Michell GyroDec Turntable / SME Series IV Tonearm / Transfiguration Phoenix Cartridge

Michell GyroDec Turntable

The GyroDec turntable first introduced in the early 1980’s had a design far beyond any other turntable at the time. Utilising a hanging pendulum style sub chassis and isolated drive motor, it literally turned turntable design on its head!
The modern GyroDec may look very similar to the original 1980’s design, the reality however is that it is a far more sophisticated beast. Everything from the motor and power supply to the platter and main bearing have been redesigned and improved over time to ensure the performance and reliability of the turntable remains class leading.

Features

Low Contact Area Feet
The solid aluminium feet of the turntable are shaped so the area in contact with the supporting surface is very small, this is done to minimise the transfer of vibrations from the supporting furniture into the turntable.
High Density Acrylic Base
This provides a rigid non resonant surface to fix the suspension system to.
Three Point Spring Suspension System
Three suspension towers are fixed to the acrylic base to hold the suspension springs in place and provide height adjustment for the sub chassis.
Weighted Pendulum Style Sub Chassis
Hanging on the three suspension springs, this provides a rigid dense platform to mount the main bearing, platter and tonearm assembly, ensuring there is no movement between them, while also acting as a ‘resonance / vibration sink’ drawing away unwanted vibrations from the sensitive elements of the turntable.
Inverted Oil Circulating Main Bearing
Contrary to traditional designs, our main bearing has the point of rotation at the top of the assembly, not at the bottom. This orientation allows us to fully lubricate the inside of the entire bearing while the platter is turning. We achieve this by way of a modified Archimedean screw that we machine into the inside bore of the bearing. The oil is drawn from a reservoir at the base of the main bearing up to the thrust ball at the top, fully lubricating as it goes, it then returns to the reservoir via a waste hole drilled into the bearing spindle. Lubricating the precision parts of the main bearing in this way means that any potential for noise or vibration created by the rotation of the platter is avoided.
Impedance-Matched Platter With Solid Brass Weights
The platter material was chosen for its vibration dampening characteristics and because sonically it is a very similar material to vinyl, so it has a very neutral sound characteristic. The brass weights are added to give the platter extra mass and subsequently more momentum when spinning. This greatly improves speed stability and helps keep wow and flutter to a minimum.
Free Standing Motor Unit
The motor unit used to drive the turntable is completely separate to the turntable, meaning it doesn’t touch the turntable in anyway. The only connection between the motor and the turntable is the drive belt that drives the platter. This stops any noise or vibrations created when the motor is running, getting through to the sensitive parts of the turntable.
Hinged Lid
The turntable comes with a hinged clear acrylic lid to protect the turntable from dust and damage. The hinges are made in two parts that allow the lid to be easily removed if required.

SME Series IV Tonearm

The Series IV precision pick-up arm owes much to the technology developed for the acclaimed Series V. Although presented at a lower price it retains the unique one-piece magnesium tone-arm, dual-lock base and is a worthy relative of ‘the best pick-up arm in the world’ with a sonic performance reflecting the care and attention to detail underlying its design and manufacture.

Features

• Unique one-piece pressure die-cast tone-arm utilising the advantages of magnesium, replaces conventional fabricated construction.
• Internal constrained layer damps minute residual vibration leaving the tone-arm acoustically inert.
• Fine machined cartridge platform, enamel free to avoid interface resonance.
• Stainless steel cross shaft, ground and thread ground. Carried in massive yoke on 10mm ABEC 3 ball races. Axis at record mean level to minimise warp-wow.
• Unique assembly gives high rigidity and allows bearings to be critically adjusted before tone-arm is fitted.
• Stainless steel vertical shaft, ground and thread ground, with integral 16mm diameter flange to couple shaft and yoke.
• 23mm diameter steel pillar, heat treated, ground and honed, carries two 17mm ABEC 7 ball races, widely spaced to resist tilt.
• Anti-skate control operates through tension spring and filament. Dial corresponds with VTF and has positive OFF position.
• Lowering/raising control gives smooth positive action. Height of lift can be adjusted.
• Dual-lock base provides movement control with high rigidity.
• Tungsten-alloy balance weight carried on damped two-point suspension. Extra-low inertia design assists warp riding.
• Underslung weight housing corrects centre of gravity and provides non-reflective tone-arm termination.
• Fine adjustment of horizontal tracking angle (HTA).

Transfiguration Phoenix S Cartridge

The Phoenix builds on the virtues of the Axia S, presenting the listener with an extended palette of natural tonal colours, voices with more body, a larger space and a greater musical involvement. With the addition of a second (front) neodymium magnet - intimately positioned, 5N silver wire coil and a lower internal impedance, the Phenix creates an unprecedented focus of the magnetic field, ensuring that the harmonically rich temporal puzzle that is music, is recreated coherently.

A little introduction from John Michell
The designer of the GyroDec Turntable….

