J. A. MICHELL ORBE SE

Used. In excellent condition. Free from any visible signs of wear. Supplied with SME Series IV tonearm, manuals and original packaging.

The Orbe SE is a belt-drive turntable designed for 33 and 45 rpm playback, supplied with a clamp but without the tonearm and armboard. Compared with the standard Orbe, it features an open-frame “Spider” chassis that replaces the traditional closed acrylic plinth. This solution reduces the turntable’s overall dimensions and manufacturing costs while maintaining a structure designed to support the suspended sub-chassis.

The chassis uses a twin Spider configuration and incorporates a suspended, damped pendulum sub-chassis. The platter is made of solid acrylic/vinyl, 60 mm thick, and has high inertia, while the rotation system uses an inverted bearing. The screw-down record clamp helps maintain proper coupling between the record and platter during playback.

Drive is provided by a self-contained DC motor with tachometer feedback speed control, combined with the Orbe Power Supply NC controller featuring a Never-Connected circuit. This configuration provides precise control of platter speed and represents one of the defining elements of the Orbe design.

The Orbe SE is supplied without a tonearm and armboard, but can be configured with different tonearms using dedicated armboards available for most models. The Spider Edition chassis can also be upgraded at a later stage to the full Orbe configuration by purchasing the dedicated twin plinth and dust cover.

SME Series IV

The SME Series IV is a turntable tonearm developed by SME in the second half of the 1980s and designed to achieve high structural rigidity and low signal coloration. The design uses a magnesium cast armtube featuring a progressive taper and varying wall thicknesses along its length. The casting also incorporates the bearing housing and counterweight stub as a single element, eliminating joints along the armtube apart from the counterweight mounting system.

The bearing housing is made from die-cast zinc alloy and features a substantial structure designed to contribute to vibration damping. The movement system uses a tool-steel shaft and generously sized ball bearings arranged vertically to provide stable and precise support for the tonearm. Its particularly rigid construction and overall weight distinguish the SME IV from most tonearms in its category and require careful matching with the turntable and its suspension system.

Installation and adjustment are facilitated by the sled mounting system, which allows the tonearm position to be changed quickly. After loosening the locking screws, a dedicated control allows the entire assembly to be moved back and forth to achieve precise cartridge alignment using the supplied template. VTA adjustment is also straightforward: the tonearm can be moved vertically and remains at the selected height without requiring the sled to be tightened again.

Tracking force is adjusted through a graduated system that allows the counterweight position to be set precisely. Compared with the SME V, the Series IV omits the integrated VTA adjustment mechanism and damping system, which are available as expensive optional accessories, opting instead for a simpler solution. The damper can be useful with certain cartridges, while the differences between the two adjustment systems do not directly affect the basic mechanical structure of the tonearm.

The SME IV uses internal Litz copper wiring, while the output cable uses OFC copper conductors. This configuration differs from the SME V, which uses internal silver wiring and a VDH lead-out cable. The choice of wiring contributes to the electrical characteristics of the signal path and allows the Series IV to maintain a simpler configuration than the higher-end model.

The construction is completed by a carefully executed finish and machining that highlights the precision of its individual components. The characteristic strongly tapered armtube leaves only a few millimetres of clearance for warped records, while the anti-skating system uses a graduated control. The cueing device operates through an arcing movement, and the arm rest incorporates a small roller that facilitates insertion and release of the tonearm.

In terms of sound, the SME IV is characterised by highly controlled performance, with dynamic and precise reproduction and little influence from its own tonal signature. Its rigid structure allows it to track variations in the record groove with precision, bringing out transients, low-level detail and differences between recordings. The low-frequency range offers substantial extension and a high degree of control, while the treble remains extended and clear without becoming excessively aggressive.

Its ability to separate the information contained in a recording is also evident in the reproduction of vocals and instruments, with greater distinction between individual parts of an arrangement and a stable soundstage. The bass can reveal deep fundamentals in recordings with particular clarity, making differences in recording quality and production environments equally apparent.

The mechanical configuration of the SME IV makes it suitable for use with different cartridges, allowing their individual characteristics to emerge without imposing a pronounced tonal signature of its own. This neutrality, combined with the precision of its adjustment system and the rigidity of its construction, makes it particularly suitable for systems where accurate groove tracing and a close correspondence between the character of the cartridge and the recording are desired.

The tonearm’s high rigidity and weight nevertheless require careful turntable matching. The energy generated during operation is transferred significantly to the supporting structure, making the ability of the chassis and suspension system to manage and dissipate these forces particularly important. Matching should therefore take into account not only mechanical compatibility but also the characteristics of the turntable chassis and suspension.

Orbe SE technical specifications:

• Chassis: twin Spider design with suspended and damped pendulum sub-chassis
• Platter: high-inertia solid acrylic/vinyl, 60 mm thick
• Clamp: screw-down type
• Bearing: inverted bearing
• Armboards: custom armboards available for most tonearms
• Motor: self-contained DC motor with tachometer feedback speed control
• Power supply: Orbe Power Supply NC controller with Never-Connected circuit
• Dimensions: 49 × 37.5 × 15 cm (W × D × H)
• Weight: 13.5 kg

SME Series IV technical specifications:

• Effective length: 233.15 mm
• Mounting distance: 215.35 mm
• Cartridge fixing centres: 12.70 mm
• Offset angle: 23.635°
• Linear offset: 93.47 mm
• Overhang: 17.80 mm
• Effective mass: 10–11 g
• Compatible cartridge weight: 5–16 g
• Tracking force: 0–3 g
• Weight: 700 g