Fern and Roby Fern & Roby | The Archival Turntable

Technics SP-10R, SME M2-12, F&R Plinth

A precision turntable shaped by years of disciplined engineering and careful craft. Inspired by archival-grade principles, this table balances stability, control and clarity in service of real listening.

• Technics SP-10R—ultra-stable direct drive motor selected for minimal wow and flutter

  
  

• SME M2-12R tonearm—chosen for precise tracking and configurability

  
  

• Custom Fern & Roby plinth—American walnut and Richlite with engineered isolation and resonance control

  
  

Additional details

• Custom armboard options available — contact us to discuss your ideal configuration

  
  

• Designed for multiple speeds and up to 16” discs

  
  

The Archival Turntable reflects years of disciplined design work — the kind that comes from solving difficult playback challenges at every stage. Stability, repeatability, and mechanical control are not incidental features; they are the result of careful choices informed by archival-grade practice and refined through measurement and iteration.

Curious how the Archival Turntable came to be?

Read the backstory behind its design in our blog:

• Precision Earned Through Practice

  
  

Get the Archival Turntable t-shirt

Our“exploded view” t-shirt design offers a window into the internal structure of the turntable.

100% cotton, unisex fit, ships free in the US.

Contact us to learn more about how to schedule a listening session and factory tour with Christopher.

What reviewers and listeners consistently note is the sense of presence the Archival Turntable brings to familiar recordings — a byproduct of the innate stability and design intent.

The Components

A Marriage of Precision, Control, and Craftmanship

Technics SP-10R Direct Drive

Reference Class Turntable

• Coreless Direct Drive Motor

  
  

• Suppressing Unwanted Motor Vibration

  
  

• Heavyweight-class Turntable Platter

  
  

• Separate Control Unit

  
  

See all specs here

SME M2 12” Tonearm

Build: Series M2-12 has a pivot-stylus dimension of 308.8 mm (12.16”). Distortion caused by lateral tracking error is at least 25% less than possible with a nine or inch arm. However effective mass will be typically 12.0 grams.

Damping: The internally damped tonearm of highly polished stainless steel provides sparkling uncoloured reproduction. A unique single element balance system caters for cartridges weighing 5 to 12 grams. After balancing tracking force is applied by forward movement of the weight ensuring the lowest system inertia. The weight moves on a precision screw thread with backlash eliminator allowing exact setting of vertical tracking force.

Adjustments: A collet of ingenious design affords ‘one-piece’ rigidity and allows azimuth correction to be made before final tightening.

• 1.0 gram per revolution tungsten weight sub-graduated 0.25 and 0.025 gram moving on a precision screw with backlash eliminator.

  
  

• 220mm (48”) D501 balanced audio lead. Engineered in the best camera quality with satin chrome finish Fluid damped lift/lower control.

  
  

• Low friction, fully shielded races for both axes.

  
  

• Sliding base for tracking adjustment.

  
  

• Thumbwheel height adjustment.

  
  

• Traditional pattern anti-skate.

  
  

Download the product manual here

See all specs here

Fern & Roby Plinth

Solid American walnut & Richlite machined plinth

• Dimensions: 25” W x 19.25” D x 9” H (Including tonearm and isolation feet)

  
  

• Materials with opposing frequencies reduce resonance. 2” thick sustainably sourced Walnut and recycled paper composite Richlite made in Seattle

  
  

• Arm board: Designed for the SME M2-12 Tonearm and features isolating motor mounts to dampen vibration.

  
  

  • *Do you have a preferred tonearm in mind? We can adapt the existing arm board design.

    
    

• Layer of Sorbothane isolation between the plinth and SP-10R

  
  

• Spiked feet rest in the Fern & Roby 3” Isolation Feet

  
  

Why the SP-10R and SME M2-12?

The Technics SP-10R direct-drive platform is well-known in professional and archival circles for its exceptional stability and minimal wow and flutter — qualities that allow a system to act more like a transparent window than a signal source.

When paired with the SME M2-12R tonearm’s precise tracking geometry, this combination reduces variables that can obscure micro-detail in playback recordings.

We didn’t select these components for prestige, but because they support repeatable, controlled results — the kind of performance that lets rhythm, dynamics, and nuance emerge clearly.

• The Technics SP-10R is used by archival institutions that need precise, reliable playback for preserving historical recordings.

  
  

  • It is one of the most advanced turntables available in the market that builds on a long history of design by Technics.

    
    

  • The SP-10R archival turntable is unique in the marketplace, featuring an ultra-stable direct-drive motor that delivers an industry leading < 0.015% wow and flutter.

    
    

  • It supports multiple playback speeds and when paired with custom plinth, can accommodate larger 16” transcription discs.

    
    

• The SME M2-12 tonearm offers industry-leading tracking accuracy and minimum distortion, ensuring optimal performance.