I have always thought this was a very attractive turntable. It is a very simple design which I like. The first turntable I owned was a Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference which I had bought from my brother. In 1991 I bought a Mk II GyroDec and that was the best turntable I ever owned. I kept it for 15 years and if I were to buy a turntable today it would be a GyroDec. However I prefer CDs and digital recording in general. I interviewed John Michell for a radio program in Ireland in the 90s. I was doing a feature on a Hi Fi show. It was a joy to talk to him because he had such a humble but informed style about him. He would talk about engineering issues in very simple and comprehendible terms, which is often a sign of someone that really knows their stuff. It was so refreshing to talk to John Michell after the representatives of other Hi Fi companies who were usually the bosses of companies or sales representatives, but they were always so full of bombast and would go on about some supposed advantage their product had in engineering terms that they didn’t really understand. The original Transcriptor company that employed John Michell to build their turntables was run by a man called David Gammon who designed the Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference and a number of other turntables after that such as the Skeleton and the Transcriber. He move to Ireland, County Cork actually and it was when he moved his company there that he separated from John Michell. I have had quite a lot of experience of several turntables from this family of designs and I think the GyroDec is the best one of them all, actually I’ve never dealt with an Orbe so I don’t know about that one, but the GyroDec is a lot better than those that preceded it.
In the 1970's I worked in Manchester for a company called Hardman Radio, which had a chain of HiFi stores in the North West. Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Manchester. It was later bought out by Lasky's but I left in '79. We sold Michell turntables and I do recall the Saturn which was a budget Transcriptors and also the Skeleton which unusually had the arm pivot was just behind the headshell (low mass in those days was very much thought to be highly desirable) - not ideal if you had any warped records though! A google search will reveal more information and images of these turntables. The company moved its manufacturing to Northern Ireland under a government incentive - The Delorean cars were also built there I believe. My first decent turntable as a teenager was the Garard 401 to which I fitted a Transcriptors Fluid arm which was a unipivot design and was a real fiddle to adjust. I should have bought the SME! Wish I still had the 401 but then Direct Drive arrived and we all thought it was the future - how wrong we were? I thought some of you may find this bit of history interesting?
Good review, I had a Transcriptor hydraulic reference turntable way back in 1976 ( boughg from Hi Fi opportunities in Newcastle) fitted with a shure V15 mk1 on the standard arm. The problem was that the run of the mill amps with Phono stages and speakers were not able to exploit the virtues of this superb turntable and you had to spend a fortune on exotic kit to get the full benefit of your outlay, which was not really an option for me in the north east of England in the 70's. Japanese amps were pathetic, valve amps were under powered and British amps ( decent ones) cost a fortune, interconnect and speaker cables were abysmal, and that is the reason why I got shot of it, but I wish i kept it though. I replaced it with a Linn Sondek LP12 (sucked in by the hype) and cried for months afterwards as I realised what I had done. Being a music lover and audiophile can be a cruel passion at times.
I still own and use a Transcriptor turntable. Apparently, the reason that they don’t sound as good as they look is because the record is only supported on small rubber buttons that are stuck to the top of the gold weights. The Hifi news once ran an article about a horologist who placed a glass platter onto the rubber buttons and the record sat on the glass with a record clamp. To achieve this he had had to extend the turntable record spindle to allow for the extra the thickness of the platter. Apparently, the sound was improved no end.
Very Interesting review, thank you. I lived with a Syncro for decades, bought new. I always found the motor noisy in it's later years and the static it used to attract was a pain. Buying a Brio led to its final demise as the RP3 and Exact sounded so much better and no static. Always enjoy your reviews.
I have a Syncho. I bought it for my Dad in the late 80s, when he commissioned me to buy him a hi-fi after I had put together my budget system. Then in the late 90s, I realised he had put it in the loft, because he was only using the receiver and the CD player. I told him it was a shame to keep it in the loft, and if he wanted a turntable to keep in the loft, he should have my Dual, I would keep his Synchro alive.
Good review Phil. I recently refurbished a Gyrodec for a friend and ws struck by the rock solid quality of the deck. The design maybe getting on a bit but its tremendously well engineered.
As an owner, I take the happy perspective that since the job hasn't changed, the design is still valid, considering the design goals of being a good turntable for as cheaply as possible . it does seem that someday better materials will replace those now used. but on the other hand, it is a machine designed as a complete unit to play music .not just a collection of parts.
