Michell Gyro SE
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Rerouting and Address Changes
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Keep the Box
We suggest you keep the shipping box or boxes for at least 30 days. It is actually a great idea to keep boxes for audio products for the life of the product. Having the box and all packing will increase the trade-in value should you decide to move up and they are handy to have should you ever need to send the unit in for repair.
How To Receive a Motor Freight Order
The trucking company will contact you to schedule a convenient time to deliver the order. Please note that you must be present for delivery.
Visually inspect the box to make sure you see no signs of damage. If you notice any damage at all, take some pictures with your phone and make a note of them on the delivery receipt the driver will ask you to sign. If it is obvious that the product is damaged, please refuse the order and contact us immediately at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
Open your box as soon as possible and inspect the product for damage and contact us if you find anything wrong.
uShip In-Home Delivery
Due to current concerns surrounding COVID-19, uShip is able to offer THRESHOLD SERVICE ONLY at this time. To ensure everyone’s safety, uShip is advising carriers to refrain from making room-of-choice deliveries. Threshold service consists of the shipment being brought into the first door of the address or the lobby of an apartment/condo, and does not include set-up, installation, assembly or debris removal.
What to Expect: Most oversized items will be delivered within 2-3 weeks. Your carrier will place your item inside the first door of the address or the lobby of an apartment/condo.
Appointment Scheduling: Your delivery partner will call 24-48 hours prior to delivery to arrange an appointment window.
How to prepare for in-home delivery:
- Determine the clearest path from the street to your home
- Measure entrances and hallways to ensure your item will fit
- Remove any wall hangings or clutter to ensure a clear path and to prevent damages
- Remove old furnishings to allow placement for your new piece
Check your furniture for damages: We rarely expect damaged furniture, but in the instance it does happen, we have you covered. Once your item’s packaging is removed, check for any damages that may have occurred in transit. Take pictures of any damages and notate appropriately on the delivery receipt. Keep possession of the damaged piece and contact us via phone or email and we’ll start the process to repair/replace your new piece of furniture. For uShip customer support, please call 800-698-7447.
At Audio Advice, we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction. We'll bend over backward to make sure you're 100% satisfied and we won't accept anything less. We offer 30-day hassle-free returns and personalized service from real, live people.
If an item doesn't meet your expectations, you may return or exchange it in its original condition and packaging within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping fees. Items shipped back in like new condition through standard shipping carriers will only incur a flat fee of $15 to return. If the items were initially shipped through free scheduled delivery via motor freight (commonly referred to as LTL), returning them will result in return shipping fees starting at $150. These items include but are not limited to, oversized items such as TVs, certain subwoofers, floorstanding speakers, furniture, and most items weighing over 75 pounds. Return fees will also apply for exchanges. We want to treat your system as if it is our own and want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase.
Please see the instructions below. We only accept returns for any product purchased directly from our website. If merchandise is not returned in its original condition or is missing packaging, manuals, accessories or other parts, or the resale value of the product has been impaired, a partial refund will be given and calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Returnable Items
The following items cannot be returned or cancelled:
- Special/Custom Order Items
- Open Box Products
- Gift Cards
- In-ear headphones cannot be returned once the packaging has been opened due to personal hygiene reasons. Please contact our customer care team if you'd like help choosing.
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Turntables With a Broken Stylus: All turntables ship out with the stylus intact. If you return a turntable or phono cartridge with a broken or missing stylus you will be subject to a return fee. Please be careful when setting up your turntable and contact us with any questions.
Is It Easy To Return An Item?
Yes, simply give us a call at 888.899.8776 or you can email our support team at support@audioadvice.com. Many times our team of experts can help figure out why the product might not be working like you expected and get things fixed over the phone, so don’t be surprised if we ask a few questions, we love troubleshooting!
If our tech help can not make you happy, we will email over a return shipping label with a Return Number.
Hopefully, you saved all of the original item’s box and packaging inserts. You will want to pack back up your return or exchange in the same way it came out of the original box. Once you have everything packaged correctly, tape the box on the top and bottom to assure it stays together. If Audio Advice shipped the item to you inside a second box, it's a good idea to use that same extra box to help prevent damage on its way back to us. To avoid it accidentally coming back to you, use a magic marker to cross out the old shipping label or just tear it off.
The return shipping label we send you will have our address on it, just make sure you take the box to the right shipper (UPS, FEDEX, or USPS) as per the label.
If you are close to one of our stores, please let us know if it is more convenient for you to return it to us directly. You will still need to get a return number by contacting us and shipping and/or restocking charges may apply.
When Will I See My Refund?
It usually takes around 7-14 days for the refund to show up on the payment method you used. We do inspect all returns for damage and accuracy of the item inside the box before issuing a refund. Some items may be subject to shipping and restocking fees.
Can I Exchange My Purchase For Something Different?
Sometimes those big speakers just don’t fit in the room or you might have bought a small subwoofer and later found out you’d love a bigger one. If you would like to make an exchange within 30 days of receiving your item, just give us a call at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com and we will help work out the details. Additional shipping charges and return costs may apply.
How Do I Cancel An Order?
