Retro(ish) Review - The Transcriptor Reference Turntable and it's intriguing history

60 years in production and quite a rare site - I have a look around this 2007 version

[@Anybloke]

Viddy this. Raise a glass of knifey moloko me droogs and put on a spot of lovely Ludwig Van.

[@CB-xr1eg]

wtf?

[@seanoreilly8603]

😂. Good one.

[@Anybloke]

@@CB-xr1eg You haven't seen A Clockwork Orange then ?

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@Anybloke No I don't like oranges, fruit ones or clockwork.

[@Coneman3]

Try tangerine dream then

[@sezles1]

This is my deck. Phil swapped over my Rega RB300 arm for the Michell for me and installed the Goldring 1042 arm. Great guy and great price for doing it. Phil was really impressed with the sound as it is a later rare Transcriptors Reference only 4 or 5 of these were ever made abd made to special order only. Phil records it sounds better than earlier Transcriptors Reference decks.

[@artSFCA]

I didn't know these existed back then. So ahead it's time in design.

[@garyvause2628]

I have a techno arm on my michell orb se and the wiring on the arm is pure silver from the cartridge to the phonos and the arm sounds beautiful .

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

A friend who collects hifi has one and also a Michell Gyro Deck but to my ears they don’t sound nearly as good as his Rega Planner 3 or the Systemdek IIX 900 that he sold me. All had similar cartridges and arms. I kept asking if he really wanted to sell the Systemdek as it was clearly the better deck but he said he needed the space and likes the design of the others. I must admit that they do look nice.

[@matthewtaylor7355]

My Technics 1200 GR far more solid than soft sounding gyrodec

[@davidhardy7356]

I once owned the Michell Hydraulic Reference version of this turntable . I agree that to my ears it too sounded a bit soft but sweet . I always felt the bass lacked body so i sold it on .

[@moodyga40]

I've always wanted one of these

[@Ireland-bc2gx]

What a table,

[@transcriptors]

Nice review Phil :)

[@fefeeeere9675]

Hi! I have a Transcriptors Skeleton turntable with three small aluminium cylinders missing from the inner platter. Maybe if someone could help me with the dimensions? I would like to have it manufactured.Thanks!

[@Si1983h]

I’ve always been a fan of Linn and Rega decks and time after time, I’ve gone back to them… but looking at that all black Hydraulic reference, I really want it… shame I’m a bit skint lol.

[@transcriptors]

Its a Reference not a Hydraulic Reference :)

[@Si1983h]

@@transcriptors ah thanks for the correction, awesome looking deck anyway, love the all black acrylic finish!

[@sezles1]

Am not selling it anyway.

[@Si1983h]

@@sezles1can’t blame you, it’s a lovely thing. I’m always looking at interesting decks but ultimately, I don’t really have anywhere to put another deck anyway. I have a well specified LP12 in the main system and I’d be hard pressed to change that, it does sound fabulous… not as interesting looking as your Transcriptors deck.

[@sezles1]

The LP12 is a fabulous deck and better than my Transcriptors. You would regret selling or swapping it anyway. I must admit I do like the aesthetics of my Transcriptors and it's better than my 74 year old ears can handle so no point in wishing to replace it. Very rare example as only 4 all black ones were ever produced so for me it's definitely a keeper for me.

[@hoobsgroove]

I can see some tweaks that could really make it a good deck. Does it have an inverted bearing? A deck like that would be better with a blackbird arm on it

[@PanAmStyle]

I was due a delivery today and yeah … the courier advised “delay” until tomorrow. It’s how it is these days, eh?

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

Oh that looks special

[@sezles1]

In fact very special with only 4 made all black plus the Michell Technoarm. Am very pleased with it and it all comes together wonderfully. I got a bespoke acrylic lid made for it recently as it dosen't come with one.

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

I bet they’ll go up in value after you talking about it

[@sezles1]

I hope so although I have no intention of selling it. You would be hard pressed to find another given only 4 or 5 were ever made with the black platter.

[@symonbuck3911]

I used to have one of the originals - the tonearm looked hand made. Although it looked amazing - it really didn't sound that good. I recon, with this model, it would sound better with the platter reversed and a nice felt mat fitted!

[@rogerwebb7501]

I had one in the mid seventies but soon sold it on! Most of the 'features' that make it visually attractive are solutions in search of problems that don't exist! It's a beautifully engineered poor design!......Oh, but it looks nice - unless one subscribes to 'Form Follows Function'!

[@marvellousmusic4336]

You dont have a felt mat on this, how can you.

[@sezles1]

No need for one. It's designed in such a way you put the record 9 rubber nipple type supports. Nothing to attract dust.

[@joemartin6439]

Don’t the table for me

[@matthewtaylor7355]

Have a Gyrodec... Rega top range arm etc.. Got a Technics 1200 GR... Which sounds far more solid...Gyrodec soft sounding and overrated... No desire to play gyrodec

[@sezles1]

However this is not a Gyrodec. I guess you didn't hear what Phil had to say about it.

[@saudade369]

I heard a long time audio commentator say recently 5har he always believed the gyro was form over function when it first came out and how they always never lived up to the great looks .however , when he visited Michel he was shown (ow to set one up correctly and was amazed how good it sounded and now owns one .he said that every time he sees a GyroDec at shows or people s homes , shops etc , he looks to see if they’re set up correctly and that 9/10 times they are not . Which perhaps explains why some are disappointed in the sound ? Of course audio is subjective and we look for and like different qualities in the sound we hear and one mans love is another man’s disappointment . I’ve always thought they are amazing and hypnotize us with those platters into dreamland

[@gotham61]

Most of the anger you describe seems to come directly from Michael Gammon himself, who many feel is unreasonable, unreliable, and a fierce promoter of his father's legacy at the expense of everyone else.