{"id":43320,"date":"2024-08-30T11:30:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T15:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/?p=43320"},"modified":"2024-08-30T11:30:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T15:30:27","slug":"michell-tecnodec-turntable-and-t2-tonearm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/en\/michell-tecnodec-turntable-and-t2-tonearm\/","title":{"rendered":"Michell TecnoDec Turntable and T2 Tonearm"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Musical Whirlwind That Swept Me Away<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Are you looking for a new turntable? There\u2019s certainly no shortage of choices! Indeed, the high-fidelity market is brimming with beautiful and excellent products for all budgets and tastes. No matter the technology and type of turntable you choose\u00a0\u2014 belt-drive, direct-drive, idler-wheel, new, or vintage\u00a0\u2014 they will each offer a unique sound performance that you may or may not enjoy. For this review, I focused on the Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> model. This model isn’t brand new, but it offers a bouquet of qualities that are truly very interesting and deserves to be better known. For those who know me, I have been a staunch fan of classic direct-drive turntables for a long time. However, this small Michell<\/strong> turntable managed to catch my attention and make me reconsider some of my beliefs. Let’s see how and why<\/p>\n

Michell Engineering<\/strong> is a British manufacturer of turntables, present in the audiophile landscape since the mid-1960s. Founded by John Michell<\/strong>, the company initially spent about ten years manufacturing parts for other manufacturers. At that time, John Michell<\/strong> was also involved in creating life-size models for films. He even contributed to the model of the Discovery<\/em> spaceship seen in Stanley Kubrick<\/strong>\u2019s film 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>. This model inspired the design of the Michell<\/strong> Gyrodec<\/em> turntable. It was with the launch of the Gyrodec<\/em> turntable in the early 1980s that Michell<\/strong> finally took off. This iconic model, still available today, entered the market with numerous innovations, including the famous Michell<\/strong> clamp, the first of its kind. Around\u00a01995, Michell<\/strong> launched the Orbe<\/em> model, a greatly improved version of the Gyrodec<\/em>, which remains Michell<\/strong>‘s flagship model to this day.
\n\"\"<\/a>Le mod\u00e8le TecnoDec<\/em>, qui est l\u2019objet du pr\u00e9sent banc d\u2019essai, fut quant \u00e0 lui introduit au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es\u00a02000 et repr\u00e9sente l\u2019entr\u00e9e de gamme du fabricant britannique. La platine est maintenant offerte avec le nouveau bras d\u2019entr\u00e9e de gamme T2<\/em>. Outre ses performances musicales, ce qui la rend particuli\u00e8rement int\u00e9ressante, c\u2019est que Michell<\/strong> offre plusieurs am\u00e9liorations qui peuvent s\u2019ajouter avec le temps. Par exemple, l\u2019alimentation HR<\/em>, qui offre un gain en qualit\u00e9 fort appr\u00e9ciable, se branchant en lieu et place de celle fournie avec la TecnoDec<\/em> de Michell<\/strong>. Il y a aussi le fameux TecnoWeigth<\/em>. Il s\u2019agit d\u2019un contrepoids optionnel se fixant sans modification sur le bras fourni avec la platine. Celui-ci permet d\u2019abaisser le centre de gravit\u00e9 du bras de lecture et, par le fait m\u00eame, d\u2019am\u00e9liorer le suivi de piste de l\u2019aiguille. Et tant qu\u2019\u00e0 y \u00eatre, il sera toujours possible de changer le bras de lecture, puisque Michell<\/strong> propose deux autres mod\u00e8les plus performants, soit le T8<\/em> et le l\u00e9gendaire TecnoArm<\/em>. Pour optimiser la TecnoDec<\/em>, Michell<\/strong> pr\u00e9sente aussi, dans son catalogue, quelques autres petits produits fort int\u00e9ressants. Voici donc une platine vinyle qui est d\u00e9j\u00e0 tr\u00e8s performante qui offre une belle capacit\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e9volution. Prenons maintenant le temps de l\u2019explorer plus en d\u00e9tail sur le plan technique.<\/p>\n

Technical Description
\n<\/strong>The Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> turntable is a belt-driven turntable with a completely separate motor. It features a regulated DC<\/em> motor controlled by a high-quality separate power supply, similar to the one found on the Michell<\/strong> Gyrodec<\/em>. This motor is housed inside a very inert solid aluminum casing. It does not vibrate at all, and its reliability is legendary. The motor is so reliable that it could remain plugged in and running continuously without damage. It also has impressive torque and power, significantly contributing to the TecnoDec<\/strong>\u2019s distinct sound signature.<\/p>\n

The rotation transmission is done via a long, round, thin belt around the platter, which is made from the same vinyl used for pressing records. The idea is that by coupling the record to this platter, it becomes an approximately three-pound disc with no resonance. The Michell<\/strong> clamp is a must<\/em> to achieve this optimal coupling. This clamp is probably one of the best currently available on the market. It is very light and adds no undesirable weight to the rotation axis. Moreover, its clamping mechanism automatically adapts to the size of the main axis, which is simply brilliant!<\/p>\n

The platter rotation is ensured by a fairly wide self-lubricating rotation axis, thanks to a worm screw located at its center. This absolutely unique and ingenious technique allows constant lubrication from top to bottom by pushing the oil up the axis, ensuring perfectly silent operation and nearly endless longevity for the moving mechanical parts.<\/p>\n

The turntable rests on a very simple and minimalist acrylic base. Only the motor guide and the arm mounting plate are visible. The entire turntable rests on three adjustable aluminum feet, which are very chic and equipped with small sorbothane pads for effective decoupling from the furniture.<\/p>\n

