Hello fellow audio enthusiasts, and welcome to another blog from Audio T Southampton. The topic of this month’s article is all about the incredible Michell Engineering, the creators of the world-renowned Michell Gyro SE. In this blog we will be taking a look at their history, and then discussing two of their turntables that we currently have in stock for demonstration. So, without much further ado, let's take a dive into the history of Michell Engineering…

Start at the beginning

Our story begins in 1966, when an engineer by the name of John Michell started a new company producing scale models for use in movies, as well as engineering components for local firms. His business expanded quickly, and he soon found himself in a large unit based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

You can see some of his earlier work in the film “2001 A Space Odyssey”, where he and Stanley Kubrick worked together on the model for the Discovery One ship.

pre-production model of the discovery one

In 1969 a turntable company known as Transcriptor contacted John, and Michell Engineering began to produce multiple parts for them.

Later on in the year Transcriptor moved into the Michell premises, though they didn't stick around for long as in 1973 they relocated to Ireland. However it wasn't all in vain for John, who took over the manufacturing of their stunning Hydraulic Reference Turntable.

An original transcriptor hydraulic reference turntable.

Progress comes with experience…

1977 was a truly significant year for Michell Engineering, as this was when John began manufacturing his own turntable – the extremely rare Michell Reference Electronic Turntable. This originally came with a black base, though later during its production Michell offered two alternative choices; either a mirrored or a marble base. But this wasn't the only thing that came out of Michell, for John had something of a breakthrough and invented the record clamp, which a large variety of other manufacturers have now followed suit and adopted.

an original michell reference electronic in the fabled black.

An icon is born…

Moving forward to 1982, we see something truly revolutionary for Michell Engineering, more so than the previous turntable; this was the creation of the GyroDec. Originally fitted with a heavy aluminium platter that featured a rubber mat and the signature gold platter weights below, this unit really took the world by storm.

1989 saw Michell introduce a new upgrade, the Gyropower QC; a much more silent and efficient method of supplying power to their turntables. In 1995 something very exciting was released in the form of the new flagship Orbe Turntable; created after the monumental success of the GyroDec created a lot of requests and feedback that the company elevate themselves to new higher grounds. The Orbe features significant engineering changes over the GyroDec, making the Orbe the true high-end turntable from Michell Engineering.

In 2002 John became seriously ill, forcing him to take a step back to recover whilst his family ran the business for him. During this time John invented multiple things from the comfort of his own home, including the TecnoDec, the TecnoArm, Techno Weight and many more. However, sadly on the 23rd of October 2003 John died, leaving behind a great legacy, an amazing company and a loving family.

The family continues to offer the world near unrivalled performance for the price paid, and even to this day Michell Engineering are synonymous with fantastic design and magnificent sound.

The true flagship from michell, the orbe.

Now that we have had a look at the history of Michell, let's dive into two of their notable turntables, these being the TecnoDec and the GyroDec, both units that we have in stock at our Southampton branch.

A Look Into The TecnoDec

The Michell TecnoDec is a fantastic mid-range turntable, perfect for those seeking a beautiful sound without parting with all of their savings in one fell swoop. The variant we have in-store is the one featuring a T2i Tonearm and the Goldring E3 Moving Magnet Cartridge, which would set you back a very reasonable £2,000* in total. With the classic Michell Engineering design of keeping the motor and power supply separate from the plinth to minimise vibrations, the TecnoDec is a superb turntable.

Truthfully when I first laid eyes on it, I thought it would be a very good deck, however I wasn't prepared for the level of sound that I received. Each note hit perfectly, and the deck's simple design means using it is a breeze. Offering a lovely clear and open sound signature, the TecnoDec is a magnificent addition to any system, especially for those seeking to begin their record collection and who need a turntable which will unlock the secrets the records contain.

Up A Notch To The GyroDec

And now onto the stunning Michell GyroDec. Featuring the T8 tonearm and Michell’s own Cusis S Moving Coil Cartridge, this setup sits at a strong £6,800* total. To my mind there is no doubt as to why the GyroDec is world-renowned, each note being reproduced perfectly and clearly. I know it’s a cliché but I really did hear things in some tracks that previously I did not know where there.

I had guessed that the GyroDec was going to be a brilliant addition to the Southampton store, however nothing could have prepared me for the sheer level of detail and clarity provided, alongside the gorgeous design. The cartridge was simply sublime, a perfect pairing for the rest of the turntable. So much so that this has now become my all-time personal favourite, and is one I would strongly suggest everyone listen to at some point.

The two SE models; the Gyro SE and the orbe se.

And that is all I have for you. Just a brief introduction into Michell alongside my own personal thoughts on both units. If you would like to listen to these, then please contact our Southampton store for further details.

Thanks for reading

Tiago - Audio T Southampton.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…