Linn LP-12 still competitive with the very best?

Aguadiem, See Jazzdoc's post way above. If you are really planning on spending all that money to upgrade your Linn, you might want to consider another table entirely, like a Galibier et al. Otherwise, your system is very nice; go for it.

Drubin, The reason that your Linn sounds pretty good is that you have left is alone. Unlike the rest of us with Linn horror stories, the original unit is a pretty nice musical player. Upgrade it and it goes down hill from their. Trust me... I know.

Aguadiem, don't do Circus, until you are prepared to have the sound character of the LP12 vitally changed. I second Normansizemore's opinion, that a cheap used LP12 bought from the usual s/h marketplaces is quite OK, but don't touch it, or you get a result you don't like, and the price/performance ratio changes to the worse. I think 1000 USD could buy you a good condition 80ies LP12 with tonearm.

I owned several LP12 over a twenty yr. period, and finally decided against them. If you are interested in a really negative view about the LP12, have a look at my write up here: http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/linn_lp12_e.html

best regards, Hartmut

"that a cheap used LP12 bought from the usual s/h marketplaces is quite OK"

I'd go even further and say a used Axis is quite OK also. Use a good matching cartridge though. Denon DL103R on teh Linn Basik tonearm with a good phono pre-amp (and step-up device if needed, see my system for example) sounds as good as anything I have heard recently to me.

I would rather spend my time listening to music than re-configuring turntables, so if I had to replace my Axis, I would do it with something similar that I can live with without regret without having to perform major surgery on it.

I am at an age that I regulary must ask: What is the
question?
I assume that the most members are much younger but I
suggest that thy should also ask this question.
The question as stated presupposes some acquaitance or
expirienece with both: Linn-LP12 and other,'newer', hi-
tech turntables. If one dont fulfifils both 'conditions'
how is then an answer possible?
I am perplexed to read about: (sport) car comparitions,
love and hate declarations,the questions about my lenght,
the question if I own the 'lexicon of the English
language,etc.etc.
So what we are talking about?
'