The Ariston RD11S is a classic, high-end belt-drive turntable built in Scotland during the 1970s that shares a famous design connection with the iconic Linn Sondek LP12.
History and Heritage
- Designer Roots: The turntable was originally designed by Hamish Robertson in 1971.
- The Linn Connection: When Robertson left the company in 1973, the design heavily influenced the creation of the Linn Sondek LP12.
- Shared Parts: Because of this history, many replacement parts and aftermarket upgrades made for the Linn LP12 can also fit an Ariston RD11S.
Key Specifications and Design
- Suspension: It uses a traditional three-point floating sub-chassis design to isolate the platter from motor vibrations.
- Platter: Features a heavy die-cast main platter driven by an AC synchronous motor via a square-section belt. (Official Ariston belt included!
- Bearing System: The "S" version typically utilizes a precise ball-bearing main assembly, distinguishing it from some variants with inverted bearings.
- Tonearm Pairing: It was frequently sold and paired with classic tonearms such as the SME 3009 as it is here!
