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Michell Gyro SE-what arm?

Well, my turntable obsession continues. I bought an almost new Gyro SE mkII recently with no arm on it. Now I've really done it, because there are so many choices-and probably a lot of really good ones. For me, making a decision about something like his is more agonizing than fun, really. Not wanting to screw it up, you know. It seems like the Gyro must work well with a Rega arm; I've seen a fair amount of "Goners with modded 250's, 300's and the like, or the Technoarm, which as I understand it is a modded Rega. The guy from whom I bought the table had an Audiomods arm; again, a Rega. And I've seen a fair number of SME's as well. So, what about the Origin Live arms, like the Zephyr, or the Encounter? And what about those Jelco 750's? I've read good things about that arm. And if I have th option, should I go for a 10 inch?I don't have a huge amount to spend, but it seems to me somewhere around $1500 should buy a pretty decent arm, And I have an opportunity to buy a Rega RB1000 for about that -what about that? Would that be a viable option, maybe better than the modded arms or the low-mid priced Origin offerings? I will add this-I am one of the Naim sheep, so PRAT and musicality is probably more important to me than absolute accuracy. Please give me your input, Michell owners and those familiar with this dilema. Thanks!
goforth
dctom
111 posts
 
I heard a Wilson Benesch Act arm on an Orbe with a Lyra cartridge and it sounded very good.
tketcham
291 posts
 
Lots of tonearms out there but you need to consider the weight of the tonearm. The Gyro SE is set up to balance out a tonearm/plate combination of 1kg (2.2 lb) so that the suspension works properly.

I've been running a SME 309 with my Gyro SE and it's a natural fit. I don't see used 309s for sale very often but you might get lucky and find one for $1500 or so.

Otherwise, the Moerch UP4 uni-pivot tonearm seems to be a highly-regarded 'arm for the Gyro SE. I've seen them used for less than $1500.

A 10" tonearm would need to have a special arm plate or extension made to use it with the Gyro SE. Again, weight might be a factor, as well the added leverage of the arm stuck out there beyond the normal mounting distance.

Enjoy that Gyro SE, it's a great sounding turntable with a very distinctive appearance. I left the suspension tower covers off and prefer the look without them.

Regards,
Tom
sunnyboy1956's avatar
sunnyboy1956
424 posts
 
I have used a Rega RB 300, a RB 1000 and eventually a Triplanar V11, with a variety of Lyra carts, on a TT that started life as a Gyro SE and ended up with all the mods of the Orbe variant. Great table that did justice to every arm/cart upgrade etc
NJoy
goforth OP
8 posts
 
Thanks for your response. I checked out your system-maybe in a couple of years I'll go with the TW Acustic Raven myself. I'd love to-in fact, that's probably where I'd like to end up. You liked the RB1000 on the Gyro/Orbe, though? Here's my question-if you did it over again, would you go with the RB-1000 way over an Origin Live arm or an SME? I know the Gyro SE will probably be good with any of them, and I'm worrying too much, but I am very interested in your thoughts.
rrodmanr
9 posts
 
I loved my Gyro Se II. I used an SME iV that I bought from 2Juki on ebay from Japan and it was a wonderful combination. A 20 ft wide soundstage and a floating image. Lively, detailed yet with bass. I see alot of Rega RB300/303 with Michell. Not sure how it sounds on a Gyro but had one on a vpi and it was great. More solid more grounded than the gyro/sme combo.
Hope this helps...
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