Roksan Xerxes: The British Challenger to the LP12 Throne
Introduction
The Roksan Xerxes came out in 1985, when the Linn Sondek LP12 sat at the top of the British turntable pile. Touraj Moghaddam and Peter Snell designed it, and it went straight at the LP12 with a different engineering approach. It was produced from 1985 to 1990. It earned praise for its unipivot tonearm, its modular construction, and its value for the money. It was positioned as a high-end turntable with audiophile-grade performance, for listeners who wanted precision, musicality, and upgradeability without the premium price of its rivals. It also established Roksan as a serious player in analog playback.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
| Model | Xerxes |
| Category | Turntable |
| Years Produced | 1985–1990 |
| Power Output | N/A (manual operation with external motor drive) |
| Impedance | Not specified |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (typical for high-quality analog playback) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | < 0.1% |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | Not specified |
| Dimensions | 450mm x 140mm x 360mm (WxHxD) |
| Weight | 12.5 kg |
Design & Engineering
The Xerxes was built around maximum rigidity and minimum resonance, using careful material choices and mechanical isolation. The platter, motor, and tonearm are mounted on a rigid aluminum subframe. That subframe is suspended inside a damped MDF outer plinth on Sorbothane or similar elastomeric isolators. The two layers decouple the critical parts from outside vibration and cabinet-born resonance.
The Xerxes had a unipivot tonearm, the RB110 (later known as the Roksan Arm). A conventional arm uses gimbal bearings. The unipivot uses a single, finely polished ball bearing carrying the whole arm on a vertical pin, which gives extremely low friction and superior tracking accuracy. The counterweight is mounted on a threaded rod, allowing precise azimuth and VTA adjustments, which were rare at this price point. The arm tube is a lightweight aluminum alloy, which keeps inertia down and improves transient response.
The belt drive is powered by a high-torque, low-vibration AC motor in a separate external power supply unit. Keeping it out of the chassis reduces mechanical noise and allows precise speed control, with selectable 33⅓ and 45 RPM settings. The motor drives a precision pulley, which connects by a silicone belt to the main platter. The platter is heavy acrylic or aluminum and sits under a rubber mat for record coupling.
The plinth is typically finished in black or walnut. It uses constrained layer damping, with alternating layers of MDF and damping compound, to absorb internal resonances. The look is minimalist, but the inside is more sophisticated than it appears.
Sound Characteristics
The Xerxes sounds detailed, dynamic, and musically engaging. The midrange is transparent with excellent tonal accuracy, which suits acoustic, jazz, and vocal recordings. The unipivot arm contributes a wide, stable soundstage with precise imaging and excellent instrument separation. Bass is tight and well controlled, without the overhang sometimes associated with suspended subchassis designs.
The Linn LP12 tends to emphasize rhythm and pace. The Xerxes is more neutral and revealing. It presents the music with clarity and composure rather than romanticizing it. High frequencies are smooth and extended, without harshness or sibilance, so long listening sessions don't tire the ear.
With high-quality cartridges like the Dynavector 20X or Ortofon MC2000, the Xerxes extracts fine detail and microdynamics from the groove. It upgrades easily, and many original units have gone through aftermarket power supplies, improved bearings, and upgraded platters.
Market & Collectibility
Today the Xerxes has a strong reputation among vintage audio enthusiasts and remains sought after on the secondhand market. Well-maintained examples typically sell between $800 and $1,500. Fully restored or upgraded models command higher prices. Collectors also value it as a credible alternative to the LP12 and for its role in establishing Roksan as a major British hi-fi brand.
When buying a used Xerxes, inspect the unipivot bearing, since wear or contamination can degrade performance. The rubber belts and suspension isolators may also need replacing after decades of use. A large community of Roksan owners and technicians keeps parts and expertise easy to find. Many units have been modernized with Rega, Origin Live, or SME tonearms, though purists favor the original RB110.
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