Lublin, Poland – January 2026
Slow and steady was the order of the day as we made our way to Luton Airport for an early flight to Lublin, Poland. The journey began under perfect conditions to acclimatise us for what lay ahead: overnight snow, brisk winds, and temperatures hovering around –4°C greeted us as we headed to Luton Airport.
Lublin lies in eastern Poland, approximately 150 km southeast of Warsaw. It is the capital of the Lublin Voivodeship and a major cultural, academic, and economic hub for the region. Known for its beautifully preserved Old Town, medieval castle, and significant academic institutions, Lublin boasts a rich multicultural history. It comes highly recommended for a long weekend, with excellent transport links, striking architecture, fantastic food, and genuinely warm, welcoming people.
From Lublin Airport, it’s a short taxi ride to the J. Sikora facility, located in a quiet suburb less than ten minutes from the Old Town. We received a warm welcome from Robert Sikora and Adam Niezbecki, who ushered us in from the cold into a beautifully appointed listening and entertaining space. Our attention was immediately drawn to the turntables, proudly displayed on three custom-built racks. Front and centre sat the highly impressive Reference Line, flanked on the left by a Standard Max Supreme, and on the right by an Aspire, finished in white.
We knew we were in for a treat, especially as each deck was fitted with a stunning Aidas cartridge—but first things first: this was a working visit.
Inside the Factory
We were given a guided tour of the factory, and I was instantly reminded how much I love the smell of a metalworking shop. Perhaps it’s hereditary. My grandfather Tom was a metalworker by trade, building aircraft during WWII by day and serving as a volunteer fireman during the London Blitz by night. He would have loved the CNC machines, lathes, drills, and assorted contraptions used here for shaping, carving, and cutting metal—and I certainly do.
It’s deeply satisfying to see raw materials transformed into bespoke components and then combined into these functional works of art. We were delighted to meet Janusz Sikora in the factory. While he has taken on more of a consultancy role these days, he remains very much part of the furniture. His son Robert is an enigmatic character—full of passion and drive—and oversees the day-to-day running of the company. His right-hand man, Adam, is more reserved but incredibly sharp, with a forensic eye for detail. It’s a formidable and complementary partnership.
Although the factory is small by industry standards, Robert explained that they own the surrounding land and have planning permission in place for a major extension, more than doubling the facility’s size. Building work is due to begin later this year.
Philosophy and Design
At the heart of J. Sikora is a simple philosophy: if it isn’t good enough, they won’t make it. They are unafraid to experiment and innovate, keeping what works while staying true to their core principles.
Every turntable must pass one simple test: Would I want to own and listen to it? Each model is built with daily use in mind. Once installed and properly set up, these decks are completely unfussy—everything works exactly as it should.
The attention to detail is everywhere. The arm lift is beautifully damped, lowering the stylus precisely where you want it. The arm lock clicks into place without gripping the arm, preventing scuff marks. The record clamp—yes, it’s heavy—features rubber rings for grip, while the chamfered edge of the platter makes lifting records easy. Small touches, but immensely satisfying ones.
Perhaps most impressive is how quickly these decks start and stop—almost as fast as a direct-drive turntable—despite platters weighing up to 18 kg. Even more remarkable is speed stability: seconds after pressing 33 or 45, the platter is locked perfectly in speed. No hand-starting, no waiting—just press play and enjoy. Perfect.
The System
For phono stages and amplification, Doshi Audio has become the go-to choice for those seeking the very best in musicality and truthfulness. We are no strangers to Doshi, and with the Evolution Phono Stage, Line Preamplifier, and Monoblock Power Amplifiers driving a pair of Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene Ultra loudspeakers, we felt right at home.
Listening Impressions
Aspire
The Aspire is the new kid on the block, representing outstanding value through a simple, elegant design. The carbon-fibre tapered-tube J. Sikora Aspire arm is a delight to use. Sonically, the deck punches well above its price point. Even in a system designed for far more expensive source components, Aspire allowed us to listen deep into recordings, delivering scale and weight with ease. Timing and resolution were exceptional for this level, making Aspire a truly accomplished turntable and a superb way to begin our listening session.
Standard Max Supreme
Now things get serious. The Standard Max Supreme sits on a thick billet aluminium plinth, machined to house the electronics and control buttons. Total mass approaches 100 kg, with an 18 kg platter formed from Delrin, glass, and iron, rotating on a ceramic bearing.
The sub-chassis is a constrained-layer construction of copper, brass, inox, aluminium, and bronze, carefully engineered to control resonance throughout the deck. Two opposing motors drive the platter, balancing bearing load and delivering measurably improved speed stability.
Compared to the Aspire, we now have nearly five times the effective mass, double the motors, an upgraded J. Sikora tonearm, and an Aidas Malachite cartridge.
How did it sound? Magical.
The same recordings suddenly came alive. Subtle details emerged effortlessly, with nuance and micro-dynamics laid bare. Performances were presented with a beautifully weighted, unhurried confidence—accurate, truthful, and deeply musical. Even records typically dismissed for poor recording or mastering were unravelled and presented in an engaging, enjoyable way. Totally convincing.
Reference Line
This was the reason for the journey—and it did not disappoint.
The Reference Line sits at the pinnacle of the J. Sikora range. Four motors deliver measurably class-leading speed control and, consequently, extraordinary timing. The Standard Max Supreme comes remarkably close—and in isolation remains one of the finest turntables I’ve ever heard—but the Reference Line takes the honours.
Paired with an Aidas Mammoth Gold cartridge, the Reference Line allowed artists to step off the black disc and into the room with us. Imaging and soundstage were superb—never exaggerated, always precise and focused. It was accurate yet never clinical, retaining the joy, soul, and emotional pull of the music.
A truly wonderful experience. An extraordinary turntable.
Conclusion:
After 48 hours, it was time to return to England. Robert and Adam were superb hosts, taking care of us. We have also learned what ‘potato’ means when ordering food in Poland!
All we have to do now is wait for our new J. Sikora Turntables to arrive in the UK. We have Aspire, Standard Max and Reference Line on order, along with Aidas Cartridges. We look forward to sharing the J Sikora experience with you soon.
10 Key Facts About J. Sikora Turntables
- Focus on Musicality – The core philosophy is an uncompromised analogue source that reveals low-level detail, dynamics, and the true character of music.
- Individually Built – Each turntable is made one at a time, prioritising craftsmanship over mass production.
- Crafted in Poland – Founded by Janusz Sikora, drawing on decades of precision metalworking expertise from the Allmet factory in Lublin.
- Mass-Loaded Design – Heavy platters and plinths provide exceptional stability, with models ranging from 21 kg (Aspire) to over 100 kg (Reference).
- Material Mastery – Intelligent use of aluminium, brass, steel, zirconium, Delrin, and Kevlar in layered constructions.
- Advanced Resonance Damping – Layered plates, O-rings, and strategic machining scatter and suppress resonance peaks.
- Precision Components – High-quality EBM-Papst DC motors housed in thick inox steel with brass bases and advanced power supplies.
- Unique Tonearms – Advanced unipivot designs, including the Kevlar-tubed KV arm and carbon-fibre Aspire arm.
- Clear Model Hierarchy – Aspire, Initial, Standard, and Reference lines offer a logical performance ladder.
- Upgradeable Platforms – Even entry-level models can be upgraded, supporting long-term ownership and system evolution.