It is now an accepted fact that turntables are more important to the creation of the successful sonic illusion than their face value would suggest. Turntables do, in fact, sound different from each other but an important distinction must be drawn between “different” and “better” especially when you consider just how far short of reality even the best of current Hi-Fi systems fall.
Logically then, each turntable is a representation of the designer's solution to any given set of compromises and thus is his statement
regarding his approach to creating the ultimate illusion - that of reality.
I am John Michell, designer and constructor of the GyroDec and, as such, it represents the sum total of my expertise and experience
gained over 31 years of high precision engineering. In short, the GyroDec is my statement.
Michell Engineering produce a selection of turntables and inevitably, the lower priced within my range must have a number of acceptable compromises built in, in order to make them economically viable. With increasing expenditure, the compromises reduce in
number until we reach the GyroDec - a turntable without compromise. By definition, not only is it my finest creation, but my most expensive.
Regretfully, expense is not a true indicator of quality in what is already an overpriced pursuit, however, the GyroDec can fully justify its price if a close examination of the principals underlying its design are considered. If you adopt the precept that it is pointless to re-invent the wheel, then you'll appreciate that it is the application of tried and tested procedures that lifts a product above the mediocrity of its competitors, rather than the fruitless pursuit of 'miracles' and new technology used to disguise a lack of expertise.
The turntable is belt driven from a Papst motor of the highest consistency and quality through a precision ground rubber belt. The massive platter takes up the drive via its rim, thus reducing wow, flutter and other distractions to inaudible limits. As a result of its unusual construction. the platter not only benefits from an exceptionally high inertia figure, but a desirably large reduction in
structural resonances. The whole construction sits firmly on a precision constructed acrylic base, surmounted by a clear acrylic lid of
heavy construction.
The main bearing is constructed to exacting tolerances and immense strength. Designed to last a lifetime, every component can easily be removed by any unskilled person and replaced in minutes, should the need arise. The whole sub chassis is supported on custom built short travel conical springs arranged in such a manner that each spring is under identical tension, irrespective of the mass of the tone arm. This costly procedure ensures a dynamic stability second to none and we believe is unique in turntables of any manufacturer. An additional tone arm can be fitted with ease, if required.
Each GyroDec is hand fabricated by one of a team of dedicated and proud craftsmen and represents a small proportion of our total production. Quality control, packaging and instructional literature is of the highest quality. When each individual unit has exceeded its specification, it is despatched to one of a hand-picked selection of Britain's finest retailers. Only about 15% of my retailers are stockists of the GyroDec and you can be rest assured that those who have been selected represent a level of expertise and integrity that is another guarantee of your long term confidence. Each retailer has stated his commitment to offering an unparalleled service, both before and after the sale and as such, there is little prospect of a discount being offered as he must be able to maintain his margin in order to fulfil our requirements of him, and thus his obligation to you.
The simplicity of the GyroDec is complemented by a performance so remarkable, that it defies description. For its few fortunate owners,
its purchase often represents the culmination of a long search for a turntable that embodies a unique combination of the most sought after criteria.

Michell GyroDec Turntable

Dimensions (Lid Down): 530 (W) x 410 (D) x 190 (H) mm
Dimensions (Lid Up): 530 (W) x 490 (D) x 550 (H) mm
Weight: 14 kg

SME Series IV Tonearm

Effective Mass: 10.0/11.0 g
Cartridge Balance Range: 5 - 16 g
Vertical Tracking Force: 0 - 3.0 g (30 mN)
Maximum Tracking Error: 0.012 (degrees per mm)
Null Points: Inner 66.04 mm; Outer 120.90 mm
Audio Lead:
Length 1.2 m
Capacitance 140.0 pF per channel
Resistance 0.145 ohms per conductor
Internal Wiring:
Capacitance 15.0 pF per channel
Resistance 0.535 ohms per conductor
Output Plug And Socket: DIN 5-pole 240°
Dimensions:
Pivot To Spindle: 215.35 mm
Effective Length: 233.15 mm
Weight: 700.0 g

Transfiguration Phoenix Cartridge

Body: Precision machined anti-resonance design, solid aluminium
Cantilever: 0.3mm solid boron
Stylus: Ogura PA 3 x 30 µm
Core / Coils: High grade permalloy square core & 5N silver coils
Magnet: Neodymium, front & rear
Weight: 7.8 g
Electrical Output Voltage: 0.4 mV (3.54 cm/s, 1 kHz)
Internal Impedance: 2 ohms
Frequency Response:
10 Hz - 20 kHz, + 1.5 dB; 20 Hz - 40 kHz, + 2 dB
Channel Separation: > 27 dB (200 Hz - 1 kHz)
Channel Balance: < 0.5 dB at 1 kHz
Tracking Ability: > 70 µm @ 2.0 g @ 315 Hz
Dynamic Compliance: 12 x 10-6 cm/dyne
Recommended Tracking Force: 2.0 g

Turnaround

Orders will usually dispatched within 2 working days of receiving cleared payment.

Shipping Rates

We calculate your shipping rate based on the total weight of your items and your delivery address. Standard shipping to the UK Mainland (excludes Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands) is free, except where specifically indicated. Don't worry, you'll always see the final shipping charge displayed before you reach the payment step (on the checkout page).

Carriers

We despatch the bulk of our UK mainland items on a 24 hour service.  Non-Mainland locations – Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles, the Scottish highlands and Islands, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland may take a day or so longer. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail 24 or special delivery. Larger items are delivered using a courier service such as UPS and occasionally by a Pallet service.

Order Tracking

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