J.Sikora Standard Max Supreme

J.Sikora Standard MAX Supreme Turntable

The J.Sikora Standard MAX Supreme is a Polish-made, high-mass belt-drive turntable that represents the pinnacle of the company's Standard series. Weighing 216 pounds and utilizing unique combinations of metals and alloys derived from the flagship Reference model, it achieves maximum rigidity, minimal resonance, and exceptional rotational stability through its dual-motor design, inverted ceramic bearing, and Reference-grade linear power supply.

Position in the J.Sikora Lineup

J.Sikora offers three turntable series: Initial, Standard, and Reference. The Standard MAX Supreme sits at the top of the Standard series, positioned directly below the flagship Reference turntable. It was developed to celebrate the company's 15th anniversary, incorporating many technologies and material specifications from the Reference model into the Standard MAX platform. While the Reference weighs 238 pounds, the Standard MAX Supreme achieves 216 pounds in a more compact footprint, making it a compelling option for audiophiles seeking near-Reference performance. The Standard MAX Supreme includes the Reference Linear Power Supply as standard equipment, further closing the gap between these two models.

Metallurgical Heritage

J.Sikora was founded in 2007 by Janusz Sikora, a metallurgist by trade who previously co-founded Burdjak & Sikora, a company producing vacuum-tube amplifiers. This metallurgical expertise informs every aspect of the Standard MAX Supreme's design. The company has spent over fifteen years experimenting with various types, quantities, and locations of metals in their turntable designs. As all metals are sonorous (each rings with a specific pitch and decay), the size, thickness, shape, and patterns of metal components profoundly affect the sound. Combining materials with different resonant frequencies spreads resonances and lowers peaks, resulting in a quieter, more neutral platform for vinyl playback.

Material Upgrades from Standard MAX

The Standard MAX Supreme contains unique combinations of metals and alloys that distinguish it from the standard Standard MAX model. In the turntable's suspension, aluminum elements have been replaced with brass. The separating layers at the base of the platter are now made of steel and solid brass plates. The motor housings, as in the Reference turntable, are made of one centimeter-thick stainless steel, providing improved internal damping. The bases of the motor housings are made of a two centimeter-thick layer of brass. The armboard has also been upgraded, with critical rollers machined from brass rather than aluminum, further elevating the turntable/tonearm combination's sonic signature.

Platter and Bearing System

The 40-pound platter combines Delrin and cast iron for optimal vibration absorption. A 14.5-pound cast iron ring is embedded in the platter's undercarriage, increasing mass while lowering the center of gravity for improved stability. The uppermost surface is a 10mm-thick graphite-glass mat chosen for its vibration-damping properties. The platter rests on an inverted bearing utilizing a ball made of zirconium dioxide nestled in a steel and cemented-carbide housing. Cemented carbide (a mixture of tungsten, titanium, and tantalum carbides) creates an extremely hard, smooth surface that wears very slowly.

Platter Support Base

The platter support base contains four separate, 15mm-thick segments: a steel spider on top, supported by a solid brass/brass/steel sandwich that accounts for a significant portion of the turntable's 216-pound total weight. Each layer creates another stratum that helps eliminate resonances, with each material contributing its own resonant frequency to spread energy and lower peaks. Two copper separator rods are interposed between the layers to further mitigate resonant frequencies.

Dual-Motor Drive System

The Standard MAX Supreme incorporates a pair of DC asynchronous motors engineered by EBM-Papst of Germany, positioned on opposite sides of the platter. Each motor is crowned with a CNC-machined anodized aluminum pulley and housed within 1cm-thick Inox stainless steel enclosures. The motors are decoupled from their casings with silicone and fixed with polyamide screws. In the Supreme version, these casings are anchored to 2cm-thick brass bases. Internal damping has been enhanced with two proprietary damping foams inside the motor housings. Four rubber belts total (two per motor) transmit power to the Delrin platter, providing exceptional speed stability.

Reference Linear Power Supply

The Standard MAX Supreme is bundled with the Reference Linear Power Supply from J.Sikora's flagship turntable. It consists of a single toroidal transformer with three banks of capacitors for current stabilization, housed in an aluminum enclosure measuring 6.25 inches wide by 13 inches deep by 7.5 inches high. The power supply weighs 24 pounds. Speed selection (33 and 45 rpm) and fine-trim adjustment are controlled via buttons integrated into the isolation platform, with an LCD screen displaying the current speed.

Isolation Platform and Feet

The plinth is machined from a single billet of aluminum and finished in high-gloss lacquer. Between the plinth and the larger isolation platform, four complex feet are suspended on silicone pods. These feet are made of stainless steel and brass, resting on zirconium dioxide balls that fit into brass pods. This arrangement is mirrored beneath the isolation platform, which is also machined from a single billet of aluminum with high-gloss lacquer finish. The multi-layer isolation system effectively prevents external vibrations from reaching the platter and bearing.

Record Weight

Included with the Standard MAX Supreme is a 6-pound record weight crafted from nickel-plated bronze. The weight is precisely sectioned into 20 discrete segments with two rubber O-rings in its upper periphery, designed specifically to attenuate resonances. A solid brass disc drops into the weight's core. The assembly resembles the cooling towers of power plants and is quite effective in damping record resonances.

Tonearm Compatibility

The Standard MAX Supreme accepts one tonearm with an optional second arm position available. The upgraded brass armboard accommodates both 9-inch and 12-inch tonearms. J.Sikora offers their own KV-series tonearms featuring proprietary Kevlar fiber armtubes, though the turntable is compatible with a wide range of third-party arms.

Construction and Finish

The Standard MAX Supreme is manufactured in Lublin, Poland at the Allmet factory, which specializes in metal fabrication. Elaborate elliptical cutouts are created via CNC machining, while the unit is otherwise handcrafted. J.Sikora even manufactures their own brass bolts. The turntable is available in high-gloss black finish. Overall dimensions are 25 inches wide by 16.25 inches deep by 13.5 inches high including the isolation platform.

Awards and Recognition

The J.Sikora Standard MAX Supreme has earned Stereophile Class A+ Recommended Component status in 2025. Ken Micallef, reviewing the turntable for Stereophile in April 2025, praised its rhythmic agility, ultralow noise floor, and ability to convey both the technical precision and emotional content of recordings.

Summary

The J.Sikora Standard MAX Supreme represents fifteen years of metallurgical expertise applied to analog playback. With its 216-pound mass-loaded chassis, unique brass/steel/copper/aluminum construction, dual EBM-Papst motors, inverted zirconium dioxide bearing, and Reference Linear Power Supply, it achieves exceptional rotational stability and vibration control. For audiophiles seeking a turntable that combines engineering rigor with musical engagement, the J.Sikora Standard MAX Supreme delivers Reference-caliber performance in a more accessible package.