Roksan Xerxes Turntable / Tabriz Tonearm / Artaxerxes Phonostage - Black Ash

Xerxes Turntable
The Roksan Xerxes turntable, introduced in 1985, was a landmark in the world of high-fidelity audio. Designed by Touraj Moghaddam, it quickly became known for its innovative approach to turntable design, challenging the norms of the time. Unlike traditional turntables that relied heavily on suspension systems to isolate vibrations, the Xerxes employed a rigid, three-layer plinth system. This design minimised resonance and improved sound clarity by reducing the mechanical flaws that could degrade audio quality.
The Xerxes was praised for its precise engineering and exceptional build quality, featuring a unique decoupling method between the platter and motor, which further reduced noise and improved stability. This turntable offered audiophiles a new level of detail and musicality, earning it a lasting reputation in the hi-fi community. The success of the Xerxes helped establish Roksan as a leading name in high-end audio, with the turntable remaining a celebrated product in the brand’s lineup for years to come.

Tabriz Tonearm
The Roksan Tabriz was a highly regarded tonearm, originally launched in 1989, known for its precision engineering and exceptional performance. It featured a low-mass, one-piece aluminium tube that is both lightweight and rigid, which helped minimise resonance and maximise signal accuracy.
The Tabriz tonearm was designed to be versatile, compatible with a wide range of cartridges, and known for its smooth tracking and detailed sound reproduction. It also included a unique counterweight system that allowed for precise adjustment, ensuring optimal balance and performance.
The Tabriz is often praised for its build quality and ability to extract high levels of detail and musicality from vinyl records, making it a favourite among audiophiles.

Artaxerxes Phono Amplifier
The Artaxerxes phono stage, released in 1989, was specifically designed to amplify the delicate signals from a turntable's cartridge, typically moving coil (MC) cartridges, and provide the necessary equalisation for accurate vinyl playback. The Roksan Artaxerxes phono amplifier is a well-regarded piece of equipment in the audiophile community, prized for its precision, build quality, and ability to deliver an immersive and detailed vinyl listening experience.

Audio Technica AT-OC9 Cartridge
In the constant perfection of record reproduction. Audio Technica unveil their latest numbers … AT-OC7 and AT-OC9. Having an almost identical ·on paper’ specification. both incorporate varying elements of the newest technology in materials and micro-engineering. many of them developed originally in applications for NASA and the hi-tech aerospace industry. The result is a sound quality previously considered unattainable in the sub £500 category.
Whilst the list of technical achievements is endless. the true test is in the listening.
“I will say with certainty that the OC9 is one of the very best cartridges I know. and can give it my strongest and most enthusiastic recommendation” HI-FI Review.

The Xerxes turntable has two separate plinths used for decoupling across a selective frequency band.
1. The bottom plinth is ‘grounded’ to the supporting surface via three hard plastic feet. This plinth houses the motor assembly and the three two stage adjustable top plinth de-couplers (‘BLOB’ assembly).
2. The top plinth features the familiar cut-out of the Xerxes where the Main Bearing/Platter assembly and the Tone arm/Cartridge are supported without touching it and supports the middle plinth.
3. The middle plinth supports the precision motor assembly and is connected & isolated from the bottom plinth via a set of three decouplers.
The top, middle and the bottom plinth are designed and manufactured from MDF and finished in a high gloss piano lacquer to provide the required rigidity/mass/damping for the tonearm/platter assembly.
The motor is free to pivot on its own bearing on an axis of rotation coincident with the shaft of the motor. With this
unique dynamic system transient speed changes are absorbed and do not affect the measuring platform. At the heart of Xerxes is Roksan’s unique and formidable self-centring, self-aligning true single point main bearing. The innovative design of this bearing provides almost silent, frictionless rotation, precisely defining the rotational axis. The bearing sleeve is gun-drilled from solid phosphor bronze and honed to provide spindle/bearing sleeve gap of 2/10,000” along its length! The only contact is between the polished spindle tip and the captive super precision hardened steel ball. The spindle is made from hardened steel and is ground with a taper that locates into the inner platter without the use of adhesive or the need for pressing.
The inner and outer platters are both machined from solid aluminium alloy instead of normal castings to ensure the material is homogeneous. Each complete platter is constructed of two parts that are ‘friction’ fitted together. Each part is designed as a tuning fork and hence it’s free from any nonlinearity. Their natural frequencies are linearly damped, as these two parts are joined together by friction only. The platters are machined to extremely high tolerances to ensure roundness and balance. Required inertia for a smooth and constant angular speed is achieved through high peripheral distribution of mass. This maximizes inertia to mass ratio and reduces undue pressure on the bearing contact point. It is this level of attention to detail throughout the design that ensures musical integrity.

Xerxes Turntable
Main Bearing Spindle: Hardened too steel
Bearing Ball: Tungsten carbide
Bearing Housing: Solid phosphor bronze
Platter: 2-piece aluminium alloy
Structure: 3-plinth design
Isolation: 3-level de-coupling
Motor: Custom made 24-pole synchronous
Pulley: Solid aluminium alloy
Drive Belt: Precision ground neoprene
Motor Mount: Unique synchronizing bearing
Motor Drive: External speed controller
Wow and Flutter: 0.02%
Rumble: - 80 dB
Dimensions: 450 (W) x 370 (D) x 115 (H) mm
Weight: 12.0 kg

Tabriz Tonearm
Effective Length: 240 mm
Overhang: 17.5 mm
Headshell Offset Angle: 22.9°
Effective Mass: 9 grammes
Mounting Hole Diameter: 23 mm
Armboard Thickness: 4 mm - 26 mm
Recommended Cartridge Weights: 5 - 11 grammes
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.2 - 3.0 grammes

Audio Technica AT-OC9 Cartridge
Frequency Response: 15 Hz - 50 kHz
Output Voltage: 0.4 mV
Tracking Force: 1.25 - 1.75 g
Weight: 7.8 g
Stylus: Square shank elliptical
Magnet Mould: Titanium Oxide/Potassium
Coils and Terminal Pins: PC-OCC

Turnaround

Orders will usually dispatched within 2 working days of receiving cleared payment.

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