Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable

@photomax, Sota, the first reasonably priced turntable that definitively out performed the LP 12 is still very much alive and making turntables that are better than the LP 12 and way more advanced in every way. History is littered mostly with Japanese low end turntables of no significance, changers and old idler wheel designs that also continue to be propped up in the used market like the LP 12. 

The reason I am so harsh on the LP 12 is that there are many turntables on the market that are much easier to deal with and in the end out perform it. This is coming from a guy who only will buy suspended and isolated turntables, who will only use turntables with hinged dust covers and who has owned two of them in the past. It's suspension design is inherently unstable and if it is not on a supremely stable surface it will skip easily. Footfall issues are legion with this turntable. A little bump will cause a skip. It's chassis and plinth are designed to resonate.

I do not have any financial skin in this game. My only motive is to prevent people from making the mistake of buying an LP 12. Sota, SME, Basis, Avid and Dohmann make for superior turntables. I own a Sota Cosmos Vacuum. I would love to own a Dohmann but it is a little too pricey for my wallet. The Basis Inspiration is another favorite. The good old Sota Sapphire is in the same price range as the LP12 and there is no comparison. 

@no_regrets 

Beautiful system! And room. 

@mijostyn

Peoples values in sound vary considerably. It is appropriate you voice your opinion based on your experience. As we do with different experiences than you have had.

When I recently chose an LP12 over a Sota (which I really wanted to be my choice), VPI, Basis, Walker… a number of others it was based on a lot of research, listening (not all… I did not listen to Sota ). But recent professional reviews were that Sota had not kept up. … A good friend who loved them and had heard contemporary ones could not recommend them versus Linn, Basis and other contemporary tables. I had to listen to the overwhelming evidence.

I love the idea of owning a Sota… and I may buy one just for fun at some point. However, I can say with certainty the contemporary Linn LP12 is an exceptional table worthy of the cost. It’s performance is exceptional. There are many exceptional tables in it’s price range. One could be very happy with any one of them.

Mijostyn himself highlights that history is littered with turntables of no significance. That is true. Many models have emerged, had a moment in the sun and faded away. This has been ongoing for decades. And yet the LP12 endures. For fifty years! The LP12 is the lightning rod for passion and debate. Most forum threads on this topic disolve into what we see here.

I don’t have a horse in this race. I have never owned an LP12. I do know solid audiophiles who love their LP12. These are smart people who earn good money. They can buy whatever they like and some of them continue to tinker with their LP12 tables. You can buy a top spec model new for like $30,000. Or you could buy a used model for $1500 and create your own upgrade path and budget and play. You can hire a professional to do this for you or you can do it all yourself. You might be a keen woodworker and build your own fancy custom plinth out of exotic woods or purchase one from several well known craftsmen who do this kind of work. There is a solid market for all kinds of LP12 stuff. Perhaps a wider market than any table ever made?

The point is the LP12 is a very successful product. It had fans in the 1970s and it has fans today.

That being said folks are perfectly welcome to prefer other options, upgrade paths and budgets. No problem. There are a zillion choices. But think of this: maybe the popular (audio forum) alternative that is popular today might just not be around in 15 years but the Linn LP12 might continue to endure and attract new fans?

@ghdprentice  Thank you so much for your very kind words!

Best wishes,

Don