That was interesting, thank you, as I have just acquired a Mycro, which to me, sounds absolutely fabulous with my modest system. The Mycro does have a thicker but acrylic platter. Otherwise it looks very similar....
I had an SME V on an Orbe SE. For 15 years. Never thought it was a particularly musical pairing despite my best efforts. Made nice sounds, just not very coherent. Replaced with a modified Garrard 301/Schick 12/EMT combo which to another place entirely
Was it the earlier version that had a rounded lid I remember? There were two things in the 80s that always turned my head. A Lambo Countach & the Syncro. I feel this turntable is the one thing that I really should have saved up for in my teens and didn't. I really wish I owned one. The lambo was always going to just be my poster or Tamiya model! Nightmare cars anyway. Lovely to see a Syncro anyway. Thanks.
Dont think I'd ever sell my gyrodec. Ultimately, the pink triangle was a superior sounding deck but build quality was shite and I traded it in for the gyrodec. Its now blessed with an sme iv, kontapunkt b and upgraded psu. It's bomb proof and doesn't require constant fettling like many (I'm looking at you lp12)
Had one of these - best bang-for-the-buck for style though I thought it sounded muffled and I moved it on rather quickly - I got through too many turntables too quickly in my misguided 'hifi youth'!
Hi Phil, thanks for informative review. To side step for a moment, Cut the sides of your hair, Iike the kids have it shaven, It will take years offyou... Regards Antony Warrington Cheshire...
I have always thought this was a very attractive turntable. It is a very simple design which I like.
The first turntable I owned was a Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference which I had bought from my brother.
In 1991 I bought a Mk II GyroDec and that was the best turntable I ever owned. I kept it for 15 years and if I were to buy a turntable today it would be a GyroDec. However I prefer CDs and digital recording in general.
I interviewed John Michell for a radio program in Ireland in the 90s. I was doing a feature on a Hi Fi show. It was a joy to talk to him because he had such a humble but informed style about him. He would talk about engineering issues in very simple and comprehendible terms, which is often a sign of someone that really knows their stuff. It was so refreshing to talk to John Michell after the representatives of other Hi Fi companies who were usually the bosses of companies or sales representatives, but they were always so full of bombast and would go on about some supposed advantage their product had in engineering terms that they didn’t really understand.
The original Transcriptor company that employed John Michell to build their turntables was run by a man called David Gammon who designed the Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference and a number of other turntables after that such as the Skeleton and the Transcriber. He move to Ireland, County Cork actually and it was when he moved his company there that he separated from John Michell.
I have had quite a lot of experience of several turntables from this family of designs and I think the GyroDec is the best one of them all, actually I’ve never dealt with an Orbe so I don’t know about that one, but the GyroDec is a lot better than those that preceded it.
I always loved the look of the Syncro. Gorgeous TT
In the 1970's I worked in Manchester for a company called Hardman Radio, which had a chain of HiFi stores in the North West. Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Manchester. It was later bought out by Lasky's but I left in '79. We sold Michell turntables and I do recall the Saturn which was a budget Transcriptors and also the Skeleton which unusually had the arm pivot was just behind the headshell (low mass in those days was very much thought to be highly desirable) - not ideal if you had any warped records though! A google search will reveal more information and images of these turntables. The company moved its manufacturing to Northern Ireland under a government incentive - The Delorean cars were also built there I believe.
My first decent turntable as a teenager was the Garard 401 to which I fitted a Transcriptors Fluid arm which was a unipivot design and was a real fiddle to adjust. I should have bought the SME! Wish I still had the 401 but then Direct Drive arrived and we all thought it was the future - how wrong we were?
I thought some of you may find this bit of history interesting?
Good review, I had a Transcriptor hydraulic reference turntable way back in 1976 ( boughg from Hi Fi opportunities in Newcastle) fitted with a shure V15 mk1 on the standard arm. The problem was that the run of the mill amps with Phono stages and speakers were not able to exploit the virtues of this superb turntable and you had to spend a fortune on exotic kit to get the full benefit of your outlay, which was not really an option for me in the north east of England in the 70's. Japanese amps were pathetic, valve amps were under powered and British amps ( decent ones) cost a fortune, interconnect and speaker cables were abysmal, and that is the reason why I got shot of it, but I wish i kept it though. I replaced it with a Linn Sondek LP12 (sucked in by the hype) and cried for months afterwards as I realised what I had done. Being a music lover and audiophile can be a cruel passion at times.