If the item has already shipped out or is a special order item, it is not possible to cancel the order. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com to start the return process.
What If I Find Shipping Damage?
We need to know right away about any shipping damage. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com within 48 hours of your delivery so we can get the ball rolling on making things right. It’s very helpful to take some pictures and email them to us if possible.
Can I Refuse A Shipment?
You can, but unless the item is damaged, shipping and restocking fees will be deducted from your refund. If your item arrives damaged and you are lucky enough to be there, snap some quick pics and refuse the order. Then contact us so we can get a replacement on the way.
What Happens If My Order Is Defective?
This is actually pretty rare, most consumer electronics work fine out of the box 99.9% of the time. We’d like for you to contact us first by calling 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com so we can help get to the bottom of things. If your item is indeed defective during the first 30 days, we can usually exchange it for a new, replacement unit.
What About Service After 30 Days?
Audio Advice has a great relationship with all of our brands and can help you with warranty service by the brand after our 30-day guarantee period. Even after the warranty expires, we can arrange for service by the brand on products purchased from Audio Advice. Just call 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
How Do You Determine A Restocking Fee?
You may not believe it, but sometimes we receive items back that were put in the box with zero packaging and are completely destroyed or are missing many of the pieces that came with the item. We also track serial numbers and will get back different serial numbers. We’ve even seen different items than what we shipped out be returned. However, it’s very important to package your return properly so that nothing goes missing or gets damaged in shipping, which will result in a restocking fee or even no refund at all. If a product is opened and the market value of the product is reduced, then a restocking fee may be applied to the cost of restocking and the reduced market value of the product. The bottom line is if you treat us fairly, we will do the same.
Audio Advice strives to provide industry-leading support and service while also maintaining the lowest prices available on products for our customers. We work hard with our vendors to bring our customers the best products at each price point. As a part of that process, we work with our vendors to provide the lowest pricing in our stores and on our website.
Our prices should always be the same as any other authorized dealer, including big-box retailers and major online retailers.
If you believe that you have found a lower advertised price from a legitimate authorized seller, call us and let us know so we can make sure we can correct any inadvertent error on our side. As a matter of policy, we update our prices automatically if a vendor changes its authorized pricing policies, so we generally have the best prices all the time. Increasingly, there are knock-off copies of products online, usually sold by non-authorized dealers.
Please be sure that the item meets the following conditions:
- The item is brand new, in stock, and available for purchase
- The item has the identical model number, color, etc as the item on our site.
- The seller is an authorized dealer
As always, our goal is to provide a terrific customer experience, including industry low prices. We appreciate your support.
Overview
The Gyro SE is a small footprint variation of the Gyrodec that delivers an almost identical performance to its larger sibling. The full-sized acrylic plinth on the Gyrodec has been replaced by a rigid and inert acrylic spyder to support the chassis. The Gyro SE is Michell's best-selling turntable providing a neutral, reference presentation without taking up too much space. If you are looking for a compact class-leading turntable, look no further.
The High Notes
Unique Style and Functionality
Tonearm Options
Supreme Isolation
Company Overview
John Michell started his engineering career when he served his apprenticeship at Finchley Motors in the early 1950s, ultimately starting his own business in engineering, growing from a small shed to an industrial building, and even building models for Stanley Kubrick for movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey.
While doing these engineering jobs, John also made parts for Transcriptor turntables, as well as other brands at the time. When Transcriptors moved to Ireland in 1973, John took over manufacturing under license for the reference hydraulic turntable.
In 1977, John Michell produced his first turntable under his own name, called the Michell Reference Electronic. Michell also invented the record clamp technology that is still used today in many of the finest turntables. In 1982, John Michell introduced the Gyrodec and made turntable history. The Gyrodec has been improved over the years and is still offered by Michell Engineering to this day. While John Michell passed away in 2003 after a long illness, his family has kept Michell Engineering going and has even made improvements and released some new models.
In 2019, Michell introduced a new line of moving coil cartridges that took some four years of engineering to produce to Michell’s high standards. In 2022, Michell ushered in a rebranding of the brand, promising a host of new products and improvements for the future.
Packaging Design & Build Quality
Seeing how delicate an instrument a high-end turntable is, the packaging must be able to protect the parts from damage in shipping. The Michell Gyro SE passes this test easily. The box is both protective and has plenty of packing material to keep things in place and safe for shipping.
There are a lot of intricate parts on this table that might at first seem intimidating, but the guide that Michell includes is very informative and even has photos to help you identify the parts discussed. If you follow their detailed guide, the assembly is straightforward, and the individual parts all show the level of quality that Michell is known for.
When we first saw the Michell Gyro SE, we were struck by the sense that this table is built with very high precision. From the acrylic spider that supports the chassis to the solid brass weights that add mass and more momentum to the platter, The Gyro SE lives up to being the small edition of the Gyrodec that made turntable history.
Features & Technology
The Michell Gyro SE sets itself apart from many of the turntables in its price class by using great engineering to its advantage.
- A three-point spring suspension system keeps any unwanted vibration from reaching the sub-chassis, keeping vital parts isolated from the rest of their environment.
