Turntables — J.Sikora STANDARD MAX ROSSO CORSA EDITION

The Standard Max Rosso Corsa Edition is a red custom version of the Standard Max turntable from J.Sikora, a Polish maker founded in Lublin in 2007 by Janusz Sikora. It appears on the company's custom page beside two Reference decks, one in the same Italian racing red and one in Giallo Corsa yellow. Apart from the paint, the edition keeps the specification of the regular Standard Max, which is sold in silver or black and costs USD 19,995 in North America with the basic linear supply.

Key specs that matter

J.Sikora lists a total weight of 83 kg and a chassis of 620 x 350 x 410 mm. Delrin and cast iron make up the 18 kg platter. Materials in the structure are aluminium, brass, copper, inox and bronze. Two DC motors and rubber belts turn the platter at 33 or 45 rpm, supported on an inverted ceramic ball bearing. Two tonearms can be installed as standard. Supplied items are the armboard, clamp, glass mat and power supply unit.

Engineering and use context

The Standard Max uses a sandwich of five materials, chosen for stiffness and low resonance. Its motors are PAPST DC units placed on opposite sides of the platter, with the secondary motor standing slightly taller than the primary one, and a motor control circuit keeps them in step so that uneven belt pull is largely cancelled. The speed controller is built into the plinth rather than housed in a separate box. The base is a solid block of billet aluminium, CNC-machined with elliptical cutouts, and the subplatter is made of copper, aluminium and stainless steel. A glass-crystal mat sits on the platter to reduce vibration. Under the chassis, aluminium feet use ceramic bearings held in stainless steel cups resting on gel pods, secured by brass bolts of J.Sikora's own design. A heavier Reference power supply with several layers of filtering is offered as an upgrade for USD 4,625. J.Sikora machines and assembles the decks in Lublin at the Allmet plant.

Pairing

With two arm towers, one cartridge can be dedicated to stereo and another to mono pressings, or two different cartridge types can stay mounted side by side. J.Sikora's own KV12 VTA arm, built around a proprietary Kevlar fibre armtube, costs USD 8,495 in North America. A manual of some length, filled with photographs, comes with the deck to guide assembly. Such a heavy turntable needs a stand built for that weight.

Alternatives

At 98 kg, the J.Sikora Standard Max Supreme keeps two motors but uses brass instead of aluminium in the suspension, thicker inox motor housings and the Reference power supply included.