I still own and use a Transcriptor turntable. Apparently, the reason that they don’t sound as good as they look is because the record is only supported on small rubber buttons that are stuck to the top of the gold weights. The Hifi news once ran an article about a horologist who placed a glass platter onto the rubber buttons and the record sat on the glass with a record clamp. To achieve this he had had to extend the turntable record spindle to allow for the extra the thickness of the platter. Apparently, the sound was improved no end.
Excellent video once again, I love these retro talked.
Very Interesting review, thank you. I lived with a Syncro for decades, bought new. I always found the motor noisy in it's later years and the static it used to attract was a pain. Buying a Brio led to its final demise as the RP3 and Exact sounded so much better and no static. Always enjoy your reviews.
Beauty
I have a Syncho. I bought it for my Dad in the late 80s, when he commissioned me to buy him a hi-fi after I had put together my budget system. Then in the late 90s, I realised he had put it in the loft, because he was only using the receiver and the CD player. I told him it was a shame to keep it in the loft, and if he wanted a turntable to keep in the loft, he should have my Dual, I would keep his Synchro alive.
Hi Phil it sure is a beautiful looking turntable.
I bought a gyrodec last year. I love it. Trying to not go upgrade mad.
Good review Phil. I recently refurbished a Gyrodec for a friend and ws struck by the rock solid quality of the deck. The design maybe getting on a bit but its tremendously well engineered.
As an owner, I take the happy perspective that since the job hasn't changed, the design is still valid, considering the design goals of being a good turntable for as cheaply as possible . it does seem that someday better materials will replace those now used. but on the other hand, it is a machine designed as a complete unit to play music .not just a collection of parts.
That was interesting, thank you, as I have just acquired a Mycro, which to me, sounds absolutely fabulous with my modest system. The Mycro does have a thicker but acrylic platter. Otherwise it looks very similar....
Love my Gyro. Wish I clould put an SME Series V on it.
Most overrated arm ever. Visit funk firm site, look at the v's arm tube resonance apalling.
@@scottchegg1209 Really, I wonder how SME have sold 1000's of them if they're so bad?
@@scottchegg1209 I have never heard one sound poor, or less than excellent. They also look 11 out of 10.
I had an SME V on an Orbe SE. For 15 years. Never thought it was a particularly musical pairing despite my best efforts.
Made nice sounds, just not very coherent.
Replaced with a modified Garrard 301/Schick 12/EMT combo which to another place entirely
Was it the earlier version that had a rounded lid I remember? There were two things in the 80s that always turned my head. A Lambo Countach & the Syncro. I feel this turntable is the one thing that I really should have saved up for in my teens and didn't. I really wish I owned one. The lambo was always going to just be my poster or Tamiya model! Nightmare cars anyway. Lovely to see a Syncro anyway. Thanks.
I had a rounded lid model, cool as fuck!
@@scottchegg1209 Couldn't have put it better mate!
I still think the focus one is the best looker, only because I have one!!!!
Dont think I'd ever sell my gyrodec. Ultimately, the pink triangle was a superior sounding deck but build quality was shite and I traded it in for the gyrodec.
Its now blessed with an sme iv, kontapunkt b and upgraded psu.
It's bomb proof and doesn't require constant fettling like many (I'm looking at you lp12)
Put a cork washer that stop the nut coming loose and improve the sound quality
Had one of these - best bang-for-the-buck for style though I thought it sounded muffled and I moved it on rather quickly - I got through too many turntables too quickly in my misguided 'hifi youth'!
I got one to replace my P3 but stuck to the P3 and just after i sold it the prices went mad
Surely Michell is an alternative spelling of Mitchell - odd.
They came with Stax arm first
Hi Phil, thanks for informative review.
To side step for a moment,
Cut the sides of your hair,
Iike the kids have it shaven,
It will take years offyou...
Regards Antony Warrington Cheshire...
Wtf. Incoherent nonsense
Had one. £320 new with rb300. Looked lovely, well made for the money.
With tannoy Jupiter's and a mission 778!
Remember the Source turntable?