Michell Orbe in the full double plinth configuration, with SME V & Lyra Skala. As a 2000 model it has the AC motor powered by the QC PSU.
It sits on a rectangular ISObase, one of 2 made as a prototype by Michell.
Suspension springs replaced with the SolidAir Ebony & String pylons
Phono stage is a Bakoon EQA-11R, being a battery powered current amplifying device, so no loading selection required for the cartridge, and the R indicates it has selected components as a Reference version.
It sits on its only isolation stand with ceramic ball isolation.
Arm cable is a Harmonic Technolgies Crystal Silver cable custom made by Jim Wang.
Phono stage to Amp is Harmonic Technology Magic
The overall rack is a Aavik 5 shelf with Titanium Pulsar points
My most recent Garrard 401. An early one that was given a nut and bolt rebuild by Peak Hifi with a superbly re-painted chassis and re-plated levers underneath. In most respects it is now better than when it was new. The second picture shows it mounted in my French walnut Loricraft plinth.
Roksan TMS, Artemiz, Shiraz, Vertere SG power supply, Vertere Phono 1 phono stage, sitting on Mana.
The TMS is a mark 1, upgraded by Touraj about 11 years ago, with as many of the 2 and 3 parts as could be fitted. He also rewired the Artemiz at the same time. The Shiraz has been modified by NWA with a ruby cantilever and a Gyger profile stylus.
Old school, but not as old as Garrard 301, BSR and Columbia , (the 401 rebuilt surely qualifies as new!), and I have the wooden box that contained a Garrard from the 1950’s, but no chassis (took it to bits to see how it worked!!).
Well regarded in its day, which I suppose would be the early 1990’s, (sure someone here will tell me). Owned by me as a second hand purchase in the late 1990’s.
Hi Hans, yes I had the original built-in Artaxerxes, transferred from my original Xerxes, and a Roksan PSU, a DS1 which I think had been upgraded to 1.5.
The Vertere boxes were a big upgrade, the signature of the deck remains the same, it sounds like a TMS, but more so. The bass is significantly upgraded, it digs deeper and is both faster and better controlled. Midrange is also significantly improved, female vocals are more “real”. The best way I can describe it is it’s the deck I’ve loved playing music on since 1993, but with every facet of reproduction improved.
My old TD160B, I bought this about 35 years ago, it came in the black plinth. My infant son managed to break the cover (and damage the ADC something arm that was on it). I replaced the arm with an LVX… which also got damaged. I got the message and put the turntable away.
Years later, after a house move I unpacked it and set it up again. I’ve replaced the plinth and later the arm with an Audiomods arm (which I suspect is maybe too heavy for the deck although I have adjusted it and it bounces pretty evenly).
I made the mistake of fitting a DC Motor kit to it which added nothing, one day I’ll put the original AC motor back on it.
I hardly ever use it, I’ve got a Gyrodec with an SME IV which is far superior, but since I’ve owned the TD160 for so long I suspect I’ll hang onto it as an ornament for a while yet.
Two photos of my Michell Syncro with RB808 and Dynavector 20X2L; one with the Funk Firm Achromat and one without to see the true beauty of it Rega Aria phono just out of shot. Illuminated Naim logo on the ND5XS2 visible on the shelf below the turntable
Rega RP6 / Fono2 / Ortofon 2M Black. Purchased two years ago to help assess whether I wanted to return to vinyl as a source (alongside local UPnP streaming). Records were liberated from loft storage, cleaned and are now played more than UPnP via the UnitiQute2 - the vinyl collection is expanding steadily! I hope to upgrade at some point this year. Shortlist so far is Linn Majik LP12, Rega P10, Kuzma Stabi S, Clearaudio Innovation Basic and Vertere DG-1.
My rather lovely Clearaudio Emotion, nowhere near as good as some of the turntables we see here,
but a source off quiet contentment .
A new phono stage is on order a Pro-Ject dual valve , it was something I was toying with the idea of buying but I decided to buy it specifically to support my dealer through this time
That Emotion is a far better turntable than you give yourself credit for. It will definitely hold its own compared to many Rega and similar turntables. You have a very nice piece of kit, IMO.
Nice and simple for me (after years of upgrades to LP12s
Rega P8 with standard RB880 arm and Apheta 2 cartridge
All stood on a wall mounted valkan shelf
Only mod is additional sorbothane feet…that made a huge difference / improvement!
Phono stage is Rega Aria…and very good too
I totally agree, very, very good value . I had an LP12 which I foolishly traded in, when I asked what had happened to it, I was told it was broken up for its parts.
The inference being that I hadn’t had it serviced (which I hadn’t) - however the dealer that sold it me went out of business and I had no idea they could be that fragile.
So when I decided to go back to having a turntable , the idea of a suspended deck did not appeal , I started with a Rega, moved onto a Tecnodec and then to this. A great deal of quiet satisfaction and the pleasure of a fairly rare turntable in the UK (For some reason Clearaudio don’t promote heavily here)