New Michell turntables

Michell tend not to release new turntables very often but they have just announced two! The Gyro SE is no more, replaced with the Gyro that looks very similar and a new Revolv that sits below the Gyro in the range. Probably the biggest change for current Michell owners is that the speed change is now electronic from the power supply box so no more flipping the belt on the spindle attached to the motor unit!

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That’s interesting.

I’ve been pondering on a Gyro SE for quite a while now….

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I don’t play records but have to say that a black and gold Gyro, as a work of art/pride of ownership item, is rather tempting.

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They sound rather good as well :grin:

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Received my new coated springs only this morning from Michell for my Gyro SE—being a 2017 vintage, it had the original uncoated ones.

Good instructions plus a couple of YT videos, and it is all back together.

I was quite shocked how badly the deck had been originally set up. I’d already fitted the correct arm board pillars (12.5 mm rather than the 10 mm fitted). The new springs are now properly seated and adjusted. Does it sound better? No obvious/huge differences, but at least now I am confident it is built correctly. And fully dusted—not the easiest deck to keep clean!

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Both look like good decks. The main thing of interest to me though in the future is, will there be an updated Orbe SE. Because i can’t see how you could improve on perfection.

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Yes it’s pretty well proven over time.

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I recently purchased an Orbe…wonderful!!

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I’ve just been looking at the prices which seem to show a significant uplift. The Revolv comes in £500 more expensive than the old Gyro SE at £3999 and the new Gyro is £500 more than the Orbe SE at £5999, all without arm and cartridge. The latter suggests to me that the Orbe may be on the way out or an improved Orbe could be on the way.

I hope the new products justify their prices.

Id suggest there will be a new Orbe or something above Gyro at about £10k?

No idea what will happen to regular gyro and orbes, but they may disappear.

I spend a lot of time listening to my gyro se, especially after its new coated springs and maglev feet. What was shocking was how badly my dealer had initially set it up.

First issue was using 2 10mm and 1 12.5mm posts to mount the arm mount to the deck. Yes, the arm was on the pi$$. It did take me a year to notice !

Then after they replaced the post with a 10mm, I found out from Michell that a rega arm needs all 3 posts at 12.5mm.

Then when changing my springs I discovered the legs and original springs were not as described in the manual.

So a bit of research, emails to Michell and I have set the deck up.

The reason for the difference between the standard (12.5mm) and the lower (10mm) supports is the lower ones are normally used when a Rega arm is fitted with the Michell VTA adjuster device, as the device adds about 2mm to the armboard/tonearm height from the platter.

I did find the coated springs helped and made a sonic improvement (in a modest way) among other mods made to my 35+ year old Gyrodec.

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Linn seem to come up with mods all the time to part the loyal from their money.

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As a longtime Michell enthusiast it is very pleasing and encouraging to see them coming up with new/development products. Michell is still a family company and in my experience offer great customer service.

I started my Michell journey with my first serious TT and the Michell Focus One. I wish I still had it but in the early mid 80s I craved the Gyrodec when it first came out and traded it in to buy one. I have had it as mentioned above for 35+ years now all-be-it modified to modern spec and HR power supply. I still have the original Mk1 aluminium platter though I want the original look of the Gyro I first bought.

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You’d hope a dealer would know this ! And as I have a 3 fix arm, I’m not sure the VTA thingy fits. Anyway, if you want a job doing properly…..

New springs feel a bit brighter?

Dealer was not in Ashford, but Maidstone in case you were wondering.

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Indeed they should know that! A dealer should know how to setup what they are selling for sure. It is not hard once you know how, to check basic dimensions in armboard/platter/tonearm relationship and get the deck level and bouncing right.

The original Michell VTA adjuster does not fit a more modern 3 point Rega but works with any Rega style arm (Michell arms included) with centre single threaded mount.

I found the coated springs added a little clarity to the upper frequencies. I guess expected as they should help remove some of the affects of unwanted vibration in the springs which can smear the sound a bit. That clarity may indeed make the sound seem a bit brighter.

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The dealer in Maidstone lost out big time from me spending my money there. Before I got in to Naim I had a Musical Fidelity A1 amp that just wouldn’t power up one day. As Maidstone are MF dealers I gave them a call and they were very unhelpful. Next nearest was Ashford and they couldn’t have been more helpful so for that reason that’s where all my hifi money has been spent over recent years

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Similar experience to me. In fact I bought my first MF x series from Ashford.

Maidstone dealer doesn’t do naim anymore? Last time I was there he didn’t rate their stuff !

….what a pretty thing the Focus One was!

It surely was. Mine had a black Michell unipivot arm too. A fine setup better I thought than a Rega P3 in fact more like a P6.

A decent example goes for a fair chunk of money these days.

I once saw a Michell Focus with a Mayware Unipivot arm and wanted a pivot forever after. When the Aro arrived we were at the most expensive stage with the children, and then went I bought the Xerxes I couldn’t find a dealer who would fit an Aro, so it took me until last year to finally get the Vertere arm.

The late great Frank Abela of this forum had a beautiful Orbe fitted with an Aro, I wonder what happened to that?