Roksan Artemiz: The Precision Unipivot for the Xerxes

Introduction

The Roksan Artemiz was introduced in 1987 and produced until 1990. It was designed only for Roksan's Xerxes turntable, so it is part of that system and not a bolt-on accessory. Plenty of makers were still refining gimbal-bearing tonearms at the time. Roksan went with a unipivot instead, aiming for low friction, high articulation and accurate tracking. Production was short, but the Artemiz built a reputation among audiophiles and turntable enthusiasts for its engineering, its precise adjustability and its musicality. Original units are still in demand, and the design influenced later Roksan tonearms.

Technical Specifications

Note: As a passive tonearm, electrical specifications such as power and frequency response are not applicable. Performance is defined by mechanical precision and compatibility with moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges.

Design & Engineering

The Artemiz is a unipivot tonearm. It pivots on a single point, a hardened steel ball resting in a precision sapphire cup, so it moves with almost no friction in both the vertical and lateral axes. That keeps bearing-induced distortion down and helps the arm follow the groove, especially on complex passages with high modulation. Roksan paid close attention to resonance control. The armtube is made from a specially selected aluminum alloy that is both lightweight and rigid. The inside of the tube is damped with a proprietary material to absorb high-frequency resonances that could color the sound.

The Artemiz was built to bolt straight onto the Xerxes subchassis using a custom mounting plate. A universal arm can't do that. The fit keeps alignment right and cuts down on mechanical coupling problems. The geometry, an effective length of approximately 9 inches and a 23° offset angle, was chosen for low tracking error and less distortion across the record surface. The unipivot housing sits on a damped platform that isolates it from outside vibration.

The Artemiz is very adjustable. Vertical tracking force (VTF) is set with a calibrated counterweight. Vertical tracking angle (VTA) is set through a threaded, height-adjustable pillar. Azimuth is set with a precision screw mechanism. Listeners who cared about exact cartridge alignment liked this. The arm has a detachable headshell, which makes cartridge swaps easy, though many users mounted high-compliance MC cartridges directly to the armtube for better rigidity.

Sound Characteristics

Sonically, the Artemiz is known for clarity, neutrality and dynamics. The unipivot design gives a fluid, natural presentation with a smooth high-frequency response and tight, controlled bass. Its low effective mass suits medium- to high-compliance moving coil cartridges, which benefit from an arm that tracks with minimal inertia. Users often report a heightened sense of spatial imaging, with well-defined soundstaging and precise instrument placement.

The Artemiz does well with acoustic and jazz recordings, where its fine detail and micro-dynamics bring out the subtleties of a performance. Vocals have lifelike presence, and strings show realistic texture and decay. It is not as aggressively detailed as some contemporary high-mass arms. It avoids sounding overly analytical and gives a balanced, musical presentation that suits long listening sessions.

Paired with the Xerxes turntable and a quality cartridge like the Ortofon MC Jubilee or Denon 103, the Artemiz makes an analog front end that remains competitive with modern equivalents. Its sound is often described as "organic" and "engaging," with a touch of British refinement that avoids clinical sterility.

Market & Collectibility

Today the Roksan Artemiz is sought after by vintage audio collectors, particularly those restoring or upgrading original Xerxes turntables. The production run was limited (1987-1990) and the design is system-specific, so a complete, well-maintained Artemiz can be hard to find. Units in good working condition typically sell for between $800 and $1,500 on the secondary market, depending on provenance, included accessories and overall condition.

Check the unipivot bearing carefully. Any wear, pitting or instability will hurt performance. The sapphire cup and steel ball must be clean and free of debris, because even minor contamination can affect tracking. The counterweight should move smoothly, and the VTA adjustment mechanism should work without binding. The original cabling is often replaced with higher-quality aftermarket leads to improve signal transmission, though purists keep the factory specifications.

Specialized analog audio technicians offer restoration services for the Artemiz. They can re-lubricate the bearing, recalibrate the tracking geometry and replace worn parts. A fully serviced Artemiz significantly adds to the value of a Xerxes turntable.

The Roksan Artemiz was built for the Xerxes system, not for mass appeal.

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