Linn Bedrok LP12 Plinth Upgrade

Newton, baby: Technics SP1000R price is $20K, brand new from Music Direct. That's $10K less than a Klimax LP12.  (Actually, the Klimax is shown at $32,800 on the Linn website, so more like ~$13K less for the SP1000R.) A new Minus K platform is probably around $5K.

https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/turntables/technics-sl-1000r-reference-turntable-system/

Obviously, it depends first and foremost on what one wants to own. I realize that most Linn aficionados do not want to own a direct drive TT.

@newton_john  Agreed. To some folks, the price of the new Linn 'Bedrok' plinth is chump change...and will easily be worth the money asked. For the rest of us, the decision will be more personal and based on finances. Hopefully, Linn will sell the number of these that they hope for...and will maybe offer a trickle down version at a more 'favorable' price in the future. 

Meanwhile, I am hoping for a new replacement of the old Ekos-SE tonearm. However, looking at the new pricing plan at Linn, said tonearm would most likely be priced in the stratosphere! 

@lewm   You bring up a very good point. As the price of the Linn LP12 Klimax version rises, so it gets closer and closer to competition that may be not only better value, but also superior sounding. Some Linn folk believe that the Klimax LP12 cannot be bettered, yet I think this is simply because these very same folk have not had enough experience to really know what the competition offers. I am a big Linn fan, but I do not delude myself by thinking that the table cannot be bettered--- for a price. 

To me, this is where I think Linn's pricing stagey could end up hurting them...as the more 'experienced' listener will then turn to alternatives in the market...

They may not be there yet, but I think they are knocking on the door. 

This is part of a discussion on an ongoing Linn LP12 thread

@lewm

Lewn, darling. Do the sums properly. I can see the price of the Technics SL-1000R as £18,999 at two UK dealers. The list price of £25,098 for the full Klimax LP12 less £6,050 for the Exstatik cartridge and £3,115 for the Urika phono stage works out at £15,933. That is considerably less than the Technics on a like for like basis.

And you could save another two and a half grand on the LP12 by substituting the standard Radikal for the machined one. Linn say that has no effect on sound quality.

Personally, I don’t care whether a turntable has direct or belt drive. I doubt if most Linn aficionados, as you call them, that I’ve met would even know the difference.