Focus One

[vinylmagpie]

Focus One by Mitchell Engineering

Any experiences, thoughts, advice?
have been offered one..... cheapish. No arm BTW

David

[R79]

Hi David

I have two; a Focus One and an 'S' and love them both.

I would recommend them, definately, but you need to be aware that spares aren't that easy to get hold of (if at all) and they need to be well isolated from sources of vibration more so than TTs that aren't fully suspended on sprung feet. Having said that, I've had my Focus One for 6 years and have no problems with the deck itself. I guess it comes down to how much you're going to offer for one and what else you could get for that money.

As far as tonearms go, I'm using a Linn Basik LV V (which I've managed to damage) on the Focus One and a Hadcock GH228E on the 'S'. These are the arms they came with. I think something like an RB250 or RB300 would probably do the TT justice.

I hope this helps ....

[vinylmagpie]

Thanks for the reply!

Interestingly the vendor has a PT something or other and an LP12 now!

I have a couple of SME 3009/IIs available to use ..... will need to be refurbished though!

At this rate I'll end up with an interesting collection of TTs
TD124 and 160, 2X Garrard 401, 1X 301, Lenco 75, Leak Transcription TT (I turned down a Leak badged Lenco!!), "The Scottish not LP12 one", a B&O, an old Wind up portable and I've missed one out that i can't remember! The wife is very resigned and oldest son wants me to leave them to him in my will!

[R79]

Crikey ... that's some collection. I think I'll have to stick to just 2 for the time being ... need to sort some better amplification at the moment.
Hope all goes well should you decide to go down the Michell route....

[michell.vinyl]

Hi David

I have two; a Focus One and an 'S' and love them both.

I would recommend them, definately, but you need to be aware that spares aren't that easy to get hold of (if at all) and they need to be well isolated from sources of vibration more so than TTs that aren't fully suspended on sprung feet.

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, looking for some informations about Michell Focus One and "S" TTs. I've recently just fell in love with the design...

Can you please let me know more regarding the sensitivity to vibrations (AND motor vibrations) of these two Michell tables? I've recently seen one at a local Michell dealer here in Prague in MINT condition with a tonearm and a cartridge for some CZK 28 000 ($1700). I'm aware that the price is quite high but still would prefere this to a shady eBay deal...

Thanks
michell

[satanfriendly]

Welcome to this joint michell.vinyl. I'm going to have to rack my brains here as I owned a Focus One back around 83.

I remember being attracted by it's exceptionally 'sexy look', and why not?, asthetic values go a long way. I can't recall there being any particular problem with motor vibration, but it is not the best isolated turn table around being sat on three large springs on the feet. It's no worse than similar turntables in the same class though.

Careful siting is so imporant with any turn table and your best solution would be to mount it on its own table or wall shelf and ideally behind and away from your speakers. Living at my parents at the time I remember sitting it on a large wooden sideboard which would have taken a bulldozer to move and it seemed quite happy. I never had any problems. I think having concrete floors did help.

With an SME IIIs arm and a Dynavector Karat Ruby it sounded quite wonderful at the time through a Sugden A48II and IMF ALS30 speakers.

I might have thought $1700 is a bit steep if it is a Focus One, unless it comes complete with some exotic arm or cartridge. E-Bay could well be your best bet where recent prices have been quite reasonable. Do remember it is quite an aged design and you'd have to make sure it had been well looked after.

I thought the platter was a bit of a mess with holes drilled on the underside as it obviously wasn't well balanced at the factory. My father a very fine engineer pointed out that to balance rotating objects you are supposed to 'add' not 'take away' weight.

I enjoyed it for many years and was sad to part ways with it. Or put it another way, my wife at the time 'gave it away!'.