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Thread: Will a well-modded Technics 1210 see off a Michell Orbe?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Sep 2012

    Location: London

    Posts: 434
    I'm Nick.

    Default Will a well-modded Technics 1210 see off a Michell Orbe?

    OK I know it's a bit apples and oranges, one is belt drive and one is direct... but I'm curious about your opinions whether a fully (ish) modded Technics 1210 will equal (or outdo) a Michell Orbe.

    I started the upgrade path for my 1210 back in 2012... adding a bit here and there over the years. Currently have it fitted with a Jelco 750 + Yannis silver re-wire/ Oyaide carbon-fibre headshell with Denon 103 / Funk Firm 'Audiophile' platter / Mike New bearing / Paul Hynes SR-5 external PSU / Isonoe feet. And it's sounding very lovely.

    How is that going to stack up against a Michell Orbe, do you think? It wouldn't be with a SME arm (out of my budget) but probably a Tecnoarm A.
    What might be the differences in sound? My understanding is that the Techie is punchy and precise, but the Orbe may be more 'musical'?

    Asking as I've been tempted to try a Michell deck. I mostly listen to electronica/rock/reggae/dance/ambient type of stuff. Worth a go?
    Last edited by nickbaba; 20-08-2018 at 20:06.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2016

    Location: Hampshire

    Posts: 306
    I'm Mel.

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    I sold my Orbe with SME V and kept a lightly modded 1210.

    I didn’t notice £3000 + worth of difference so decided I would prefer the cash. Did use some of the cash on an Audiomods arm for the Techie ( which I like better than the SME)

    Mel

  3. #3
    Join Date: Sep 2012

    Location: London

    Posts: 434
    I'm Nick.

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    Interesting! And with an SME V arm, too...! thank you for commenting on your experience, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm interested to hear.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Chorley, Lancs

    Posts: 2,734
    I'm Mike.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cycleallday View Post
    I sold my Orbe with SME V and kept a lightly modded 1210.

    I didn’t notice £3000 + worth of difference so decided I would prefer the cash. Did use some of the cash on an Audiomods arm for the Techie ( which I like better than the SME)

    Mel
    Which audiomods arm did you go for Mel?


    As the late Colonel Sanders once said
    "I'm too drunk to taste this chicken!!"

  5. #5
    montesquieu Guest

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    Never heard any of the Gyro/Orbe family that didn't have a perceptible speed wobble. Depends whether this bothers you but it upsets me no end.

    But then again I even heard it on my Voyd 'The Voyd' 3-motor deck - however sophisticated the PSU, very few belt drives can really pull off the speed stability of a DD or idler and the ones that do weight as much as a traction engine.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Sep 2012

    Location: London

    Posts: 434
    I'm Nick.

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    Yes Tom that would certainly bother me! Good to know.

    Techie 2
    Michell 0

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 4,419
    I'm Robert.

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    Of course thats the Techies strength - lock tight speed equating to great rythm and timing.

    Even the slightest speed waver would bother me. That said the only belt drive ive heard in many many years was our own Smangus's Nottingham Analogue Interspace Mahogany and as well as sounding really good I detected no speed wobble.
    Last edited by RobbieGong; 21-08-2018 at 05:53.
    My System:
    Amplification - Sansui AU-alpha 707 DR
    Turntable - Technics SP10 MK2-Technics EPA-250 Tonearm-Yannis Tome 423.5Plus tonearm cable-Eichmann KLEI Absolute Harmony plugs.
    Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge-Fritz Gyger S re-tip. Panzerholz plinth.

    CDP - Pioneer PD-91
    Speakers - Spendor D7 on Soundcare SuperSpikes
    QED Silver Spiral speaker cable-airloc banana plugs
    Mains - Ultra Pure silver plated un-switched socket-Missing link EPS 500 silver plated plugs-Hi-Fi Tuning gold plated silver ceramic 13 amp fuses

  8. #8
    Join Date: Sep 2016

    Location: Brussels, Belgium

    Posts: 132
    I'm Tim.

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    Quote Originally Posted by montesquieu View Post
    Never heard any of the Gyro/Orbe family that didn't have a perceptible speed wobble. Depends whether this bothers you but it upsets me no end.

    But then again I even heard it on my Voyd 'The Voyd' 3-motor deck - however sophisticated the PSU, very few belt drives can really pull off the speed stability of a DD or idler and the ones that do weight as much as a traction engine.
    Long timer user of the SL-1200 & Co. I was on day lend a Thorens TD146 fitted with an SME3009 'Improved SII and fell in love with it's "open" and "airy" sound. Started tweaks on the tonearm mainly and gradually gained in clarity and so speed accuracy and constancy issues became a real issue to me.

    My answer to that was to save some money and acquire a Phoenix Eng. 'Eagle' & 'RoadRunner' PSU & tachometer combo. Manage to buy it to just before it went out of business. Full satisfaction on both speed accuracy and constancy ! Measured variations at 45 rpm are oscillating at maximum 0,005 rpm !

    My dream to acquire turntable was a grease bearing Garrard 301 fitted with a first generation SME3012. Out of my budget, I decided to see how I could improve that Thorens and SME. Learned to venture in such tech tweaks along the way and got to appreciate their evolutive potential not to desire anything else anymore.

    The issue I have since with the SL-1200 & Co. is that in comparison they sound over dampened. Which is somehow inherent to their build. And where I keep on tweaking and seeking to improve and upgrade both the Thorens turntable and SME tonearm, I pay a lot of attention never to lose both the tonearm "open" and turntable "airy" sound.
    Last edited by tlscapital; 21-08-2018 at 05:55.
    - Cart Denon DL-102 in bakelite Ortofon SPU 'G' type headshell
    - TA SME 3009 'Improved' converted in heavy mass with detachable headshell
    - TT Thorens TD160 'E' totally tweaked driven by an 'Eagle & RoadRunner' PSU & tachometer combo
    - Matts top to bottom: leather, cork, felt & 12" vinyl
    - Pre-amp 'Modulis' Isem
    - Amp 'Exampli' Etalon 2x40W
    - Speakers 12" Leak 'Sandwich' first generation creatively recapped

  9. #9
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

    Posts: 11,215
    I'm Allen.

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    Quote Originally Posted by montesquieu View Post
    Never heard any of the Gyro/Orbe family that didn't have a perceptible speed wobble. Depends whether this bothers you but it upsets me no end.

    But then again I even heard it on my Voyd 'The Voyd' 3-motor deck - however sophisticated the PSU, very few belt drives can really pull off the speed stability of a DD or idler and the ones that do weight as much as a traction engine.
    I have a Pro-Ject 10.1 TT , belt drive and can't say I have heard any speed wobble , it is fitted with the upgraded speed box
    It's a tiny belt running around the outer radious of the huge platter
    [

  10. #10
    montesquieu Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Audio Al View Post
    I have a Pro-Ject 10.1 TT , belt drive and can't say I have heard any speed wobble , it is fitted with the upgraded speed box
    It's a tiny belt running around the outer radious of the huge platter

    Many people can’t hear it and if you can’t, you are lucky.

    As a musician with perfect pitch it drives me bananas.

    For a period I owned a Voyd - 3 motors and 3 belts - next to a TD124 and while the Voyd was probably better at air and detail etc, the wobble was obvious. I had the same experience recently with a top spec (current) LP12 sitting alongside a Garrard 401. No contest for the Garrard. (It’s why I sold my own LP12 years ago).

    The trouble is the more you get used to the stability of a DD or idler the less acceptable belt drive wobble becomes!

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