Roksan Artemiz: The Precision Unipivot for the Xerxes

Name: Roksan Artemiz
Brand: Roksan

Introduction

The Roksan Artemiz, introduced in 1987 and produced until 1990, stands as a hallmark of British tonearm engineering during the golden era of high-end analog playback. Designed exclusively to complement Roksan’s critically acclaimed Xerxes turntable, the Artemiz was not merely an accessory but an integral component of a meticulously engineered system. At a time when many manufacturers were refining gimbal-bearing tonearms, Roksan took a bold step by embracing the unipivot design—a choice that underscored their commitment to low friction, high articulation, and superior tracking accuracy. Though its production span was brief, the Artemiz earned a lasting reputation among audiophiles and turntable enthusiasts for its elegant engineering, precise adjustability, and exceptional musicality. Its legacy endures in the continued demand for original units and its influence on later Roksan tonearm designs.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Value
Model	Artemiz
Category	Tonearm
Years Produced	1987–1990
Power Output	Not specified
Impedance	Not specified
Frequency Response	Not specified
Total Harmonic Distortion	Not specified
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	Not specified
Dimensions	N/A (arm length: ~9")
Weight	N/A (counterweight-adjusted for cartridge compliance)

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, meaning it pivots on a single point—a hardened steel ball resting in a precision sapphire cup—allowing for near-frictionless movement across both vertical and lateral axes. This design minimizes bearing-induced distortion and enhances the arm’s ability to follow record grooves with exceptional fidelity, especially during complex musical passages with high modulation. Roksan’s engineering team paid meticulous attention to resonance control, crafting the armtube from a specially selected aluminum alloy that was both lightweight and rigid. The internal bore of the tube was damped with a proprietary material to absorb high-frequency resonances that could color the sound.

One of the Artemiz’s standout features is its system-specific integration with the Xerxes turntable. Unlike universal tonearms, the Artemiz was engineered to bolt directly onto the Xerxes’ subchassis using a custom mounting plate, ensuring perfect alignment and minimizing mechanical coupling issues. The arm’s geometry—effective length of approximately 9 inches and a 23° offset angle—was optimized for low tracking error, reducing distortion across the record surface. The unipivot housing is mounted on a damped platform that isolates it from external vibrations, further enhancing stability.

Adjustability is another hallmark of the Artemiz. Users can finely tune vertical tracking force (VTF) via a calibrated counterweight, adjust vertical tracking angle (VTA) through a threaded height-adjustable pillar, and set azimuth with a precision screw mechanism. These features made the Artemiz a favorite among perfectionist listeners who valued precise cartridge alignment. The arm also includes a detachable headshell, allowing for easy cartridge swaps, though many users preferred mounting high-compliance MC cartridges directly to the armtube for improved rigidity.

Sound Characteristics

Sonically, the Artemiz is celebrated for its clarity, neutrality, and dynamic expressiveness. The unipivot design contributes to a remarkably fluid and natural presentation, with a smooth high-frequency response and tight, controlled bass. Its low effective mass makes it ideally suited for medium- to high-compliance moving coil cartridges, which benefit from the arm’s ability to track with minimal inertia. Users often report a heightened sense of spatial imaging, with well-defined soundstaging and precise instrument placement.

The Artemiz excels in reproducing acoustic and jazz recordings, where its ability to resolve fine detail and micro-dynamics reveals the subtleties of performance. Vocals are rendered with lifelike presence, and string instruments exhibit realistic texture and decay. While not as aggressively detailed as some contemporary high-mass arms, the Artemiz avoids sounding overly analytical, instead offering a balanced, musical presentation that invites long listening sessions.

When paired with the Xerxes turntable and a quality cartridge like the Ortofon MC Jubilee or Denon 103, the Artemiz forms a synergistic 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 a sought-after component among vintage audio collectors, particularly those restoring or upgrading original Xerxes turntables. Due to its limited production run (1987–1990) and system-specific design, finding a complete, well-maintained Artemiz can be challenging. Units in good working condition typically command prices between $800 and $1,500 on the secondary market, depending on provenance, included accessories, and overall condition.

Collectors should inspect the unipivot bearing carefully—any signs of wear, pitting, or instability will degrade performance. The sapphire cup and steel ball must be clean and free of debris; even minor contamination can affect tracking. The counterweight should move smoothly, and the VTA adjustment mechanism should operate without binding. Original cabling is often replaced with higher-quality aftermarket leads to improve signal transmission, though purists prefer to maintain factory specifications.

Restoration services for the Artemiz are available through specialized analog audio technicians, who can re-lubricate the bearing, recalibrate tracking geometry, and replace worn parts. Given its reputation, a fully serviced Artemiz significantly enhances the value of a Xerxes turntable.

The Roksan Artemiz remains a symbol of focused, system-integrated analog design—a tonearm built not for mass appeal, but for sonic excellence within a carefully crafted ecosystem.