Spacedeck compared with Gyrodec SE

If you are considering the Rega RB700, you might want to take a look at the Michell Tecnoarm as well. The Tecnoarm is a highly modified version of the RB250 (Counterweight, continuous Cardas rewire, additionally damped, bearings fine adjusted). The problem with the new RB700 is that it uses the RB1000 bas, that cannot be used with the standard VTA bases from Michell, Incognito etc. The Origin Live Silver is another alternative you might want to consider.

The Spacearm/Shelter 501 combo works great. That's what I bought based on recommendations of others here. No problem using the Shelter w/the Spacearm. The 501 has .4mv output, sort of on the low side; you might want to double check that the 834 has enough gain to mate well with the 501. The Wright phono stages are another tube phono stage in same price range that many folks have praised highly. Just an idea...Cheers,
Spencer

I have not heard a 17D2, but I understand it is quite the cartridge that digs out a lot of info. The Shelter would be a great choice, and probably more musical than the 17D2. I would say your decision probably depends on the type of system you have, and what your personal tastes are. You mentioned that the Spacedeck may be more musical than the Gyrodec. To me that means the Spacedeck is more foregiving, or to say it does not dig (that word again) as much information out. Wouldn't you want a turntable that digs the max info out. That way you can tailor the rest of the downstream to suite your tastes. A Shelter and an modifed Rega arm is a pretty killer combo (heard it), and very, very good at balancing all the detail and being musical at the same time. Put that on an honest deck like a Gyro, and it would rock. Add an 834P and it would be lush. Modifiy your 834P with good, neutral coupling caps, and your back to the perfect balance. Do the same thing with a Spacedeck, and what do you have? Its like trying to solve an equation or something. Anyway, just think it all through, and think about whether you want your source to have all the info to begin with or not, and what you can do with downstream stuff to get what you want.

Bmckenney, I don't think you are making a proper inference when you equate that the musicality of a Spacedeck makes it more forgiving and, thus, less able to "pull out the detail" than a Gyro. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. I happen to think that the Gyro is a fine table. However, as Tom mentions, I have listened extensively to the Gyro with several arms and the Spacedeck with about eight different arms. I’ve heard the Shelter 501 and 901 on both. I’ve heard the 17D on both, in addition to a couple of other Dynas. I’ve also heard the Shelters, Dynas, and a Benz on the Spacearm, an Origin Live Illustrious, and a Graham 2.2 – and combinations of arms and cartridges on the Gyro too numerous too mention.

In the end, for my money, the stock Spacedeck (WITH THE ORIGINAL PLATTER, NOT THE NEW THICKER VERSION) is superior in terms of pacing, musicality, detail, and speed consistency to the Gyro. For the Spacedeck, I do not think you can do much better than the Spacearm for less than about $2K.

To the original poster - mate the Spacearm/Spacedeck with a Shelter 501 MkII and enjoy it greatly. Mate it with the 17D and enjoy, but I find the Dynas a bit bright for me. A Spacedeck at retail is a good value, used it is a killer value. That said, you, like others, might also be happy with a Gyro, but it will have a hard time besting the ‘Not – DC motor or not. IMHO, YMMV, and all that.

4yanx and others-

Thanks for all the advice. I was speaking with a dealer that recommended the RB700 arm over the Space arm to be used with the Shelter 501 and then perhaps the Koetsu Black down the road.

Is there some inclination on paper that the RB700 would be a better compliance match, or perhaps even yield a better sonic signature than the Space arm combo? I personally was leaning toward the Space arm with the Spacedeck thinking the synergy would be better.

Would you recommend any other tonearm in this price range (Space & RB700 arms) that would work well with the Space Deck and Shelter 501 cartridge?

From what I am hearing from both members as well as dealers (only inquired to dealers that sell both Michell & Nottingham) is that the Space Deck seems to be more "musical" than the Gyro SE is the phrase that keeps coming up. However, both are supposed to be excellent. Does this seem correct?

Thanks again for all the help!