In the world of high-end turntables, there are only two that truly ignite that part of my personality that refuses to accept sameness; the Vinyl Nirvana Thorens TD-125 restoration and the Michell Audio Gyro SE. In a past life, my primary deck was the Michell Orbe SE outfitted with a Wilson Benesch ACT 0.5 Tonearm and Benz Micro H2 Phono Cartridge.
It was an idiotic acquisition by someone far too young to appreciate its quirky nature and brilliant industrial design. The more affordable Gyro SE is also worthy of the finest Hi-Fi salons and modular cabins in the middle of nowhere — there is almost nothing else in the market that looks the part.
Michell Audio has always offered more than just its range of turntables; their lineup includes tonearms, external power supplies, accessories and phono cartridges. With the launch of its Apollo phono pre-amplifier and external MUSE power supply, Michell Audio is completing the circle for its customers and vinyl listeners who desire a high-end solid state unit that can handle both MM/MC cartridges — and that includes MC cartridges below 0.05mV (73 dB of gain).
So What’s New?
- Pure Power: APOLLO’s inbuilt power supply circuitry works in harmony with the MUSE power supply to further refine and regulate the DC power from MUSE. Creating extremely clean and stable power for the amplification stages.
- High-Quality Preamplifiers: Borrowing technology typically used in professional microphone amplifiers, the class A preamplifiers ensure precise signal handling.
- Passive RIAA Circuit: Signal rectification is achieved via a finely tuned passive RIAA circuit, preserving fidelity.
- Class A Gain Stages: Subsequent amplification stages utilise class A circuits for clean, accurate sound reproduction.
- Regulation and Feedback: Each stage is monitored and controlled using feedback circuits to guarantee consistent performance.
- Customizable loading and gain settings: Enables you to tailor APOLLO to your cartridge requirements. Giving broad cartridge compatibility.
Audio Quality Cabling
The external DC cable connecting the units is a custom-designed, high-quality audio cable, made in the UK.
- High-quality Silver-Plated OFC Copper Conductors: Ensuring an optimal signal path and durability.
- FEP Insulation: Aids DC signal transfer.
- Cotton Fibre Wrap: Reduces mechanical noise.
- AL-foil Mylar separators: Shields the individual conductors to maintain signal quality.
- High-density Tinned Copper Shielding: Minimizes signal loss from high-frequency interference
- High Quality ChorAlloy Plated XLR Connectors: Provide high pressure multi pin connections and reduces cable impedance changes by maintaining cable structure at termination. Maintaining overall signal integrity.
Precision Engineering
Both MUSE and APOLLO boast enclosures machined from solid aluminium in a two-part tight fitting clam shell design.
- Noise Isolation: Minimising interference both internally and externally.
- Compact and Robust Construction: Small, yet meticulously crafted for durability and precision.
MUSE Power Supply
The MUSE power supply is designed as an independent unit to optimise the power provided to the APOLLO system.
- Mains Power Management: MUSE uses a high-quality low noise toroidal transformer, advanced capacitance multiplier technology and very high-quality voltage regulators, to reduce ripple and noise, delivering two highly filtered and regulated DC outputs.
- Dual Filtration: It works in harmony with APOLLO’s internal power supply for superior filtering and regulation.
- Noise Isolation: By housing the transformer separately in MUSE, any noise generation is isolated from the amplification circuits.
The Bottom Line
The Michell Audio Apollo/Muse combination will be available starting in March for £3500; we will update this with USD/CDN pricing next week.
The high-end phono pre-amplifier category has no shortage of options available from EAR, MOON by Simaudio, Musical Fidelity, Cyrus Audio, Luxman, McIntosh, Whest Audio, and another dozen brands that we can think of — it’s a very crowded field right now.
Will the Michell Audio Apollo/Muse find its spot in a rather crowded pool? If it offers the performance of the turntables that share its namesake, this might be one to put near the top of your audition list.
For more information: michellaudio.com
Related Reading:
- Best Audiophile Turntables Under $3,500
- Pro-Ject X2 B Turntable: Review
- The Dual 701 & Yamaha YP-701 Turntables: Exit to Vintage Street
