Linn Linto Phono Stage - Comments Please

@jc4659 I am very comfortable with removing the tonearm and dressing the cables.  Just acquired the ITTOK LVII (black) a little over a year ago with the original box.  Although the LP12 may be finnicky, I do not find it intimidating.  I have upgraded the Power Supply, Installed new linn motor, tonearm cable, springs, new plinth, etc...When  I purchased the turntable, it came with a ton of new parts that someone had collected as a rebuild project but they never got around to it.

Hove you found any other worthwhile changes along your journey?  I am considering a bearing change at some point in the future but in no hurry.

Sounds like by older LP12 you are talking about nearly 40 years old... 

The Linto was a pretty good phonostage for the money. The sound was on the precise and detailed side as opposed to the fully fleshed out and organic sound. 

But getting back to your system. I'd recommend first having your LP12 completely checked out by a certified Linn technician. you want to check the springs, make sure it is level... etc. Then the first upgrade would probably be the bearing... then the power supply. These two would make the biggest upgrade, even before looking at the phonostage. 

Phonostages are really improtant. I moved over to Audio Research phonostage in the 1980's and east time I upgraded I re-evaluated and chose another ARC phonotstage. Phonostages and preamps is their greatest legacy strength. You get fully fleshed out and weighty sound as well as wonderful details. 

But I'd do table updates first. 

I own a contemporary essentially Klimax table, but with an Audio Research Reference 3 phonostage. 

@ghdprentice Thanks for the insight and recommendations.  I am a pretty good maker with good hands and common sense.  I have also viewed the 7 million LP12 videos by qualified techs and service types and find that the LP12 likes to live within a very clearly defined and understood set of parameters.  I have fitted a very nice example of the Ittok, new linn tonearm cable, Hercules power supply, springs, motor, new plinth, and arm board.  Level is spot on, bounce is perfect, arm board spacing is perfect, cables are properly routed/laced in as to not interfere.  

The Power Supply made a noticeable difference and of course the convenience of 45RPM.  I think your suggestion of the bearing upgrade is probably the next best step along with the tonearm rewire suggested by @jc4659. I like asset upgrades.  As all LP12 owners my say early in their adventure, I don't plan on making this a $20k turntable.  With that said, when I add up what would be the retail cost of all of the upgrades (including tonearm and cart), I probably have about $5k in parts value at this point.

Thanks again for your comments....

@maam522a Yours is a very sensible approach.  Good to hear you're not intimidated by the Linn.  To be clear, the tonearm wire upgrade I had done replaced everything from the connector at the cartridge end of the arm tube all the way to the RCA plugs at the phono pre end.  I did away with the DIN connector at the base of the tonearm.  FWIW, I auditioned the Audio Research Ref 3 phono stage mentioned by @ghdprentice and it was fantastic but at the time not in my budget.

@jc4659 I have no issue with replacing the wiring end to end.  That is something I would have Britaudio do though.  I have a disastrous record when it comes to tonearm/cartridge wires.  Having been in the technical arena in the telecommunications industry for much of my life, I have always been confounded by the small amount of attention given to the signal degradation associated with any connection of any quality.