Dirtyragamuffin, you can't go wrong with either turntables.
I have owned both VPI HW19MKIII and Michell Gyrodec(full version, bronze edition) for a while. Both are excellent turntables. Currently I have ET2 or 309 tone arms on VPI and SME V or 309 arms on Gyrodec. When comparing two turntables with same arm(in my case SME V or 309) both VPI and Gyrodec with same cartridge used, it is very hard to pick one over the other purely based on sound. To summarize the sound, VPI has more of darker presentation compared to Gyrodec. Gyrodec has little more airy sound. Sound preferences will depends on type of music you listen to and the rest of your system set up.
Gyrodec definitely has the look, even my wife loves the turntable. VPI has easier upgrade path, easier to find parts(used), and less picky on set up. You can upgrade Gyrodec close to Orbe. VPI really sings with ET2 tone arm(I really like this set up). Michelle works well with Rega or SME arms.
I have owned both VPI HW19MKIII and Michell Gyrodec(full version, bronze edition) for a while. Both are excellent turntables. Currently I have ET2 or 309 tone arms on VPI and SME V or 309 arms on Gyrodec. When comparing two turntables with same arm(in my case SME V or 309) both VPI and Gyrodec with same cartridge used, it is very hard to pick one over the other purely based on sound. To summarize the sound, VPI has more of darker presentation compared to Gyrodec. Gyrodec has little more airy sound. Sound preferences will depends on type of music you listen to and the rest of your system set up.
Gyrodec definitely has the look, even my wife loves the turntable. VPI has easier upgrade path, easier to find parts(used), and less picky on set up. You can upgrade Gyrodec close to Orbe. VPI really sings with ET2 tone arm(I really like this set up). Michelle works well with Rega or SME arms.