Solidair Audio Dark Star Pylon Michell Suspension Upgrade

The Solidair Audio Dark Star Pylon Michell Suspension Upgrade is a Michell Gyrodec and Orbe spring suspension upgrade. They are designed to replace the springs used to suspend the turntable in the spectacular Michell GyroDec and Orbe Machines. This is a reworked version of the go to upgrade for these machines, renowned the world over. They give a very significant sound quality improvement. The standard springs are there to isolate the platter from it’s surroundings, they do this but have a few drawbacks. The spring bounce can be a bit annoying, though you get used to it. The main problem is resonance of the undampened springs, which muddies the sound a little in the higher registers. This tends to blur different instruments and vocals into each other.

The Solidair Audio Dark Star Pylons replace the springs with a non-microphonic material and introduce damping into the suspension. The top and bottom washers are hand turned from African Blackwood, which has excellent acoustic properties. The web strings are braided high performance UHDMPE which is a remarkably durable material and one of the world’s strongest and lightest fibres. This takes care of horizontal vibration. The vertical vibration is controlled using a nitrile elastomer for added damping.

What you should expect to hear is a more natural sound with significantly improved separation of instruments and vocals. You should hear fine detail that had been previously unnoticed and distinctly hear each different instrument and vocalist.

They are easy fit and don’t change the look of turntable, as they fit inside the aluminium tubes that hide the standard springs. They simply screw onto the standard Michell adjuster posts (not included in the pack as you will already have them). They replace the springs with the different washers on each end.

They are easiest to install by removing the post cover/adjuster. This can then be screwed into the hole in the web, then into the top part of the Pylon. Usually the ball bearings will stay inside them, but take care not to lose the ball bearing if it comes out.
We have a real time video here.

The Michell Gyrodec and Orbe spring suspension upgrade Pylons can also be used in conjunction with our Performance Packs for even better results. The Michell turntables have excellent quality bearings, so you can use a heavy puck, like the “Bass Driver” and not worry about overloading the turntable.