June 17, 2025 | Townshend Audio News
In a fitting tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of audio engineering, SoundStageGlobal.com has published “Rock of Ages: A History of the Townshend Rock Turntable,” an in-depth exploration of the revolutionary turntable that redefined vinyl playback. Authored with contributions from Townshend Audio’s archives and insights from the “RockDoc” Matt McNulty, the article cements the Rock turntable’s place among the pantheon of audio innovations, declaring, “There are few audio products that are truly revolutionary, that can legitimately claim to have redefined the state of the art. … I believe another product belongs on this list: the Townshend Rock turntable (1982).”
A Turntable Born from Pure Engineering
Conceived in the late 1970s at Cranfield University, a UK institution renowned for its cutting-edge research in science and engineering, the Townshend Rock turntable was a radical departure from conventional designs. Unlike its predecessors, the Rock was developed with no preconceptions, leveraging physics, mathematics, and materials science to achieve unparalleled accuracy in vinyl playback. The project brought together brilliant minds, including Professor Jack Dinsdale, Michael Pezet, John Hardwick, and Max Townshend himself, whose vision drove the creation of the turntable.
The Rock’s defining feature, the silicone damping trough, was pioneered by Hardwick to minimise tonearm resonances at the cartridge headshell, ensuring a cleaner, more precise sound. Paired with Pezet’s innovative bearing design and a plinth crafted from advanced materials (initially chipboard and aluminium, later Granitan), the prototype was operational by October 1979. By 1982, the Rock turntable was ready to challenge the status quo, offering a level of fidelity that rivalled master tapes.
A Legacy of Innovation
The article traces the evolution of the Rock series, from the original Rock and Rock Reference to the acclaimed Rock 7, which won the 2011 Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound. Reviewer Robert E. Greene praised the Rock 7’s “silent background, stability, neutrality, and purity,” noting its ability to deliver sound “reminiscent of mastertape or even live mike feed.” The Rock’s unique features—such as its viscous damping trough, polyethene platter for perfect impedance matching with vinyl, and adjustable spring suspension—set it apart, earning accolades for its transparency and dynamic range.
The Rock’s influence endures, with restored models like the Rock II and Rock 3 showcased at events like the UK Audio Show 2024, where a custom “Zesty” Rock 2 in metallic orange wowed attendees. The Ear reported, “The Rock 2, on demonstration this year, looked stunning in metallic orange and sounded even better,” highlighting its ability to handle dynamic tracks like Tool’s Pneuma with “lively and open” clarity.
A Renaissance and a Lasting Tribute
The SoundStageGlobal feature also reflects on Max Townshend’s broader contributions, with Jonathan Gorse of The Ear and Soundstage calling him “truly one of the greatest audio engineers of the past century.” Gorse urges audiophiles to explore Townshend’s innovations in seismic isolation, cabling, and preamplifiers, emphasizing that the seismic supports are “one of the most significant revolutions in audio engineering since Blumlein invented stereo.”
Why the Rock Matters Today
In an era of digital streaming, the Townshend Rock turntable remains a testament to the enduring allure of analogue audio. Its ability to extract every nuance from a vinyl record—described by Hi-Fi Choice in 1984 as “the closest reproduction to master tape we’ve heard”—continues to captivate audiophiles worldwide. Whether it’s the rare Rock Reference, a collector’s gem fetching high prices on platforms like HifiShark, or the accessible Rock 7, praised by What Hi-Fi? as “arguably the most revealing deck below two grand”, the Rock series offers a listening experience that transcends time.
For collectors, the Rock’s scarcity adds to its mystique. As one Vinyl Engine user noted, “I looked for this for 15 years before I found it,” underscoring the turntable’s cult status.
Read the Full Story
“Rock of Ages” is more than a history lesson; it’s a celebration of Max Townshend’s vision and the enduring impact of the Rock turntable. Available now on SoundStageGlobal.com, the article invites audiophiles to rediscover this analogue masterpiece. As Positive Feedback wrote of the Rock 7, “For large-scale orchestral music, it redefined what I thought an orchestra could sound like on my stereo system, and on other types of music, it brought me closer to the performers than I had ever experienced prior.”
Visit SoundStageGlobal.com to read the full article and explore the legacy of the Townshend Rock. To experience Townshend Audio’s innovations firsthand, check out our range of turntables, preamplifiers, and isolation solutions at townshendaudio.com. Join us in honouring Max Townshend’s revolutionary spirit and elevating your hi-fi experience.
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About Townshend Audio
Handcrafted in London since 1975, Townshend Audio is a British innovator in high-end audio, renowned for its Rock turntable, seismic isolation, and Fractal wire technology. Our mission is to deliver pure, immersive sound that moves you.
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