Turntables — J.Sikora STANDARD LINE

The Standard Line is the middle turntable family from J.Sikora of Lublin, Poland, placed between the lighter Initial models and the four-motor Reference. The company was founded in 2007 by Janusz Sikora, whose background is in metallurgy, and its decks are built in Lublin at the Allmet factory, which works in metal fabrication. J.Sikora sums up the design brief as maximum rigidity, minimal resonance, minimal vibration and the highest rotational stability it can reach. The European price is EUR 15,160.

Key specs that matter

The deck weighs 80 kg in total, of which 18 kg is the platter, made from Delrin and cast iron. Aluminium, brass, copper, inox and bronze are used in the structure. Two DC motors drive the platter by rubber belts at 33 or 45 rpm, and the platter spins on a ceramic ball in an inverted bearing. One tonearm is fitted as standard and a second position can be added. The standard kit covers the armboard, record clamp, glass mat and a power supply. Outer dimensions are 620 x 350 x 400 mm, and the finish is silver or black.

Engineering and use context

Five different materials are combined in a sandwich construction, which J.Sikora ties to its goals of rigidity and low resonance. The two PAPST DC motors sit diametrically opposite each other across the platter and are governed by a dedicated motor control circuit, so their pull on the belt is balanced and speed irregularities are largely cancelled. On the closely related Standard Max, which shares this platform, the plinth is a solid billet of aluminium with elliptical cutouts machined on CNC equipment, the subplatter combines copper, aluminium and stainless steel, and a glass-crystal mat covers the platter. Its aluminium feet each contain a ceramic ball seated in a stainless pocket with gel pods beneath, and are fixed with proprietary brass bolts. The basic J.Sikora power supply comes in a 100 x 100 x 190 mm case, while the larger Reference supply measures 170 x 180 x 320 mm.

Pairing

A single arm is standard, and the optional second arm base allows a mono cartridge to stay mounted alongside a stereo one. J.Sikora offers an upgrade path to Standard Max specification, which adds the second arm base and an integrated plinth with speed controller. In-house arm choices are the KV12, KV12 Max and KV9 Max tonearms. Such a heavy deck needs a rack or wall shelf rated for that load.

Alternatives

The J.Sikora Standard Max Line builds on the same platter with two arm positions as standard, weighing 83 kg in a 620 x 350 x 410 mm chassis.