The supplied tonearm with the Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> is the T2<\/em> model. This entry-level arm is actually a Rega<\/strong> RB-220<\/em> optimized by the Michell<\/strong> team for the TecnoDec<\/em>. It is made from a single molded aluminum tube to offer maximum rigidity. The bearings in both rotation axes are of excellent quality with nearly perfect tightness. For a tonearm in this category, the Michell<\/strong> T2<\/em> inspires confidence with its good build and assembly quality.<\/p>\n

Here is a turntable designed brilliantly with clever choices maximizing performance, all achieved with intelligent simplicity.<\/p>\n

Unboxing and Installation
\n<\/strong>The Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> turntable lacks any suspension and must therefore be installed on a non-vibrating piece of furniture. The TecnoDec<\/em> requires minimal assembly, a relatively easy task that took just over half an hour, including cartridge installation. However, I still recommend relying on your Michell<\/strong> dealer, who will gladly assemble and calibrate your turntable for you. Michell<\/strong> offers a simple cover called the Michell<\/strong> Unicover<\/em>, included with the TecnoDec<\/em>. It simply covers the important parts to protect from dust.<\/p>\n

Regarding the optional Michell<\/strong> clamp, I believe it is indispensable for fully enjoying the TecnoDec<\/em>\u2019s performance. I had the opportunity to test a few moving magnet cartridges that offered good results, including the Goldring<\/strong> E3<\/em>, which pairs particularly well with the Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em>. However, it was with the Denon<\/strong> DL-103R<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 a long-time personal favorite\u00a0\u2014 that I found my joy and conducted most of my listening.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When the Power of the Motor is Felt
\n<\/strong>It took only a few seconds to realize I was dealing with a very different belt-driven turntable. This turntable has a very dynamic sound with solid bass. In fact, it feels like listening<\/em> to a professional direct-drive turntable. With the Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em>, there\u2019s no hesitation or lingering notes struggling to keep up. Listening to Who\u2019s Next<\/em> by The Who<\/strong>, the rhythm section immediately stands out, reminding us how energetic the drummer was. The playback has nerve and confidence, transforming the listening experience of this iconic album. The TecnoDec<\/em>\u2019s motor, which seems never to tire, greatly contributes to the pleasure this turntable provides. The combination with the surprising and excellent T2<\/em> tonearm is a total success. I had to listen to the track Bargain<\/em> about ten times before convincing myself that it was enough. This way of delivering the energy of music is precisely what I seek when listening to vinyl. The Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> is a magnificent little machine for waking up your music. Once you\u2019ve tasted it, it\u2019s hard to let go.<\/p>\n

Transmitting the Energy of Silence
\n<\/strong>Thanks to its self-lubricating rotation axis, the Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> reads records with impressive silence. For a turntable in this price range, the total absence of noise, allowing for a wealth of detail in recordings, is a significant surprise. Like a much more expensive and ambitious turntable, the TecnoDec<\/em> offers a completely transparent rendition of Yo-Yo<\/strong> Ma<\/strong>\u2019s album. The artist\u2019s instrument, playing Bach<\/em> suites solo, literally floats in space. It\u2019s transparent, articulate, and incredibly credible. This record is a true transparency trap. If the turntable reading it cannot capture all the micro-details in the reverberations, the music loses its appeal and quickly becomes boring. The TecnoDec<\/em> passed this test honorably.
\nIt proves that one does not need to invest a fortune in a turntable to retrieve all the information present in a record. Not only is transparency there, but also the instrument\u2019s timbre, rendered with much body, warmth, and authenticity. A good part of this achievement is due to the T2<\/em> tonearm\u2019s performance. This small tonearm, which has no high-end pretensions, still manages the feat of ensuring quiet trackability, omitting much of the surface noise present on records. Its tracking is excellent, allowing the needle to work well in the groove and retrieve the maximum amount of music. With the T2<\/em> tonearm and the TecnoDec<\/em> turntable, the Michell<\/strong> team seems to have found just the right balance between absolute resolution and musicality.<\/p>\n

Conclusion
\n<\/strong>The Michell<\/strong> TecnoDec<\/em> turntable has everything to please. Beautiful, with a proud look thanks to its brilliantly simple design. Its explosive sense of rhythm, its ability to uncover every detail, and its resolution make it a formidable machine for experiencing emotions. Built to last a lifetime, it uses high-quality materials for top-notch performance and reliability. In my opinion, in this price range and even beyond, it easily earns a best buy<\/em> rating. Moreover, it managed to make me fall for it and carry me away in its musical whirlwind. Yes, I finally decided to buy one and keep it at home!<\/p>\n

GENERAL INFORMATION
\n<\/strong>Price: $2,999\u00a0CAD
\nWarranty: Coming soon
\nDistributor: Audionation.ca,
\nhttps:\/\/audonation.ca\/<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mediagraphy
\n<\/strong>The Who, Who\u2019s Next, Track Deluxe, 2408\u00a0102
\nYo-Yo Ma, Six Evolutions Bach Cello Suite, Sony Classical, 19075\u00a085465\u00a01<\/p>\n

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The Musical Whirlwind That Swept Me Away Are you looking for a new turntable? There\u2019s certainly no shortage of choices! Indeed, the high-fidelity market is brimming with beautiful and excellent products for all budgets and tastes. No matter the technology and type of turntable you choose\u00a0\u2014 belt-drive, direct-drive, idler-wheel, new, or vintage\u00a0\u2014 they will each […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141423,"featured_media":43315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2723,2725],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hifi","category-whats-new","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141423"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43320"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43322,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43320\/revisions\/43322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}