- A platter material that is very close to the dampening characteristics of vinyl records themselves. To improve platter momentum, brass weights are utilized, which improve speed stability and wow and flutter, giving it that sound the best British tables are famous for.
- The drive motor of the Gyro SE is completely isolated from the rest of the structure. The only parts touching each other are the drive belt itself, ensuring total noise isolation.
- A sub-chassis that is weighted and balanced like a pendulum using the spring suspension. This also allows total isolation from any vibration or noise-causing artifacts.
- The main platter bearing is a top-oiled inverted bearing. Using a modified Archimedean screw machined into the inside bore of the bearing, oil is drawn up through a reservoir so that the main bearing is constantly receiving fresh oil for the best lubricating properties.
Utilizing all the above technologies allows the Gyro SE to be a purchase that will last a lifetime and more, giving the end user solid peace of mind.
The Michell Gyro SE also allows the use of different tonearms. Michell’s own TechnoArm 2 is the recommended arm for Gyro SE and is a highly modified Rega arm (no introduction needed). Michell takes this already great arm and shotblasts it for more rigidity while also drilling 22 strategically placed holes in the underside of the arm to further reduce mass. The arm headshell is then machined to be perfectly parallel with the bearing position. Michell uses high-quality Litz silver wires in the TechnoArm 2 for better signal integrity. But the best part about these new arms is that you can add a Michell-designed VTA adjuster to this arm, making it fully adjustable for virtually any cartridge! We love the TechnoArm 2 and think it is a worthy arm for the Gyro SE, but if you already have a favorite SME, Rega, Linn, or Moerch tonearm, Michell has Standard Profile Arm Plates to allow you to use it with the Gyro SE.
Michell offers two types of covers for the Gyro SE. The Iso Base and SEcure Cover on the left give you an isolation base and a full cover for the turntable. This provides the best protection against dust, pets, or children damaging the sensitive parts of the turntable. The UniCover on the right protects the vital parts of the turntable from dust but also allows for an open look at the table. It is great for people who love the look of the table and want to show it off but don’t have children or pets that could possibly damage it. We thought having both options was an excellent decision.
Performance
There were two Gyro SE turntables set up at Audio Advice Live 2023 that allowed us to fully get up to speed on the capabilities of this fine turntable. Both Gyro SEs had different cartridges on them, so we will only speak of the general performance of the turntable itself, not the different cartridges.
The first album we played was John Coltrane's Blue Train (Tone Poet Series), which is a jazz classic. The Michell Gyro SE gave us a true-to-life rendition of this great album. All noise was in check, not being found anywhere unless the record itself had it. The bass was full but detailed and natural. The midrange was magical, giving a real sense of tone correctness and body. John's sax sat in its own space in the mix and was very realistic. Highs were very smooth and articulate, which is a great showing as this album can be strident on lesser turntables. Considering the price of entry for the Gyro SE this was a great performance indeed.
The next album that we tried was the 2012 release from The Sword. Apocryphon is a legendary album in the world of heavy music and can really test the ability of a component to showcase the instruments in their own space. The Michell Gyro SE did exactly that. Both guitars, bass, drums, and the singer all had their own respective space on the stage allowing the performance and instrumentation to shine. Imaging was locked in and solid and the soundstage was wide and deep. This kind of music will really test a turntable's ability at keeping composure given the dynamics and drive of the tracks. The Gyro SE, with its isolated motor and platter mechanism, takes this music in stride and allows us to get the most out of our listening experience (plus we had a blast playing this album).
Bad Company’s 1977 album Burnin Sky is an album that we sometimes use to test turntables. This album has a warm and bass-heavy sound to it that can show the ability of a turntable to showcase this bass without boominess or bloat. The Michell Gyro SE was able to reproduce this whole album with great bass detail again showcasing the total isolation of the turntable from its environment. Lesser tables can turn this album into muddy mush in the bass. The Gyro SE laughed off the extra bass and delivered all the detail you could want. Accompanying instruments seemed to float in the air as the songs played giving the presentation extra air and soundstage width. Midrange was detailed and smooth moving into a clean and lifelike treble. The Gyro SE continued to impress, giving this 70s rock-n-roll gem a new life.
Overall Recommendation
The Michell Gyro SE impressed us fully and gives us a truly high-end turntable in the under $5,000 price class only being bettered by much more expensive turntables including Michell’s own Orbe models. The Gyro SE offers all of the advantages that have made Michell turntables sought-after machines but at a smaller footprint for an easy-to-live-with package that can fit in about any system. Having an upgrade path, should you choose to explore it, is just an added bonus and gives this turntable an edge over many of its competitors. The total isolation, a very robust and carefully built chassis, and added technologies in regard to bearings and speed consistency give the Gyro SE a top recommendation from Audio Advice! Should you choose to explore the Michell Gyro SE further for purchase, please feel free to call our team of experts and they can go through all the options for this table that fit both your budget and performance needs.
Details & Specs
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.
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.
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.
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.
| Included Cartridge | None |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10kg |
| Width | 49cm |
| Depth | 37.5cm |
| Height | 13.5cm |
