[Listening test] Pete's Reference Pylons for Michell Orbe & Gyrodec

Possibly one of the Old Scribe's shorter reviews on TNT-Audio

Pete's New Reference Grade Pylon Set

Deboinging to the Max

Product: Pete's Pylons Reference Set for Michell turntables
Supplier: True Point Audio - UK
Price: Introductory offer UKP200 (same as the original set) see also Pete's Pads UKP125 per set via ebay shop, YMMV depending on currency and location
Author: Mark Wheeler - TNT-Audio UK
Reviewed: Summer 2024 to Spring 2025
Published: June, 2025

Pete's Odyssey Around the Orbe Goes Further

In the review for TNT-Audio of the original TPA Pete's Pylons your Old Scribe described how they were designed to mitigate the inherent instability and precession of the suspended subchassis of Michell Orbe and Gyrodec models and their SE variants. Continued experiments justified producing a second variation, the Pete's Reference Grade Pylons. These differ in having a tighter lattice of bands and 8 instead of 6 O-rings. While it would be convenient to believe that readers will take the trouble to read, or even reread that review your Old Scribe is too old and cynical to believe that folks will take the trouble to do that so here is a quick summary.

The Michell Orbe and Orbe SE are massively constructed flagship turntables. They're not perfect (no turntable at any price is perfect) and one issue is subchassis precession and instability. We've built and reviewed more complicated solutions involving kevlar tie links and O-rings like the Gert Pedersen solution. Your Old Scribe has added an extra belt and improved subchassis resonance control to a second 2 arm Michell Bitsa Orbe alongside the Pedersen Orbe that each live on a marble slab on a sand filled shelf.

Are 33% more O-rings 30% better?

True Point Audio claim that these suspension units are the next generation of Pete's Pylons with a 30% improvement in dynamic spring loading. This idea is based on the fact that 8 segments and 8 o-rings have now been squeezed into the same volume of space as the previous 6 segment model. The assumption is presumably that the extra load bearing capacity equals extra performance and the extra distribution of castellation will improve lateral control proportionately. However it is equally possible that the 33% extra rubber will merely reduce isolation by 33%. The closer proximity of each o-ring might also lead to bridging between them further reducing their isolating capacity. True Point Audio (TPA) note that their 6 segment Pete's Pylons set is a “Truly excellent form of suspension, but by making the suspension with eight segments we have taken the performance to a much higher level”. Apparently Pete has been voluntarily testing the Reference Set with other Gyrodec/Orbe enthusiasts for over 2 two years and were “All amazed” at their performance. TPA are offering an introductory price of UKP200.

Only tests will tell if your usually sceptical Old Scribe is equally amazed. This review was actually prompted by the need to support the additional mass created by adding an outrigger arm board to support the latest version of the 12inch Audio Origami PU7 Ti. This destabilised the centre of gravity of the Michell subchassis requiring added mass on the opposite side. This Michell subchassis also features my modification of 2 pack acrylic cast between the subchassis webs which is loaded with random brass swarf. This dampens the well reported Michell subchassis resonance, dramatically reducing overhang and the lower midrange 'bloom'. Thus the complete subchassis/arm assembly is heavier than the standard Michell article. Therefore its dynamics was changed compared to when the original TPA Pete's Pylons were used with this heavier configuration. The extra mass stretches the basic pylon suspension very slightly (c1.5mm) which was adjusted. When the Reference set were installed the suspension was adjusted again to ensure that the belt was running at the same height.

Sound Quality

“Did the Reference Grade pylons actually make the 30% difference claimed?” demand Plebs, stage left

While it is impossible to determine whether chassis dynamics have improved by 30% (whatever that may mean) it is certainly possible to determine whether there is any audible difference from the 6 O-ring standard set of pylons. There is a slight improvement. It is not as big an improvement as the basic Pete's Pylons compared with the usual Michell spring arrangement. It may not be so noticeable with a standard Michell Gyrodec, which has the lightest subchassis/platter assembly of the Gyro/Orbe family. With a Michell Orbe subchassis/platter/armboard/arm assembly it will be a noticeable extra improvement. Overall there is a slight growth in soundstage overall scale. There is a slight increase in bass articulation.

Most surprising is that records without heavy bass modulation or gargantuan production values also benefit from the extra support. Kris Drever's moving and melodic Mark The Hard Earth is a nice heavy slab of vinyl with a poly lined inner sleeve shrouded in a lavish gatefold outer. 11 moving songs, some featuring harmonium, mandolin and fiddle as well as guitar, reproduce with a clarity and delicacy that seems uplifted by the reference set of Pete's Pylons compared with the basic set and certainly way ahead of the original metal springs. This album was bought at a Kris Drever gig and played immediately afterwards. It is a good recording capturing what we remembered of the gig, using the 6 O-ring pylons. Now we are hearing a little more of the performance subtleties.

Likewise, both the Bartok and the Bach/Vivaldi listed below seemed to have a little more of the subtle nuances of performance clearly articulated. The review period also included the acquisition of an ultrasonic record cleaner. Your Old Scribe owns few records bought used, except for about a dozen of Frank Zappa. Your Old Scribe has been comparing the ultrasonic bath with my previous system of two Knosti Disco Antistat used as a 2 step wash and rinse operation. The highly developed Michell Bitsa Orbe with Pete's Pylons Reference Set carrying the modified Decca London cartridge proved to be explicit enough as a test rig for this task. The groove noise, pops and ticks stood out clearly enough to evaluate the different cleaning systems accurately. The system was adding no noticeable noise nor subtracting any groove data such that the differences in cleanliness were noticeable in quantity and quality. Finally Paul Simon's Graceland was given a spin. When your Old Scribe bought this newly released album he popped into his local, newly appointed Linn dealer where they too were anxious to hear it. It was played on a Sondek/Ekos/Troika played through the first generation Linn amplification and Kans and frankly sounded lacklustre and disappointing. Taking Graceland home and immediately spinning it on my own Linn Sondek/Ittok/Karma through active Naim amplification to Decca/Focal driver loudspeakers the music leaped from the system. With the current TPA platter and Reference Pylon front end through the Euterpe high resolution system there is even more to this album in spades. Quicksilver rhythm, ambience and clarity foreground the magnificent musicianship and impeccable production. I'd either forgotten how good this album is or the system is performing even better.

Conclusion

When you fit these reference grade pylons to an added mass Gyro/Orbe subchassis they bring additional stability and control to the musical proceedings. Whether Stereo means stable or solid, your stereo is now more stable and more solid sounding. You've elevated the performance of your Michell turntable closer to the contemporary high end. With the addition of Pete's Pads and the AO spike pods you'll take your Michell Gyrodec or Michell Orbe to higher levels of dynamic pitch stability and lower levels of colouration. Like the owner of a modified car or motorcycle, you'll also look at your turntable and think I built that and it's better than anyone else's.

Music enjoyed while writing this review
Frank Zappa: a dozen of his albums and a bootleg Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun Neil Young: After the Goldrush Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick MFSL OMR Sir Georg Solti & LSO: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra Albert Fuller & Helicon: Bach and Vivaldi Reference Recordings RR-23 Mdou Moetar: Funeral for Justice Joni Mitchell: Blue UHQR Joni Mitchell: Hissing of Summer Lawns Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home Kris Drever: Mark The Hard Earthdiverserecords.co.uk Paul Simon: Graceland

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Destination: Further O-Ring Suspension