Michell Audio has just shaken up its lineup with the announcement of two new turntables, the Revolv and the Gyro, effectively replacing the departed Gyro SE. At £3,995 ($5,400) without arm and cartridge, the Revolv now sits as the mid-tier model, bridging the gap between the long-standing entry-level Tecnodec and the new Gyro.
Built on the rigid design principles of the Tecnodec but borrowing much of the tech from its upmarket sibling, the Revolv’s main plinth swaps the 10mm acrylic of the entry-level model for a precision-machined, weighty aluminium slab, offering improved mass and rigidity. That change has allowed Michell to rethink arm mounting, boosting performance in the process.
It’s hard not to wonder, though, if there’s still a place for the Orbe in this lineup. Contemplating it is no small task—after all, the Orbe SE was the best turntable I’ve ever owned… and yes, I was forced to move on from it during a contentious divorce almost twenty years ago. Not bitter. Much.
Michell Audio Revolv Turntable: Mid-Tier Upgrade with Aluminium Plinth and Enhanced Performance
The Revolv keeps Michell’s tried-and-true single helix inverted main bearing, because why fix what isn’t broken? On top sits a Delrin platter, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill spinning disc—Michell has added extra mass around the edge with 10mm brass cylinders, presumably to keep speed fluctuations from turning your symphonies into a drunken waltz.
Isolation gets serious attention too, with specially tuned Sorbothane feet that look like they’re trying to whisper politely to vibrations: “Go on, leave them alone.” Revolv’s motor system is built with one goal in mind: absolute stability and near-reverent silence.
The motor lives in a hefty, freestanding housing, completely independent of the turntable itself—its only tie to the platter is the drive belt. This separation isn’t just for show; it slashes the risk of motor vibrations sneaking into the delicate playback chain, keeping every musical detail intact.
Both the motor and its matching power supply are carved from solid billets of aerospace-grade aluminium, creating enclosures so rigid you could probably launch a satellite off them.
Minimal gaps mean unwanted RF interference is kept at bay, while full grounding and a shielded interconnect keep the signal path pristine. In other words, the Revolv is about as close to audio purity as it’s polite to get without resorting to incense and chanting.
The Revolv comes with a solid 19mm aerospace-grade aluminium tooling plate chassis—because why settle for anything less rigid? It’s an unsuspended design, giving the whole deck a direct mechanical grounding that most turntables can only dream of. The tonearm couples via a precision-machined aluminium arm plate, which translates to better tracking and less excuse for sloppy performance.
Michell Audio Gyro Turntable: Evolved Design, Aluminium Base, and Improved Rigidity
Next up the price ladder is the new Gyro, ringing in at £5,995 ($8,050) without arm or cartridge—because apparently, a record player shouldn’t just spin your music; it should also test the limits of your bank account. This model steps into the shoes of the long-standing Gyro SE and Gyrodec, which have been the backbone of Michell’s lineup for decades.
It’s a wholesale makeover, not a mere nip-and-tuck. Every part has been rethought. The baseplate has graduated from humble acrylic to a substantial aluminium slab, while the chassis, where the main bearing and tonearm find their home—is now far more rigid and damped. In other words, this isn’t your grandfather’s Gyro; it’s a thoroughly modern, more intimidating take on a classic.
At the core of the new Gyro is a fully reworked main chassis. Previous versions used cast aluminium; this model uses a precision-machined, 19mm aerospace-grade aluminium tooling plate, offering improved rigidity, accuracy, and lower resonance.
Embedded brass weights are carefully positioned to balance the tonearm assembly and absorb vibrations. Foam damping inserts around the tonearm mount reduce reflections, helping the stylus track cleanly and preserving fine musical detail.
The chassis sits on large Sorbothane isolation feet, and the aluminium baseplate replaces the older acrylic Spider frame. The platter has been refined as well, with the belt groove removed for a cleaner edge.
The motor system is freestanding and only connected to the platter via the drive belt, which limits the transfer of vibration to the playback components. Both the motor and its PSU are machined from solid aerospace-grade aluminium billets, forming rigid enclosures with minimal gaps to reduce RF interference. The system is fully grounded and linked via a shielded interconnect, maintaining a clean signal path.
Other key features include:
- Precision tonearm coupling replaces Delrin spacers
- Re-tuned suspension with 3.5Hz frequency and Equilibria lateral damping
- AI-modeled vibration control and structural optimization
- Inverted bearing with double-helix oil pumping for increased lubrication
- Redesigned motor pod and PSU with shielding, grounding, and electronic speed control
The Gyro is hand-assembled in the UK, combining careful engineering with a focus on precise performance rather than flash.
The Bottom Line
Both the Revolv and the new Gyro are serious investments, and that starts before you even think about a cartridge. You’ll need one of Michell’s tonearms—the T8 Tonearm or TecnoArm 2—and the company will strongly encourage pairing either deck with their Apollo Phono Stage. Factor in those essentials and you’re looking at roughly $7,500 for a complete Revolv setup without a phono stage, and close to $11,000 for the Gyro with arm and cartridge.
Those are hefty sums, putting both decks in direct competition with high-end models from VPI, Kuzma, and Clearaudio. Michell will always be my favorite purely on aesthetics, but if these new decks genuinely outperform what Michell already offered, they could very well be considered endgame-level turntables. For anyone serious about vinyl, these are worth a long, hard look.
For more information: michellaudio.com
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