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What reviewers and listeners consistently note is the sense of presence the Archival Turntable brings to familiar recordings — a byproduct of the innate stability and design intent.
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“It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was one of the most accomplished systems Fern & Roby has assembled for a show. Bob Dylan leapt out from the speakers, immediate and real despite the decades that these classics were recorded. I’m not sure how much of this astounding sound was due to the presence of one of Technics’ most accomplished designs, or if the Amp No. 2 once again supplied the magic that I know it can, but I do know that as long as Fern & Roby is continuing to develop new and exciting products, I’ll be standing in line to take a listen.”
Read the entire review here.
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“As I’ve come to expect from Christopher Hildebrand and Fern & Roby, listening to this system was like talking to an old friend—all easy flow and endlessly engaging. During my visit, Phoebe Bridgers’ debut album Stranger in the Alps was spinning, a record I own, adding to the old friend feel. Nice. I also picked and streamed the opening track, “Here Is Someone,” from Japanese Breakfast’s latest For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) and its sweeping dreaminess filled the room with its expansive billowing loveliness.”
Read the entire review here.
The Components
A Marriage of Precision, Control, and Craftmanship
Technics SP-10R Direct Drive
Reference Class Turntable
Coreless Direct Drive Motor
Suppressing Unwanted Motor Vibration
Heavyweight-class Turntable Platter
Separate Control Unit
See all specs here.
SME M2 12” Tonearm
Build: Series M2-12 has a pivot-stylus dimension of 308.8 mm (12.16”). Distortion caused by lateral tracking error is at least 25% less than possible with a nine or inch arm. However effective mass will be typically 12.0 grams.
Damping: The internally damped tonearm of highly polished stainless steel provides sparkling uncoloured reproduction. A unique single element balance system caters for cartridges weighing 5 to 12 grams. After balancing tracking force is applied by forward movement of the weight ensuring the lowest system inertia. The weight moves on a precision screw thread with backlash eliminator allowing exact setting of vertical tracking force.
Adjustments: A collet of ingenious design affords ‘one-piece’ rigidity and allows azimuth correction to be made before final tightening.
1.0 gram per revolution tungsten weight sub-graduated 0.25 and 0.025 gram moving on a precision screw with backlash eliminator.
220mm (48”) D501 balanced audio lead. Engineered in the best camera quality with satin chrome finish Fluid damped lift/lower control.
Low friction, fully shielded races for both axes.
Sliding base for tracking adjustment.
Thumbwheel height adjustment.
Traditional pattern anti-skate.
Download the product manual here.
See all specs here.
Fern & Roby Plinth
Solid American walnut & Richlite machined plinth
Dimensions: 25” W x 19.25” D x 9” H (Including tonearm and isolation feet)
Materials with opposing frequencies reduce resonance. 2” thick sustainably sourced Walnut and recycled paper composite Richlite made in Seattle
Arm board: Designed for the SME M2-12 Tonearm and features isolating motor mounts to dampen vibration.
*Do you have a preferred tonearm in mind? We can adapt the existing arm board design.
Layer of Sorbothane isolation between the plinth and SP-10R
Spiked feet rest in the Fern & Roby 3” Isolation Feet
Why the SP-10R and SME M2-12?
The Technics SP-10R direct-drive platform is well-known in professional and archival circles for its exceptional stability and minimal wow and flutter — qualities that allow a system to act more like a transparent window than a signal source.
When paired with the SME M2-12R tonearm’s precise tracking geometry, this combination reduces variables that can obscure micro-detail in playback recordings.
We didn’t select these components for prestige, but because they support repeatable, controlled results — the kind of performance that lets rhythm, dynamics, and nuance emerge clearly.
The Technics SP-10R is used by archival institutions that need precise, reliable playback for preserving historical recordings.
It is one of the most advanced turntables available in the market that builds on a long history of design by Technics.
The SP-10R archival turntable is unique in the marketplace, featuring an ultra-stable direct-drive motor that delivers an industry leading < 0.015% wow and flutter.
It supports multiple playback speeds and when paired with custom plinth, can accommodate larger 16” transcription discs.
The SME M2-12 tonearm offers industry-leading tracking accuracy and minimum distortion, ensuring optimal performance.
