Opinions: Neuance Shelf for Linn Sondek Lp12 TT

I'm not posting much anymore regarding LP12 useage since the truth doesn't seem to matter much to Linn's detractors. I'm making an exception this time because I hate to see an honest question answered incorrectly. This is not an insult to any of the above posts as each has individual merit. My take on this is based on Linn LP12 ownership for nearly 30 years. The detractors are welcome to fire away. My shoulders may not be as muscular as they once were but they are still wide and can take it.

It's doubtful that the vibrations you are experiencing from your current wall mount shelf are reaching the stylus in the groove IF the table is adjusted correctly. The LP12 is a suspended table which by design decouples the record/cartridge combinations from vibrations down to around 8 cycles. If the suspension is out of adjustment, you are using a non-felt mat or any other tweak that couples the suspension/record like a clamp then you have altered the tables operating parameters to possible sonic degradation. I believe the Neuance shelf to be a reasonable upgrade.

Assuming your table is mounted on a shelf directly centered between your speakers and on a load bearing wall, low frequency vibrations of a sort that would reach the groove would need to come from heavy traffic of some type outside your home. Rear ported speakers or a subwoofer placed nearby are a real concern however, IMO. One way to check this out is to take the grill covers off your speakers, play a record and take note if there is any pumping of the woofers during play. If not, you're okay as is but I still support the use of the Neuance, but that's about the extent I'd go with. Please, trust your ears.

I know from experience that a high mass stand will work just fine with an LP12 on it so I'm not opposed to that method at all. In a practical sense though placing enough load from a rack onto a rickety floor to eliminate the bounce is a guessing game at best. Again, the biggest problems for the Linn are footfalls and rear ported speakers.

I've archived a number of setup and tweaking tips on the LP12 found online through the years. Email me direct if you would like me to forward them to you.

If your table isn't bothered by foot traffic now and the woofers exhibit no pumping then my advice stands. Beyond that, the short wall that the rack is on may need supports from below if possible. You are probably far enough away from the back corner with the turntable location to avoid bass build up problems.

R f sayles,

I'm not a classic Linnie either with my tube preamp, a Supratek Syrah. Linn does so much right but their attitude with consumers, with fairly rare retailers being the exception, is abysmal. The Ikemi is a killer piece for the money, especially used. Life expectancy with Linn gear is phenominal.

I don't have the issues you are facing as I built my rack and it is placed on a concrete floor. One thing I did do when I was building the clone of the original Linn stand was place a piece of rigid fiberglass below the shelf the table sits on with an air gap between it and the shelf. I honestly don't know if this helped or not but it surely didn't hurt. It's the same material you can buy for hood insulation when restoring cars. This is something you may be able to do as well. It would at least keep the underside of the shelf from being attacked by air borne vibrations. At least that was my theory.

Good luck.

Patrick