Roksan Attessa turntable review: What goes around comes around
Verdict
Roksan may have (slightly) democratised its turntable expertise to a new and (slightly) more attainable cost, but it hasn't scrimped on whatever of its long-established virtues.
Pros
- Confident, unified, detailed audio
- Some impressive engineering
- Adept spec includes cartridge and integrated phono phase
Cons
- £1000 record players seldom look their money's-worth
- Could audio more assertive with beats
Key Features
- Phono stage Moving magnet with bypass
- Speed 33.iii, 45rpm
- Tonearm bearing Unipivot
Introduction
Don't call information technology a comeback – Roksan never actually went away. But with its new 'Attessa' range of electronics, the company is bringing a little of its high-end cachet and sparkle down to a price point that could nigh be considered 'mainstream'.
Of form, as far as this Attessa Turntable is concerned, the 'mainstream' is already quite well stocked with deeply impressive record players from securely credible brands. No one's doubting Roksan's credibility, of course – but does it take what information technology takes to ruffle the feathers of the established marketplace leaders?
Availability
- U.k. RRP: £995
- USA RRP: $1495
- Australia RRP: AU$1995
The Roksan Attessa Turntable is available from the finish of September 2021, and in the UK it can be yours for £995. In the U.s.a. it will sell for effectually $1495, while Australian Roksan-fanciers should look to pay AU$1995 or so.
It almost goes without proverb that these prices bring the Attessa Turntable into direct competition with some extremely well-regarded rival designs from brands with just as much heritage and turntable cachet as Roksan.
Rega, for case, has an impeccable reputation, and in its Planar 6 turntable, a very similarly priced alternative. Clearaudio, too, with its Concept deck, is fix to delight both the audiophile and interior decorator in your life – even if they're both the same person.
Design
- Reasonably compact footprint
- Available in white or black
- Removable grit cover
Roksan's very first product was a turntable, and since it launched the Xerxes back in 1985, very little has changed in terms of the pattern of record players.
And that's hardly surprising, considering unless you want to get into a bit of wilful blueprint frippery like wall-hanging tape players (yes, they be and no, they're not worth because), then the form of a turntable is entirely dictated by its function.
And then while the Attessa Turntable is a gratifyingly tidy at H105 ten W432 x D353mm (not including the dust cover), information technology's still your basic 'circle on a rectangle' record role player. The rounded-off sides are about the only thing hither that could exist considered a blueprint 'flourish'. Unless yous count the vaguely stylised 'power' and 'speed' controls on bottom/left of the plinth…
Features
- Integrated switchable moving magnet phono stage
- New Unipivot tonearm with Dana cartridge pre-fitted
- Electronic speed control
There's a fair bit more to discuss here than in the Design section of this review – information technology'due south apparent Roksan has pulled out any number of specification stops where the Attessa Turntable is concerned.
Most obvious at first glance is the complex and dramatic-looking tonearm arrangement. This is an all-new figurer-aided design, and its composite structure includes integrated tracking and anti-skate adjustment. Unifying functions in this manner isn't piece of cake – the glass jewel pivot lone speaks of many hours of inquiry and evolution.
The plinth is of a unmarried, isolated piece, and information technology sits on isolation feet developed from the current Xerxes turntable. All the critical components are arranged here, and there doesn't seem to take been much compromise where they're concerned, either.
The begetting associates – spindle, ball and housing – is fabricated of steel and brass. The motor and speed selector – the Attessa Turntable volition operate at 33.3 or 45rpm – are digitally controlled and accurate to a few micro-seconds. The platter is 10mm of high-mass glass with an anodised aluminium edge. And that tonearm is an aluminium/ABS combination and comes with a Roksan Dana cartridge already attached.
On the dorsum of the plinth there are a pair of stereo RCA outputs (Roksan thoughtfully supplies a pair of RCA interconnects that are a cutting or two above the bog-standard), and a switch for the integrated moving-magnet phono stage.
Incorporating sufficient distension to make the Attessa Turntable uniform with pretty much any arrangement is a fine idea, and beingness able to switch information technology on or off means those with systems that already back up turntables will be able to compare and contrast the relative qualities of amplification. Which is nice.
