Roksan Xerxes & TMS Upgrade Plinth

Sale price $550 CAD

(free shipping in North America)

20 years on, and the Xerxes still continues to define a reference for turntables all around the world. Ten years ago this legendary record player was replaced by Xerxes.X (10) and the original 2 plinth design of the Xerxes was upgraded to 3 plinths bringing it in line with our reference record player at the time the Roksan TMS. This update in the design elevated its performance to a new standard and put the Xerxes.X on top in its class.

Three years ago however our reference record player the TMS was replaced by TMS 2 that established itself as a new world class record player within months of its launch! This 4 plinth ‘grounded’ design had many new features and new components. Utilising several different materials for its plinths, a new super precision Tungsten Carbide main bearing spindle and ball, up-rated support and isolation structure, the TMS 2 brought new life to music on vinyl. Such an improvement in performance between the original TMS and the new TMS 2 made the lively sounding TMS sound rather ‘tame’ in comparison. Now the gap between our new reference record player and the Xerxes.X widened even more. But thanks to the fundamental design of the TMS and the Xerxes.X, it was possible to improve their performance by implementing some of the new design features of the TMS 2. What was not possible though, was to

realise the full potential of these new upgrades because these record players were in fact 3 plinth ‘floating’ designs and not 4 plinth ‘grounded’. Not any more! Our new Xerxes.20 / TMS1.5 Upgrade Plinth pushes the boundaries of performance for both record players, narrowing the performance gap and setting new standards for the TMS and the Xerxes.X.

The new Upgrade Plinth is made of 22mm high quality Birch Ply and laminated on both sides by Brushed Aluminium for optimum rigidity and critical damping. Three weight adjusted suspension mounts replace the original feet of the Xerxes.X or the TMS and are secured to the upgrade plinth by 3 M6 stainless steel bolts. These mounts match and compliment the record player’s floating suspension frequency and the upgrade plinth itself provides the required rigid coupling to ‘ground’. The tonearm and the motor drive power cables are both rigidly secured to the upgrade plinth and ‘grounded’ via integral ties and clips. The upgrade plinth is then coupled to ‘ground’ via three adjustable spike feet to complete the forth plinth structure making the Xerxes.X or the original TMS a four plinth ‘grounded’ design.

The upgrade benefits

• Much higher level of isolation

• Far better control of internally induced vibrations

• Much lower mechanical interference of cables

• Far less susceptible to the supporting surface

Sonically the Xerxes.X is improved to a level almost beyond the TMS and the TMS is elevated to its optimum mechanical structure utilising the benefits of the four plinth, grounded design of the TMS 2 reference record player. With this structural upgrade the record player is fundamentally improved thus showing the sonic improvements of other upgrades (Such as: The new Mat, Main bearing ball, Spindle, Power supply etc.) so much clearer. It is important to note that this upgrade can also be implemented on the original Xerxes. In this case the bottom plinth of the Xerxes requires modification to accept the upgrade plinth suspension mounts.

Specifications:

Core Material - 22mm High Quality Birch Ply

Surface Material - Brushed Aluminium veneer both sides

De-coupling - 3 Weight adjusted suspension mounts

Ground Coupling - 3 adjustable spike feet

Dimension - 473 x 376 x 23.5 (W x D x H) mm

473 x 376 x 55 (Approx. including feet)