Forgotten Names in Turntable Manufacturing, Part I: Ariston Audio - The Scottish Spark That Lit a Revolution

In the annals of hi-fi history, a select few turntables have achieved near-mythic status: the Linn Sondek LP12, the Technics SL-1200, the Thorens TD-124. Yet behind these icons lie a constellation of lesser-known but no less fascinating names—manufacturers whose craftsmanship, innovation, and misfortune helped shape the golden age of analog playback. This new series, Forgotten Names in Turntable Manufacturing, seeks to rediscover those overlooked pioneers. We begin our journey in Scotland, with a company whose influence still resonates in the very DNA of high-end turntable design: Ariston Audio.

Ariston represents a classic tale of innovation, rivalry, and lost legacy. Founded in the early 1970s by the visionary Hamish Robertson, Ariston carved a niche as one of Scotland’s finest turntable makers. Robertson initially operated under the company name Thermac before evolving into Ariston in 1970 and later Ariston Audio Ltd. The company’s flagship product was the Ariston RD11 turntable, developed around 1971 with the aid of Castle Precision Engineering Ltd, a renowned Glasgow-based engineering firm.

The RD11 immediately caught the attention of serious listeners. Its advanced design for its time - a unique single-point bearing system engineered to minimize rumble and mechanical noise, a suspended subchassis supported by three springs, with a belt-driven platter and a separate motor assembly—was a radical refinement of ideas seen in earlier models from Acoustic Research and Thorens. The RD11’s musicality, sense of rhythm, and superb isolation from external vibration made it a darling among audiophiles seeking precision without paying Garrard or SME prices.

But Ariston’s story is not just one of engineering—it’s one of intrigue.

Indeed, the historical saga is as fascinating as the tech. Hamish Robertson and Ivor Tiefenbrun, son of Castle Precision Engineering’s founder, collaborated in the RD11's development stages. In 1972 Ivor Tiefenbrun founded his own company Linn Products. However, tensions arose when Linn started selling what many considered near-clone turntables originating from Castle Precision Engineering, the very same manufacturer behind many RD11 parts. This conflict culminated in protracted patent litigation. Tragically, Robertson passed away during the legal battle, which ultimately saw Linn awarded the patent and the market dominance.

Linn’s first turntable, the Sondek LP12, bore an uncanny resemblance to the RD11: visually, mechanically, and even in its assembly details.

The LP12 would go on to become one of the most enduring and revered turntables ever made. Ariston, meanwhile, slipped into the shadows of its younger rival. Yet, to many observers, it was Ariston that lit the fuse of the British suspended-subchassis revolution.

Unfortunately, by the mid-1980s, the analog landscape had changed. Compact discs promised perfection without the fuss, and small-scale manufacturers like Ariston struggled to compete. By the end of the decade, the brand had faded, leaving behind little more than memories and a scattering of loyal owners.

Today, surviving Ariston turntables are cherished by collectors who appreciate their historical importance and analog charm. With careful restoration—fresh oil, new suspension springs, perhaps a modern tonearm—an RD11 or RD80 can still deliver astonishing musicality. In an era dominated by reissues and nostalgia-driven hi-fi design, revisiting Ariston’s legacy reminds us that innovation often begins on the margins, far from the glare of commercial success.

The RD11 may be remembered as the blueprint for the Linn Sondek, but Ariston’s contribution goes deeper. It represents a moment when a small Scottish company dared to rethink how music should sound—and, in doing so, helped define the sonic ideals that still guide audiophiles today.

This article initiates a journey into the overlooked legacies of turntable manufacturers—and Ariston’s story is just the beginning. Stay tuned for the next instalment where another forgotten name will take centre stage.