Sound quality
- Peachy unity of tone
- Lavishly detailed, especially through the mid-range
- Could attack beats a little more readily
Virtually of the legwork of setup is washed before y'all fifty-fifty take your Attessa Turntable from its packaging, and the remaining stuff is doable in only a few minutes – Roksan has put a helpful video on its YouTube channel, too. So, it shouldn't be long before yous're slipping on that first LP and pinning your ears back.
And information technology won't be long before yous realise the Roksan Attessa Turntable makes expert on all beauteous virtues of the vinyl format. A heavyweight reissue of Belle and Sebastian'due south If You're Feeling Sinister sounds full, warm (but not lush or overheated) and is presented as a unified, flawlessly integrated whole. The indie-pop tempos and rhythms sound natural and expressive, and there'south but virtually enough drive and attack to brand the wide dynamic peaks and troughs of the recording obvious.
There's a low-key meticulousness to the Roksan's tonality that can, on start associate, be confused with a lack of engagement – but that emphatically isn't the case. By the time you get to the end of side one, information technology'south obvious the Attessa Turntable is delivering the complete picture; simply it's smooth and even from the bottom of the frequency range to the height.
Nothing is overstated, cipher is underplayed… from the hefty, informative and well-controlled low frequencies to the politely crisp and as information-packed top-end, the Roksan exhibits an enjoyable commonality of tone.
However, it's the mid-range that's the single most enjoyable aspect of the Attessa Turntable's functioning. Detail both broad and fine is bachelor in spades, and at that place's a directness and immediacy about the fashion voices are delivered that makes the Roksan among the more eloquent and convincing turntables £grand tin can buy.
Information technology isn't perfect, of course – after all, very few products are. And switching to the unthreatening, but insistent, eponymous debut anthology past Kiasmos reveals a slight reticence in the Roksan'south sound. These aren't the most punishing beats around by whatever ways, but they nevertheless demand a petty more than positivity and slam than the Attessa Turntable seems comfy mustering.
Mind you, in every other respect, the Roksan is just as enjoyable and conceivable a listen as ever. Although the rhythms are slightly underplayed where simple drive is concerned, they're withal natural and unforced. And the fashion this deck integrates processed, mechanised and organic sounds into a single, unified functioning never fails to impress. Information technology expresses the notional calibration of the recording well and has insight to spare.
The integrated phono phase is well worth information technology, too. As well every bit making the Attessa Turntable completely system-doubter, it stands upwards well against any number of culling designs included in accordingly priced integrated amplifiers.
In fact, I had to fissure open up one of our favourite stand-alone phono stages – the venerable Leema Elements – before I was able to make a properly decisive improvement on the Attessa Turntable's audio. And the terminal fourth dimension I checked, a Leema Elements phono stage will fix you back £449.
Latest deals
Should you buy information technology?
You enjoy the archetypal vinyl audio Roksan has invested a cracking bargain of fourth dimension and money in developing a record player that really plays to the vinyl format's strengths.
Y'all're later out-and-out set on It isn't that the Roksan is uncomfortable with punchier beats, it's just that it would rather not get likewise deeply involved.
Concluding thoughts
Calibrate your expectations accordingly and the Roksan Attessa Turntable is an impressive piece of engineering and a thoroughly absorbing mind
How we test
We examination every turntable we review thoroughly over an extended menstruation of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, e'er, accept money to review a production.
Find out more about how we examination in our ethics policy.
Tested for more than a week
Tested with real earth use
Tested with vinyl records
You lot might like…
FAQs
Does the Roksan Attessa have a phono stage?
Yes, information technology does, and information technology is a switchable moving magnet (MM) phono stage.
When is the Roksan Attessa turntable due to come up out?
Currently, it'southward due to be bachelor for purchase Oct 2021
Does the Roksan Attessa come with a cartridge?
Yes, the Dana cartridge is fitted every bit standard
Full specs
‹
Great britain RRP
USA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
Integrated phono stage
Release Appointment
Turntable Type
Speeds (rpm)
Ports
Cartridge
Colours
›
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/roksan-attessa
Posted by: velazquezforyinath76.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Roksan Attessa turntable review: What goes around comes around"
Post a Comment