The fern & Roby turntable
The Fern & Roby turntable lives up to the expectations set by its creators and reviewers alike, who use descriptors like “monumental,” “artful,” “impressive,” and “architectural” to capture the unique aspects of this one-of-a-kind music-playing device. The creators have crafted an appealing piece that uses contrast to its advantage, showcasing the appearance of raw materials with turned, machined metal to create a beautiful, refined piece of musical art.
A turntable is already a defining piece in many room setups, and the market is crowded with many niche players with interesting designs. The Fern & Roby turntable is a rare breed that satisfies the eye and creates high-fidelity playback that satisfies even the most critical reviewer. The design certainly benefits from collaborations with established audio manufacturers, including Frank Schröder for the tonearm and Soundsmith for the phono cartridge, so the Fern & Roby could focus exclusively on perfecting the bearing and platter assembly.
While simple in appearance, the platter is dynamically balanced to 1000 rpm, and employs a precise low-friction bearing with a single point of contact, which reduces any noise that might travel through the pickup to inaudible levels. Real-time platter speed measurements provide feedback to the motor to maintain precise accuracy at 33.33 or 45 RPM. Fern & Roby sell the turntable and drive system separate from the tonearm and stylus assembly, and will machine a custom armboard for any tonearm the user prefers. A true work of art, the Fern & Roby turntable is for anyone who is inspired by beautiful music and the devices used to reproduce it.
• Materials: cast iron, bronze, pine, electronic and audio components
• Dimensions 47cm long by 34.3cm wide by 9cm high
