The Michell Engineering Thread

[Marco]

Well, if the setup is that much faff, and I assume its not a one time only thing, then isn't the "just the once" hassle of getting and modifying a 1200 actually less hassle and less variable in terms of a comparison review?

Isn't there dealers out there that can supply a 1200 with a set of mods already installed. Could that not form the basis of its inclusion in a group review?

Very good point, Nick!

Adam?

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Once set up most of my experience would suggest that a Michell Gyrodeck or Orbe will stay set up at least those I have set up. I sold them, I built them and never saw them again except to change carts or arms.

One of the last Michell Gyro SE's I sold and set up (SME 309 arm on it, before I was made redundant) I recently fitted a new cart to it for the owner. Well the deck was still 100% right (set up three years ago) and all I had to do was fit cart, balance arm and adjust arm height....simples


Regards D S D L

[blake]

I've owned my Gyrodec since the mid 80's, acquiring it at an auction for next to nothing. It was a very early Gyro, actually had soft feet on it when I got it, which were replaced with the aluminum conical version at that time.

When I became "re-interested" in vinyl a number of years ago, I upgraded the main bearing, platter, springs and suspension posts. The AC motor still works flawlessly and I am plugged into a decent line conditioner and have not felt the need to change to the DC motor. Michell should be commended for their committment to their products as well as their reasonable (by most standards anyway) prices with respect to ongoing improvements/upgrades. My dust cover was a bit hacked up and actually split a number of years ago so I had a new black version (to give it that Stealth Bomber look) fabricated by a local plastics company.

With the new two piece suspension posts the table is a breeze to set up. I can't think of anything being any more simple actually, unless you are looking at a non-suspended table with adjustable feet for levelling (just one setup issue instead of two). It's been an excellent table, offering great performance and pride of ownership as a result of its interesting looks and I have no desire to switch to anything else.

[Spectral Morn]

It'll be interesting finding out your thoughts, Neil, once you've looked under a few more pebble-ettes...

No problem.


Regards D S D L

[DSJR]

To be fair to Linn, the main problem was in using a wooden plinth with variable mounting blocks. Some earlier ones were soft and crushed easily, others were hard and didn't compress overmuch. yes, in the early days until 1991, I tightened up everything very firmly and this, with the P clip and arm cable correctly dressed, tended to make these early decks stable after a year or so. LP12's made since the early nineties were far better again, falling together in setup and only needing hand-tightness on the mounting block bolts (I could discuss the finer points with Neil for hours, but not tonight please ).

I agree about getting the Gyro and Orbe to work right (the Thorens decks were similar in this respect), but the advantage of these decks staying set up and "in tune" once done is so important to a non-fanatic music lover.

Marco, I do see your points above, but HFW is catering for a tiny enough audience as it is and although I don't know the figures, the number of interested Techie parties wanting to severely upgrade a now obsolete deck must be counted in the very low hundreds tops. No offense meant at all, but wild tweaks to the techie is small taties in the big wide world and I understand that the deck will not be made again once stocks have gone unless I'm very much mistaken.....

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I take your point, but it doesn't discount what Nick (lurcher) wrote earlier - or the fact that there are likely more SL-1200s/1210s in existence WORLDWIDE, for possible sale on the second-hand market to those who *may* decide to go down the Techy modification route, after reading a favourable review in a leading hi-fi magazine (if a modded Techy had been pitched against 'the usual suspects' in a shoot-out, and perhaps come out on top), as there will be total sales of any 'hi-end' turntables produced now for many years to come!!

That, for me, makes the subject VERY relevant, and far from being "small taties". Also, vinyl and T/Ts are in a state of resurgence, and I don't see that situation changing anytime soon - in fact, it's more likely to gain even more momentum, as people slowly but surely ditch CD and go the streaming route.

I believe that vinyl will eventually replace CD (oh the irony!) as the choice of discerning audio enthusiasts who want an alternative to digital computer audio (i.e. folks like me who need more than one quality music source), and the longer the vinyl resurgence continues, and more new products are released onto the market, the less T/T ownership will be the preserve of the middle-aged (and older), and thus its future more likely secured.

Returning to the modded Techy, I believe that it could still provide a vital role in helping the above become a reality (it matters not that it's now discontinued, as there are so bloody many of them in circulation!) so personally, I want to do whatever it takes for those in the market to buy, say, a Roksan or a Gyrodec, to at least consider a modded SL-1200 ALSO as a VIABLE OPTION, and the magazines should be playing a role in promoting this.....

I'll certainly be continuing championing the modded Techy on AoS, indefinitely, and I know that what I write here has *some* influence

Marco.

[DSJR]

No probs at all with that. I still don't think that vinyl will oust CD, but streaming audio probably will. Todays youngsters/music buyers don't really appreciate the joys of "handling" the medium, but maybe that will change. I hope so anyway

[Marco]

Todays youngsters/music buyers don't really appreciate the joys of "handling" the medium...

That's certainly not my experience, Dave. My experience is that, for obvious reasons, today's youngsters don't very often get the chance to 'handle' the medium, but when they do, love every minute of it and think that vinyl is 'way cool'!

What I'd love to do is expose more youngsters to it, and hopefully that'll happen when today's dads, in their 20s and 30s, who are into hi-fi and music, buy some of the many (superb) new turntables which are currently for sale, and thus the bug is transfered to their siblings, creating a new (albeit small), but still significant, new generation of vinyl lovers, for many years to come.......

Marco.

[Reid Malenfant]

I still don't think that vinyl will oust CD, but streaming audio probably will.

Agreed, not a chance They'll still need the CDs to get an image as otherwise they'll be dealing with MP3 or being illegal by file sharing

After all it's got to come from somewhere...

[Marco]

Yup - what I meant, Mark, was vinyl eventually 'ousting' CD, in the eyes of discerning enthusiasts, such as the folks who post here and on other specialist audio forums, as well as *some* of those who buy hi-fi mags.

Those guys will all slowly but surely ditch CD in favour of streaming, and so vinyl will replace CD as their other quality source of recorded music

It's what I think will happen, anyway. YMMV.

Marco.