I have had a Linn LP12 w/Akito arm and van den Hul MM-1 moving magnet cartridge for about 8 yrs. Over the years, i added the Trampolin, Cirkus, and finally the Lingo about 3 yrs ago. Like the fellow above, I use an Audio Research PH-3 as a phono section. This all sounds very good and I have been very satisfied w/my analog playback. Recently I bought a new van den Hul MC-1 special moving coil for this turntable but haven't yet installed it because I will have to mess around w/the phono preamp too. For a year or so, I have been looking around for a used Ekos tonearm for this turntable, because my dealer thinks that will bring a great improvement, more than any new cartridge (this is the Linn doctrine; you change/improve your cartridge last, after you have perfected every other aspect of your turntable system). For some reason, on a whim in January I started looking on Audiogon not just for an Ekos tonearm, but for a whole Linn rig w/Ekos and everything else. Found one in about a week and purchased it for $3500 plus a Rega 25 w/Benz Glider that I had bought but hadn't yet used. What I got in this trade was another LP12 w/Lingo, Trampolin, Cirkus etc., Ekos, and Archiv II. Now I have two Linns! One runs through the PH-3 in my rec room system, the other one through my Ayre K3 w/phono stage in the living room. I love both my LP12s and sometimes move them around or run a record upstairs and then downstairs to hear which particular turntable sounds the best on that recording. I am really spoiled! and I owe it all to Audiogon.
