Linn LP12 turntable

Hello,

I own and have owned many turntables.  Despite having a recent model P3 with the outboard power supply, I am not a Rega fan.  They are neither high mass, nor suspended.  It was bought as an interim machine when the speed regulation went south on my SOTA and I had not yet convinced myself to spend the money for a TechDas.  After the Rega I bought a base LP12,  a Majik with the new bering.  I had the dealer upgrade it at purchase time to a Lingo so I did not have to change the belt to play 45 rpm LPs.  The arm did not cue properly so I took the table back to the dealer and went to an Ekos SE.  This combination with my Lyra Etna Lambda SL or Linn Kandid is very good.  I now have a TechDas Air Force Premium III S witha Triplanar U2 SE, but the Linn was really not that far behind in sound quality.    Hopefully soon I will get it to my dealer and let him put the Kandid back on it.  The Kandid is Lyra made and sounds like the old Helikon to me.  Clear but a touch thin.

Point being,  a properly configured LP12 can hold it's own with just about any table currently produced.  And considering aesthetics, mine has the piano black plinth and I think it looks quite good.

You folks be careful,

Robert

@robob  You say the LP12 can hold its own with just about any table produced. While I wouldn’t go that far, as I have heard some amazing tables, like the Brinkmann, the new Esoteric, and even the SAT, I have not compared them in my system. I do feel that the LP12 has some inherent weaknesses that are part of the basic design. One such weaknesses, imo, is the inability of the table to accommodate multiple arms, also the fact that the table is highly restrictive of what arms will work with the suspension. 
Aesthetics wise, I would agree that the Linn is one of the better looking tables.

@daveyf

Arms appear to be your particular bugbear. Other people may attach importance to other factors.

Clearly, the LP12 does compete in the marketplace. I took Robert's statement that it can hold its own to mean just that.

@newton_john The lack of choice for an arm for the LP12 platform, one that will have synergy with the old fruit box, is IMO the biggest down side of ownership of this table. So, yes, that is, as you say..my particular bugbear. Plus, the old war horse Ekos Se is way past its sale by date, again IMO.

Doesn't mean to say that I am not a fan of the LP12, just means my endearment has its limits. :o)

@daveyf

At present, I am enjoying vinyl so much that I can’t imagine needing any more upgrades.

Certainly not the two options that Linn are offering me, Exstatik and Bedrok. Those two would cost considerably more than I spent on acquiring and upgrading the turntable last year.

From here on in, it feels like the cost is out of all proportion to the benefits. Maybe, a replacement for the Ekos SE would change my mind, but at present I can’t see it because it would probably cost close to the Bedrok price.

Ironically, the Utopik upgrade that I might consider is not expected any time soon.