Dr. Feickert - Blackbird Turntable

A two-tonearm, twin-motor belt-drive turntable with an integrated protractor — Dr. Feickert's upscaled Woodpecker, rethought for ease of use.

The Woodpecker's design had an obvious next step in it: build the same thing a little bigger, for the many vinyl listeners who want to run two tonearms on one deck. But this is not a simple upscale. Dr. Feickert used the opportunity to set a new course on ease of use as well as on the drive itself.

The controller software was refined to run two motors simultaneously in a master-slave configuration. Putting those two motors 180 degrees apart around the bearing cancels the reactive forces that would otherwise try to gyrate the platter. Two things come free with that arrangement: better randomisation of wow and flutter, which the ear finds far less disturbing, and lower bearing rumble. Speeds are 33-1/3, 45 and 78 RPM, selected electronically.

The other headline is the protractor built into the chassis — a first, and blindingly simple to use. Cartridge setup stops being a fiddly exercise with a separate tool. The right arm slot takes 9 to 13 inch arms; an optional left slot adds a second 9 to 10 inch arm. Both armboards use the quick-release system, so changing arms is quick.

Sonically the result is sovereign, dynamic, powerful and neutral at once, whichever tonearm you choose.

Features

• Two brushless three-phase DC motors 180 degrees apart, run master-slave to cancel reactive forces
• Integrated protractor built into the chassis for cartridge and tonearm alignment
• Three speeds — 33-1/3, 45 and 78 RPM — with fine adjustment on each
• Two tonearms: right slot 205-320 mm (9 to 13 inch), optional left slot 205-240 mm (9 to 10 inch)
• Quick-release system for both tonearms and armboards
• Inverted stainless steel bearing running in oil, with spiral pumping grooves
• Optional Inertia platter with eight solid MS58 brass inlays
• Two-year warranty on chassis and electronics, five years on the bearing

Specifications

• Type: Belt-drive turntable with electronic speed control
• Motors: Two brushless three-phase DC motors mounted 180 degrees apart around the bearing, driven master-slave by a phase-locked-loop controller
• Speeds: 33-1/3, 45 and 78 RPM, electronically selected with fine adjustment
• Platter: Optional Inertia platter in Delrin with eight solid MS58 brass inlays, 13.2 lbs (approx. 6 kg); included in Deluxe packages
• Bearing: Inverted stainless steel, oil-lubricated with spiral pumping grooves and a service grub screw
• Chassis: Aluminium top and bottom plates around a thermally treated MDF core, on adjustable vibration-resistant feet
• Finishes: Nextel Black as standard, with natural aluminium, Tineo, Zebrano, Walnut, Palisander, high gloss black and high gloss white available; black or silver plates
• Armboards: Quick-release. Right slot 205-320 mm pivot-to-spindle (9 to 13 inch effective length); optional left slot 205-240 mm (9 to 10 inch)
• Tonearms: Two
• Integrated Protractor: Yes, built into the chassis
• Dimensions: 530 x 420 x 150 mm (20.9″ x 16.5″ x 5.9″)
• Weight: 17.5 kg (38.6 lbs) chassis; 22 kg (48.5 lbs) complete without tonearm
• Power: External 24 V, 500 mA DC supply. The optional Dr. Feickert Linear Power Supply replaces it
• Warranty: Two years on chassis and electronics; five years on the bearing
• Included: Turntable, platter, belt and power supply. Cartridge is not included; a tonearm is included only on Deluxe package configurations
• Note: Dr. Feickert publishes no speed accuracy, wow and flutter or rumble figures for any model in the range

Deluxe ORT-12LPSU Package

• Ortofon AS-309R 12″ tonearm complete with a DIN to RCA cable
• Ortofon LH-4000 headshell
• Dr. Feickert Linear Power Supply
• Inertia platter
• Optional upgraded finish in wood veneer or high gloss