Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable

I think some of the Linn bashing above is well ioff base, but it is old (and as noted older units are inferior to later units) and like any market leader, was never the best at its price-point.  Logic, Pink Triangle and myriad others were superior for less money with suspended designs. I still have three belt drive, suspended tables. Lin is #3.  Both my Logic and AR (or, well, it was an AR once) are superior.

The latest direct drive tables with insanely massive platters (flywheels) are very very good, and have superior speed accuracy at least.

Chepaer tables out there today, i will wager, are inferior.

I was the one who compared (among other tables better than either) my AR to the Linn. AR Xa. Merrill subchassis. Merrill motor and power supply. Jelco arm. Grado green. Agree no comparison to Linn / Ittok / troika. AR superior. Doesn’t have the snob appeal tho

I should add (but its too late to edit!) that while Linn Comes out 3/3 in my above comparison, that dopes not make it anything less than musical. Set up is critical, as with any analog device. Its voicing is "polite" - somewhat soft. But always enjoyable. So i was saying really four things i my several posts above:

1, All the suspended, belt drive tables have merits

2. the Linn is far from alone - there are tons of them

3. Many of them are in fact better than the linn

4. Yet the Linn is still an excellent table, if set up right

Note that the span in construction (and price) of Linns is huge and of course, one can;t really separate the tab;e from the arm and cartridge when evaluating sonics.

Yet its clear that the trend is to servo-controlled Direct Drive and to MASSIVE but unsuspended tables. Mass = good.

G

BTW I’m not dumping on the Linn. Nor saying the AR -- as is -- is great.

But the basic design of the AR may be superior - if the key parts are upgraded. The inter-locking pieces of the spindle/center/platter than cancel resonances is magic. but you need a new bearing and thrust doohickey (various types). The arm was crap. The motors were only "decent" 60 years ago, and parts unobtanium. Mine has all those machined and fixed.

My LP12 OTOH is far from latest. Maybe 15-20 years old. So the latest motor control, latest arm boards (far more rigid and dead) are not part of the package. And yet it too is musical in its way - but less dynamic than the AR and less detail too. Or at least mine, as it stands today.

But those who have not heard a proper AR are missing a great. At least for the money invested, which including arm, subchassis, bearing, motor, motor power supply, cart/bah blah is probably $1k-$1300 all in. Some assembly required.

An LP 12 setup like mine can be found, used, in good condition for $1100-$1700 too. Or could be when i picked up mine, mostly as a spare.

And lets face it - tables are only as good as setup and few have the time, patience and skill to set them up right, so much is academic.