These days, it’s almost expected that every turntable manufacturer includes a tonearm in their product lineup. However, these offerings often fall well north of €2,000. Dr. Feickert Analogue is here to prove that doesn’t have to be the case.
Ever since Ichikawa Jewel Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) – better known by its brand name Jelco – exited the tonearm business, the market for affordable tonearms has been painfully sparse. For decades, even major turntable manufacturers relied on Jelco’s OEM services to offer an accessible entry point to their product ranges. But now, the selection of standalone tonearms under €2,000 has become extremely limited. This has created a frustrating situation for analog enthusiasts who would like to invest in a high-quality “endgame” turntable but must upgrade in stages due to budget constraints. Even in the used market, affordable entry-level tonearms have become hard to find. After all, not everyone can casually drop five figures on a complete analog setup. Dr. Christian “Chris” Feickert noticed this issue and began looking for a tonearm manufacturer who could meet his quality standards, match his target price range, and deliver in sufficient quantities. He found what he was looking for in the Serbian company Auris. This collaboration ultimately gave rise to the Dr. Feickert Analogue (DFA) Straight-10.
This tonearm is a straight, 10-inch (254 mm), gimbal-bearing radial tonearm made almost entirely from aluminum alloy. While it might look like the tonearm tube is made of carbon fiber at first glance, it’s actually matte-black anodized aluminum. A fully black version – including the counterweight – is also available. While the Straight-10 offers adjustment of all critical parameters, its design feels purposefully minimalist. It is statically balanced, meaning the tracking force is adjusted by shifting the position of the counterweight. It supports cartridges weighing between 6 and 15 grams, and its generously sized headshell provides plenty of room even for larger models.
When adjusting the counterweight to achieve the desired tracking force, a gentle touch is advised. Even small changes can significantly affect the force, so a bit of patience and a tracking force gauge are essential. The same goes for anti-skating, which is controlled by a slightly old-school but effective lever system. This involves turning a knurled nut on a threaded rod that’s part of a V-shaped lever. With no scale provided, a test record is necessary to dial in the correct setting.
Anyone familiar with Chris Feickert knows he places great importance on vertical tracking angle (VTA) adjustment – a feature not always found in this price range. Of course, the Straight-10 includes this functionality. To adjust it, you simply loosen a small hex screw on the tonearm tube, allowing it to rotate along its axis relative to the bearing. A reference mark shows the zero-degree starting position so you can always return to baseline if needed.
Despite its delicate appearance, the Straight-10 feels solid and well thought out. One might forgive the fact that the gimbal bearing is not aligned with the headshell’s offset angle. This isn’t exactly uncommon – many classic and even high-end modern tonearms follow the same design.
Internally, the DFA Straight-10 uses the highly regarded Cardas wiring, which terminates at the base of the arm with a five-pin DIN connector. An external tonearm cable is not included – most customers prefer using their own favorite cable. However, Dr. Feickert Analogue offers its own Straight-Cord for around €198, which I used for this review and found impressive enough not to look elsewhere.
The tonearm is mounted using the Japanese Industry Standard (JIS) collar, a round mount secured to the turntable plinth with three screws. This system is also used by Clearaudio, Jelco, Kuzma, Linn, and others. The arm’s height (VTA) is adjusted by loosening a side hex screw on the arm collar. With a total weight of just 400 grams, the DFA Straight-10 is well-suited for installation on vintage suspended subchassis turntables like the Thorens TD 125 or TD 126, which should have no trouble compensating for its mass via their spring systems.
Speaking of mass: the effective mass of the Dr. Feickert Analogue Straight-10 is specified at 12 grams, which places it in the medium-mass category – making it compatible with the vast majority of cartridges on the market. The two cartridges I used – the Transrotor Uccello (based on the Goldring 1000 series) and the Ortofon Jubilee (similar in construction to the Cadenza Black) – both worked flawlessly and achieved their optimal tracking performance. In other words: someone clearly did their homework in tonearm design.
It comes as no surprise, then, that the Straight-10 also performs impressively in musical terms. A tonearm shouldn’t have a “sound” of its own but should instead bring out the full character of the cartridge – and the DFA Straight-10 does this to a degree rarely seen in its price class.
Take, for instance, Chie Ayado (Love) – an artist I adore, and whose gritty voice can be used to scare away the odd unwelcome guest. Even when paired with the affordable Uccello cartridge, she and powerful piano, accompanied by guest musicians are rendered so authentic and emotionally engaging that you find yourself asking how much more you’d need to spend to significantly improve upon this experience.
Tonally, the Straight-10 is solid across the board. Its soundstage leans more toward compact precision than expansive spaciousness – but remains convincing and accurate. More importantly, the combination of the tonearm with both cartridges produced a natural and harmonious sonic presentation. There was no evidence of disruptive resonances, which nearly every tonearm battles to some extent.
At first, I thought the Straight-10 might be a touch lacking in dynamics or speed, but Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine LP – especially the track “The Robots” – proved otherwise. Both with the Transrotor Uccello and even more so with the Ortofon Jubilee, the tonearm delivered real disco energy. It handled strong transients with composure, maintaining a stable and transparent soundstage at all times.
A long evening of classical listening confirmed that the DFA Straight-10 can clearly reveal the differences between a high-end MC cartridge and a more affordable MM. Take, for example, Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 8 in G major, performed by the Alban Berg Quartet (Telefunken). With two violins, a viola, and a cello – whose tonal colors are very close to each other – you need top-notch components to clearly distinguish between them. The Straight-10 not only achieved this separation but also convincingly positioned the quartet in a semi-circle behind the speakers, further highlighting its capabilities.
Despite its attractive price, the Straight-10 is not just a basic starter tonearm you buy as a stopgap until your next upgrade. To truly push this tonearm to its limits, you’d need to invest many times its price in a cartridge. I expect the Dr. Feickert Analogue Straight-10 will serve as a long-term solution for many satisfied owners.
Accompanying Equipment
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK2 | Drive Units: Dr. Feickert Analogue Woodpecker, Linn Sondek LP12 (Majik) | Tonearms: Linn Basik Plus, Linn Ittok LV II/2 | Headshells: Audio-Technica MS-8, Ortofon LH-6000, Technics, Yamamoto HS-1A | Cartridges: Denon DL-103, Linn Adikt, Ortofon Concorde R, Ortofon Jubilee, Ortofon Vero Special, Transrotor Uccello | Phono Preamp: Lehmannaudio Decade | Network Tuner: Onkyo NS-6170 | Preamp: Bryston BPS-25MC | Power Amp: Linn LK100 | Headphones: Sony MDR-1 RNC | Loudspeakers (Passive): Naim Credo | Loudspeakers (Active): Neumann KH 310 A | Wiring: Sommer Cable
Tonearm Dr. Feickert Analogue Straight-10
Design: Gimbal-bearing radial tonearm | Features: Adjustable azimuth, Cardas internal wiring | Finishes: Silver or Black | Cartridge Weight Range: 6–15 g | Overall Length: 310 mm | Effective Length: 254 mm (10″) | Mounting Distance: 237.8 mm | Overhang: 16.2 mm | Offset Angle: 21.6 | Geometry: Löfgren A (Baerwald) | Effective Mass: 12 g (medium mass) | Weight: 400 g | Warranty: 2 years | Price: Approx. €950 | Optional External Cable: Straight-Cord (~€200)
Dr. Feickert Analogue
Stegenbachstraße 25b
79232 March-Buchheim, Germany
Phone: +49 7665 9413718
chris@feickert.com