I've owned many different brands and drives of turntables in the last 5 decades and had owned more than 1 at a time since around 75 ish. About 1979 I owned a J A Michell turntable (Reference Electronic) which is still spinning records for my sister. The Gyro in the mid eighties was when I really felt they were making a far better option. I have owned different versions of the Gyro and Gyro SE and the Orbe and Orbe SE. I still have an Orbe SE with the speed selective Orbe Tacho power supply offered (2003) before the N/C was available and will not sell or trade this one away, keeper. I also have reacquired the Micro RX 5000 I originally owned from the fellow I sold it to 2 decades ago. As tables came and went and interest and performance stalled with others , I always had a Michell table either upgrading the table to current or buying newer versions outright when opportunity came along. Just my preference , but one of the better sounding tables with no real trade offs. Very well balanced machine. Super reliable , easy to set up suspension correctly , regardless of what some (OCD) people claim. Quality built, full stop. Even with a moderate arm and moderate cartridge set properly still great results. Long time service if it is needed is exactly what you would expect from a company that delivers on product, not marketing hype.
I have to agree , although they have gotten somewhat more expensive, the poster above mentioning all the MDF tables out there and many of them as much or more than a Gyro Se, boggles my mind on a value for your dollar . The very few times I ever needed service or a part in close to 40 years of owning a Michell table I was never left waiting and always quickly resolved. I can't say that about any other Turntable manufacturer and few have been around as long. I like that they build a quality built table first time around and only make minor changes as needed. Unlike the others who have new units every year to create sales but leaving as many behind with near obsolete product and the newer model no better, just repackaged. Other than the uber expensive tables out there, I often wonder if that lack of better , just repackaged branding is what drives many to some of the vintage tables , that are arguably as good and better than many of the MDF tables pumped out now in the mid price level.
The type of drive should give as much thought to choice as brand will for ones personal choice on sound one prefers and many like one over the other.
All can be good , no argument there. The Orbe SE , in my opinion is one of the better ones that gets more of it right and gets out of its own way at its price point and even a bit above. Its a bonus that its looks are also so good IMO . I have some friends with far deeper pockets than I and far more expensive tables that always comment on how well the Orbe SE and the Graham 2.0 TC arm I have sounds no matter what cart is on it. I was going to buy a better arm , but no need. Quickly realized the symmetry was there in spades. I enjoy better dynamics, extended bass, more articulate bass and better soundstage , with nothing offending or holding it back. I've heard better tables and arms I couldn't possibly afford new or used , I've heard far more expensive tables and arms that were not better, but for a reachable price especially if you get lucky used, few competitors for return of value and expectation on the dollars can realistically better it unless your a die hard DD or Idler drive guy, then you get into the weeds of different , personal preference which can be better and worse, like all drives are capable of.
