As a follow-up to the excellent review of the Michell Gyro SE turntable here, we have decided to take their entry-level TecnoDec for a spin to see if it still has the Michell magic!

Company History

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.

Features and Technology

Being entry-level from a company like Michell is like saying you are a beginner boxer but was trained by Mike Tyson. Michell takes a large portion of the core technologies that make Michell’s higher-end tables great and filters it down into a more affordable package. The TecnoDec is for someone looking to enter the high-end turntable world but isn’t ready to invest in an end-game turntable yet.

Pure Sorbothane Feet Inserts

Designed to keep structural vibration from your room or equipment rack from reaching the delicate parts of the turntable.

Impedance-matched Platter

The platter dampening material was formulated to be much like vinyl itself, giving a neutral sound characteristic.

Free-standing Motor Unit

The one-piece billet aluminum motor unit is a free-standing member of the mechanics of the turntable. Having only the drive belt make contact with the rest of the table ensures no motor vibration reaches the very sensitive components of the TecnoDec.

Inverted Oil Circulating Main Bearing

Taking the bearing from their more expensive tables, the TecnoDec has an inverted main bearing. This bearing has a modified Archimedean screw oil lubrication system that provides fresh oil to the inverted bearing at all times for lower noise and a much longer bearing life. Having this technology at this price level shows Michell's dedication to allowing all budget levels to enjoy the Michell sound.

Based on the Rega tonearm, which is a classic, the Michell T2 improves on this design, giving the TecnoDec a solid foundation for whatever MM or MC cartridge you choose to use with it. While this tonearm doesn’t have the surgical level of modifications that the Gyro or Orbe models enjoy, the T2 is a great tonearm. Having this level of tonearm on a table at this price is something we love seeing and is a rarity.

While a cover is not included, there are two covers available for Michell for the TecnoDec. The Secure Cover is a full turntable cover that is great if you want to cover the table to protect it fully. Or you can choose the Unicover, which covers the top of the table from dust but allows easier access and viewing with the cover on.

Performance

Unboxing and setup were much like the Michell Gyro SE; the packaging was very well put together, ensuring the TecnoDec was well-protected for shipping. Taking the parts out of the box was very straightforward, and assembly was easy using the included setup guide that Michell includes with all of their turntables.

Once we set up our cartridge, we were set to do some listening!

Johns Coltrane’s Blue Train Tone Poet series album from Bluesound is an excellent album, which is why we also used this album to test the Michell Gyro SE. This album features an excellent live sound and was recorded very well for its time. On the Gyro SE, this album had great tone and texture, giving the instruments the ability to shine. This house sound was carried over into the TecnoDec as it also had these attributes. Musicality is where Michell turntables shine, and the TecnoDec is no exception. Imaging and soundstage were excellent, only being beaten by Michell's own more pricey siblings.

Greenleaf’s 2021 album Echos From A Mass is a great album to test a turntable's ability to handle hard-driving rock tracks without showing signs of harshness or dynamic compression. TecnoDec showed us that it means business, giving us much of the dynamic ability and drive of the Gyro SE, only losing out on the last bit of bass extension to its much more expensive sibling. Also, the noise floor was exceptionally low for a table at this price point, only being beaten by the fully suspended Gyro SE in that regard. This is an extremely impressive performance from a table at this price point, showing that you don’t have to buy the most expensive model to enjoy the sound Michell is known for.

Overall Recommendation

We enjoyed our time with TecnoDec and think that Michell has again brought something to the market that offers much of the performance that their pricier tables are known for at a much more reasonable price. The sound has the warmth and musicality that are hallmarks of Michell's designs, with a build quality to last a lifetime. If you are new to vinyl or are looking to step up from a mid-fi deck into the world of high-end turntables, the TecnoDec will get you much of the high-level performance of flagship turntables at a price many people will find reasonable.

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