Turntables — J.Sikora INITIAL MAX LINE

The Initial Max Line is the upper model of the Initial range from J.Sikora, a turntable maker based in Lublin, Poland, that has built decks since 2007. Founder Janusz Sikora draws on a long background in metallurgy, and each deck is assembled one at a time. Compared with the basic Initial, the Max version adds a second motor, a second plinth, a tower for a second tonearm, a glass mat, a record clamp and a linear power supply. The European price is EUR 11,900 and the US price USD 14,745 for the deck alone.

Key specs that matter

Total weight is 51 kg, and with its extra plinth the deck measures 620 x 350 x 296 mm. That lower plinth alone weighs 18 kg and is 75 mm tall. The 4 kg platter is made of Delrin, a polyoxymethylene plastic, and turns at 33 or 45 rpm. Structural parts are machined from aluminium, stainless steel and cast iron. Two DC motors drive the platter through rubber belts, and the main bearing is an inverted ceramic ball type. Up to two tonearms can be mounted, each on its own armboard. Finishes are silver or black, and a separate Initial Max White version shares the same specification.

Engineering and use context

The two plinths are separated by ball-bearing decoupling elements - aluminium cones carrying zirconium oxide balls - so vibration from the lower stage is not passed straight to the upper one. The upper plinth holds the main bearing, the platter and one motor, while the lower plinth carries the base, the second motor and the controller. The motors are asynchronous DC units from EBM-Papst, each in a housing made entirely of stainless steel with internal silicone isolation and polyamide fasteners. Mounted on opposite sides of the platter, they pull with balanced force, so the bearing is not loaded from one side. The bearing uses carbide parts around its ceramic ball. A graphite glass mat sits on the platter, and the supplied clamp can be used in a light or a heavier configuration, or left off. Power reaches the motors from a separate supply box and a separate control unit.

Pairing

The second arm tower lets owners keep two cartridges ready, for example one for stereo records and one for mono. The matching J.Sikora KV12 is a 12-inch unipivot arm with a tapered Kevlar tube, oil damping, gold-plated 6N copper wiring and an effective mass of 12.5 g, and it is offered in white lacquer for the white deck. The Initial platform was laid out for Kuzma tonearms, and J.Sikora makes custom armboards on request for other brands.

Alternatives

The J.Sikora Standard Line is the next turntable up, weighing 80 kg with an 18 kg platter of Delrin and cast iron.