[sundayduffer]

I fell in love with it the first time i saw it years ago, but i wasnt into vinyl at the time....20 yrs later i finally scored one...woot woot.

Ok, mine came with the Fluid tonearm. And i dont like it. I would like to try different tonearms with it..but dont know where to start. I dont know which tonearms will fit with the current armboard. I understand that almost everyone who owns one has an SME tonearm on it...in that case the armboard has to be replaced with the one that fits SME arms...which i dont know how to build one nor know the specs to get one made.

My best bet..is to try a different arm without replace the armboard.

Any advices or inputs would be greatly appreciated. Thx for reading.

[orthobiz]

Pivot to spindle length is 216.
Vinylengine.com tonearm database:
215 to 217 mm range:
Lots of SME arms, Technics arms, a Sony, Acoustic Solid, CEC, DaVinci...

http://www.vinylengine.com/tonearm_database.php?make=any&sort=1&ascdesc=ASC&search=search&mdl=&eflo=&efhi=&mdlo=215&mdhi=217&ohlo=&ohhi=&amlo=&amhi=&cw=&mp=

Paul

[sundayduffer]

Thx Orthobiz, but that's the problem...i can buy an SME tonearm, but i wont be able to mount it..cause the table will need an armboard that cut out for that SME tonearm, which i dont know how to make one.

[orthobiz]

But the tonearms listed have the same distance as the Fluid...I thought it would be a drop-in replacement in your existing cutout...

Paul

[toobluvr]

But the tonearms listed have the same distance as the Fluid...I thought it would be a drop-in replacement in your existing cutout...

Paul

Pivot to spindle mounting distance is not the sole consideration.

There is also the arm mounting technique.
Maybe his current board is drilled with 3 holes -- a la Rega.
The SME is a 4 hole mount.

Also, the cutout hole for the arm pillar is different.  SME has fixed cartridge mounting in the headshell, so overhang and offset angle are handled by sliding the entire arm at the mounting point.  This requires an oval hole for the arm pillar, while Rega style arms have circular cutouts for the arm pillar.

[analognut]

Hey sundayduffer-
Can you show us a pic of the setup?

[sundayduffer]

Guys,

I am such a noob at this world. Therefore, i have decided to sell it, as a matter of fact, it was sold today. Im just gonna try to find a complete plug&play table. Perhaps in the long run, i will be able to learn more about the vinyl world..then i might be able to do this and do that. Thankyou all for being so helpful.

Next issue at hand is...i have a gyro se coming soon without an arm...i have been reading up on it alot lately...sounds like Rega with structural mod and rewiring is the right arm for this tt. But what i want to learn more is what if i dont want to use a Rega arm...what are the specs that i should be looking for in another arm that i would know if it will work with the gyrodec or not...any tips guys????? thx.

[toobluvr]

Real nice table, but the Gyrodec is not exactly "plug & play".  It is a sprung design so the setup is a bit tricky and takes a some experience.

Once done it is reported to sound real nice.  Stunning looks.

Have fun!

 

[sundayduffer]

yup...that's what i was worried about...is the setting up of the gyrodec...but you know what...gotta learn how to do it sometime right? i was able to locate a pictorial step-by-step instructions. I will follow that to a T.

[blakep]

The Gyrodec is an excellent table (I've owned mine for more than 20 years) and Michell will make armboards for virtually any tonearm. I just put a Jelco 750D on mine and would recommend this as a huge bang for the buck arm; you would probably have to spend double or triple the amount of money to get a noticeable increase in performance.

The Jelco also offers fluid damping, making it very versatile and flexible in terms of cartridge selection, although I would suggest if you are starting from scratch something in the medium to higher compliance range with that arm.

Also, check to see if your Gyro SE comes with the upgraded isolation posts from the Orbe. If it does not, I'd highly recommend these not only for the improved isolation but also for making the table much easier to set up.

If you follow Werner Ogiers instructions (I'm assuming that's the pictorial setup you are referring to) they are excellent and the table is actually not that difficult to set up.

[sundayduffer]

Blakep, Thankyou very much for the inputs...I'll probably will need your help soon if you dont mind. I am still searching for arms...lots of have caught my attention, but i never push the "buy" button because i dont know if it would fit the table or not.

[blakep]

No problem. I am not around here very much but certainly willing to try and help. The Gyro is essentially set up for 9" arms so as long as you don't go with a longer arm you are ok and, as I said, Michell makes armboards for pretty much everything.

Even though it is a sprung table, the Gyro was actually developed using a Fidelity Research arm, so unlike many suspension tables, it is capable of supporting heavier arms. So the sky is the limit. Worry less about matching the arm to the table than matching the arm to the cartridge you are likely to be using and then the cartridge to your phono stage.

If you want to spend under $1000 or even under $1500, I'll recommend the Jelco 750D again (and it is ALOT under that). Above that, well, there are probably lots of interesting options.

[toobluvr]

Just another lil nugget of info for ya.

Recently I was considering a Gyrodec and I contacted a Michell dealer to inquire about arms and armboards for the Gyrodec.  Specifically, I inquired about the compatability of my arm -- a Kuzma Stogi Reference.  This is his reply:

The armboards on the Gyro are custom designed for each arm. The mountings holes are drilled so the correct spindle to distance is maintained. Also Each armboard and its associated arm weigh a kilo, as the suspension is designed to be statically balance with that weight. So heavy arms have light boards and vice versa. I believe you arm has a round base with 3 holes to accept mounting bolts spaced 120 degrees apart? I know that's the way they were years ago and are therefore compatible with the Linn/Zeta armboard which wee have in stock.

So apparently, the arm + armboard are viewed as a package in terms of total weight.  Since the Gyro is sprung, it is important that this total weight be maintained so that things balance properly.

You have not mentioned your arm budget.  If it is in the 1300 to 1500 range I highly recommend the Kuzma Stogi Reference....not because I own it, but because it is really really excellent.  I much prefer it to the mighty (and uber-expensive) SME V, which I also owned for many years.

Very easy to set up both arm and cartridge, excellent owners manual, every  adjustment you will ever need, and a pure joy to use and listen to.  In my estimation it is so good that I plan to keep it for along time and just upgrade around it. 

There is on up on AG now.  Seller has relisted it once, maybe twice, so I'm sure he is price flexible.

Just FYI, over the summer I saw a Stogi Ref linger on AG for the longest time at around $1300.

SME IV and V  are known to work nicely on Gyros, and they are a common pairing.  If Stogi Ref is likewise simpatico on the Gyro (and I don't know why it wouldn't be) I would give it very serious consideration.   It will be about $400 to $500 cheaper than either SME model (used prices).

Do your reasearch and see how highly regarded this arm is.  It enjoys greater name recognition in Europe than here in the States, but that is more a function of marketing than anything else.

Have fun!
 

[sundayduffer]

Yes, under $1K is the budget. Yes, I have seen a Jelco listed for $480. But it still needs wiring. And i prolly need a tonearm cable also. I might just get that. Thx.

[sundayduffer]

Enjoying my Gyro SE now. I was able to score a RB600 with OL wirings and techno weight with finger nut and vta adjuster...as for cartridge i only got the Denon DL160. I would like to try a different cart. My budget is $300..any recommendations?

Here it is..i youtubed it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSSnwTGlj1g