Turntable Reviews

The Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare 25 25th Anniversary Limited Edition turntable — a.k.a. the Volare 25 — was designed and manufactured in Germany by Dr. Christian Feickert and crew. It builds upon the company’s original Volare model with a significant tonearm upgrade, a new low-friction bearing, a second motor, and more.

The Volare 25 turntable ($4,795) includes the Serbian-made Auris W-10a, a solid aluminum tonearm that offers VTA, azimuth, and high-quality Auris copper wiring. (The Auris arm goes for $1,046 when purchased separately.) My Volare 25 review sample was also fitted with a Hana ML moving coil (MC) cartridge ($1,200).

In comparison, the single-motor Volare turntable ($3,495, without tonearm) showcases Dr. Feickert’s signature refined industrial design. Its low profile, smooth contours, and seamlessness of its controls — reminiscent of the dashboard in a high-end German sportscar — all create an attractive and unique visual impression practically like no other. Amid the myriad turntables that appear at hi-fi shows, you can spot a Dr. Feickert Analogue design from 20 paces.

The Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare 25 table elevates the basic Volare design, offering a compelling cost-to-dollar proposition. In addition to the new tonearm and bearing, it incorporates the dual-motor architecture and control board of the company’s flagship Blackbird table ($12,495), yielding enhanced stability, superior damping, precision rotational accuracy, and overall greater value. The Volare 25’s expanded dimensions (460 x 380 x 125mm) — as compared to those of the standard Volare (420 x 360 x 125mm) — provide a more substantial platform, accommodating tonearms up to 11in. Both models maintain a hefty 38lb mass (without tonearm), and are supported by a two-year warranty. Notably, the Volare 25 requires a separate purchase of a DIN L-shaped connector.

“The chassis is focused on high mass in the center of the bearing,” notes retailer Upscale Audio’s site about the Volare 25. “This new bearing is extremely stiff and robust as well as being a low-friction design. High inner inertia and an oil bath wet sump approach make this bearing a perfect partner to the high-torque motor design resulting in low rumble and smooth operation, and extreme low noise.”

Setup
Setting up the Volare 25 was a model of efficiency, facilitated by the high-quality components. Aligning the pre-mounted Hana ML cart on the Auris tonearm, with the aid of my Feickert Universal Protractor, was a seamless procedure. The Auris arm, exhibiting a good balance of lightness and rigidity, inspired confidence. Tracking force, confirmed at 2g by my Riverstone Audio gauge, was easily achieved. The balanced rod anti-skate mechanism aided ease of adjustment. The Volare 25 table, featuring a stock rubber mat and flat, factory-installed belt, required only minimal leveling of its adjustable footers, though shims were necessary to compensate for floor irregularities.

The Volare 25’s operation proved exceptionally user-friendly. Five small, tactile buttons are arranged in a semi-circular arc around the base of the platter. These buttons provide direct control over speed acceleration and deceleration, as well as the selection of playback speeds: 78, 45, or 33rpm. The turntable demonstrated rapid speed acquisition, reaching its target rpm as quickly as just about any other model I’ve evaluated. Using a dedicated rpm measurement app, the table’s initial speed came in at 34.75rpm. I fine-tuned the speed using the deceleration button, allowing for precise adjustment to the standard 33.33rpm.

My system for this review included a PrimaLuna EVO 100 tube phono preamp, Manley Chinook phono preamp, Unison Research S6 integrated amp, and Voxativ Ampeggio loudspeakers, as connected with cables from AudioQuest and Triode Wire Labs.

Listening Sessions
Mounted with the Hana ML cartridge on the Auris tonearm, the Volare 25 delivered a performance of exquisite refinement. Its treble, light as gossamer yet brimming with detail, resolved into a vast, immersive soundstage. The turntable’s ability to extract nuanced information across the mid and high frequencies was exceptional, creating revelatory moments with every record. Solid imaging and a broad, deep stage further enhanced the experience. The bass, while not profoundly deep, provided a controlled and satisfying foundation.

The Volare 25 brought Carmell Jones’ hard bop to life, revealing its exceptional rhythmic acuity and forward momentum. The 2023 reissue of 1961’s The Remarkable Carmell Jones LP (Pacific Jazz B0034579-01) emerged with a natural, driving energy. Trumpet tones were delicate, cymbals shimmered, and strings resonated with remarkable clarity, each element precisely positioned within a spacious soundstage. The table’s dynamic rendering and detailed imaging created an immersive experience, allowing for an intimate exploration of the recording’s acoustic environment.

The Volare 25 didn’t glamorize poor recordings, however. Pianist Larry Goldings’ 2025 I Will LP (Sam First SFR 007) is adroitly performed, his jazz piano trio swinging over original and cover material. As is the method for the Sam First label, the music was recorded live in their club, then cut to tape and vinyl (and mastered by Bernie Grundman). The recording itself is one-dimensional and somewhat flat, but that’s what the Volare 25 rendered, honest, truthful, and unsatisfying — from a sonic angle.

My touchstone Kraftwerk album, the 2009 2LP edition of Tour De France (Kling Klang STUMM 310 5099966109116), achieved a new level of brilliance through the Feickert/Hana combination. The presentation was sleek, singular, and remarkably precise, crafting a sonic landscape of profound depth and breadth. Though the very lowest bass was not as pronounced as some systems might deliver, the sheer scale and spatial accuracy of the soundstage yielded a transportive, engrossing experience. The album’s vibrant techno textures of Tour De France were rendered with a spaciousness and clarity that underscored the Feickert table’s inherent cerebral artistry.

While retrieving every last bit of detail, the Feickert/Hana combo was never forward-sounding, never analytical, and never overly surgical. It consistently framed its trademark resolution within a sense of finery and refinement.

The VPI Shyla MC cartridge replaced the Hana ML cart for my next round of listening, and it presented a distinct sonic perspective. Images solidified, becoming more immediate and substantial. The ethereal air and cerebral wonder of the Hana cart yielded to a more grounded presentation, emphasizing the lower midrange with a tangible sense of presence. Tone, while richer, lost some of its ethereal delicacy, a trade-off that may suit specific systems and preferences. The Volare 25, consistently precise, revealed the Shyla cart’s direct, matter-of-fact character. Where the Hana evoked an atmospheric awe, the Shyla delivered a more direct, unvarnished truth. The Volare 25 table, demonstrably, partnered well with both cartridges.

Conclusions
The Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare 25 25th Anniversary Limited Edition turntable presents a harmonious blend of exquisite design and meticulous execution. Its sonic character, marked by sleek refinement and a robust, energetic foundation, effortlessly accommodated diverse musical genres. The Volare 25’s ability to reveal intricate detail and convey a luminous musicality was consistently impressive. For those seeking a turntable within the $5k range, the Volare 25 stands as a paragon of craftsmanship and sonic realization — and, at its price level, it is also a clear bargain.

For more about Dr. Feickert Analogue, go here.
To find an authorized Dr. Feickert Analogue dealer, go here.

Author bio: Former musician, former artist, and former legal wastrel Ken Micallef has written numerous hi-fi equipment reviews for Stereophile and Analog Planet, and his byline has also appeared within Mojo, Electronic Musician, and The Grammys. You can also find him at YouTube (Ken Micallef Jazz Vinyl Audiophile).