Phono preamp for new Klimax LP12

You're probably going to catch a lot of anti-Linn posts without much solid advice.  This Forum is definitely not the place for Linn fans, so be warned.  Normally I would never post on products I haven't heard, but if you're going that far down the Linn rabbit hole, I personally would go with the Urika and save myself another box and expensive set of cables. I would be surprised if anyone on this board owns a Urika or would admit to it.  Good luck.  I had an LP12 back in 2005 or so and I liked it a lot. 

The Klimax comes with a phono stage. I didn’t get it (the included one) because I already have a Audio Research Reference 3 phono stage. The contemporary LP12 is an outstanding turntable… beautiful, functional, musical and detailed. I traded my VPI for it. Good choice.

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The Linn long ago was known to be difficult to set up and this stuck. When setup correctly they have always been great and have been upgraded many times over the years. Over the last couple years, some very significant improvements have been made, making it an outstanding and cost effective table. Certain brands cause some folks to start taking religious stand on equipment. I am alway sorry when religion gets in the way of reality.

Based on your listening preferences and rest of your system, I would go with Luxman EQ-500. It’s a no brainer! 

The latest model Klimax comes with the Urika 11, which is a digital based device. Having heard the Urika's ( both original and new), I would say that a great phono stage would be an easy upgrade over both versions. The Luxman EQ-500 is a very good phono stage, I would take it all day over either Urika. However, here's the thing, the Urika is designed for the table and allows for a 'system' approach. The Radikal is designed to power the Urika, and as such i think the overall cost is less if one opts for the Urika. ( No additional stand alone unit, no cabling etc.)

I asked myself this very same question when I upgraded to the Radikal D, do i want the Urika ( either version) or to go for a different phono stage? To my ears the answer was pretty obvious, but YMMV.

FWIW, I run a Whest phono stage (Sinature three) in my system using a Linn Klimax preamp & it sounds great. Haven't heard the "Urika", but have a lot of respect for Linn products. 

All, thanks for your feedback and input - very helpful.

ghdprentice - where did you find info that the Klimax DSM includes a phono stage? Perhaps the new Organic does, but not the previous version - per everything I’ve read. The Akurate DSM I had prior did include it. Also curious about why you moved from VPI to LP12. The other table I’ve been thinking about is the VPI HW-40.

All in all I’m leaning towards the Luxman. Will get the chance to hear both next week. I’m lucky to have a couple of Linn dealers within driving distance, so set up issues/concerns can be addressed by them.

@ Sorry… the Linn Klimax LP12 comes with a phono stage, not the DSM. You can get them sans the Phonostage. It does in fact convert the signal to digital and back… I scratched my head. My audio guy would says it sounds quite good__ but of coarse my ARC is better.

As far as moving from VPI. I had my VPI for decades. It was a phenomenal table.. but as my audio guy describes them, they sound like Muscle Cars, I really wanted a Porsche. So a lot of research moved me towards a sprung table, and the new LP12 sound. With its small footprint, simple use (no spinal clamp or other nonsense), history drew me to it. Also, no fiddling… my audio guy is a master trained Linn technician… I don’t fiddle with my stuff… he brings it over. If anything ever goes wrong (like needing a new cartridge), he will come over, pick it up and upgrade it and drop it back off.

I doubt either the HD40 or LP12 would be a mistake.

Very good choice with LP12.
I would also see a fully restored EMT930 for that price. It comes with inbuilt tube phono stage too.

Vs the Luxman EQ500, also check out Avid Pulsare II. A more straightforward design which compliments the Linn sound. Luxman gets into the exotic audiophile kind of sound imo. 

I'm running an EQ 500 into a Luxman C900u and it is a wonderful combination. The stock tubes are okay, however, NOS Amperex bring it to another level! Also using a Kiseki PH NS cartridge.