeps playback accurate.

Specifications

Drive system	Linear brushless-slotless motor, Quartz Lock DD drive + Magnedisc reading
Wow and flutter	0.015% WRMS
Speed accuracy	< 0.0003%
Platter diameter	32 cm
Platter weight	1.2 kg
Turntable	32 cm Aluminum Die Cast
Speeds	33 1/3 & 45 rpm
Tone arm type	Linear tracking biotracer (electronically controlled tone arm)
Tone arm effective length	130mm
Tone arm total length	212.5mm
Tracking error	± 0.07°
Needle pressure adjustment range	0.5g ~ 2.5g (Electronic)
Tracking force range	0.5...2.5g
Shell dead weight	7.2g (SH-156, without fingers)
Supplied headshell weight	7.2g
Usable cartridge weight limit (including shell weight)	10g ~ 15g
Usable cartridge weight limit (including shell weight, auxiliary weight used)	14.5g ~ 19.5g
Cartridge	MC Cartridge XL-333E
Cartridge frequency characteristic	10 Hz to 35 kHz
Cartridge output voltage	0.165 mv (1 khz, 5cm/sec, 45 °)
Cartridge needle	0.3x0.8 mil Oval Diamond
Cartridge dead weight	3.5g
Exchange needle	ND-333E(¥6,000)
Cable capacitance	60pf/meter, 87.5pf total
Power consumption	23W
External dimensions	Width 430 x Height 105 x Depth 425 mm
Weight	7.4kg

Design

The PS-X555ES uses Sony's Biotracer system to control the tonearm electronically. The system has a microcomputer, speed and position sensors, and linear motors. The arm is a tangential linear tracking design, which eliminates tracking error and improves stereo separation and fidelity. Low-frequency resonance is held to less than 3 dB regardless of cartridge. The drive uses a 3-stage block configuration and a brushless slotless (BSL) DC motor. Speed detection is a magnet-disk system with a multi-gap head, and a quartz lock servo stabilizes the speed. Needle pressure is applied electronically and adjusted from a panel control. The cabinet is made of SBMC material and includes a large insulator filled with highly viscoelastic material. An opto-electronic disc size selector detects LP or EP automatically. A muting mechanism cuts the output until the needle makes contact. A quick repeat function resumes play without returning the arm.

Context

The PS-X555ES was the only ES series turntable, and it stayed in production as the LP format declined. It followed earlier Biotracer models like the PS-B80 and improved on designs such as the 1981 PS-X800, which cost twice as much. Sony positioned it as a premium full-auto player with advanced resonance control and precision engineering.