Linn LP12 turntable

@daveyf

Has the price of the LP12 really increased that much?

Yes, there have been upgrades that have added to the price, if buy them. You don’t need to though.

There’s lot of talk about it being expensive. But very little in the way of price comparisons with equivalent  turntables on a fair like for like basis.

I made a comparison of a Klimax LP12 with the Technics SL-1000R. Once you take the Linn cartridge, phono stage and Machined Radikal out of equation, the LP12 is actually much cheaper.

What's a "Machined Radikal"?

@lewm

It’s a case for the LP12 Radikal power supply that has been machined out of a solid block of aluminium. It matches other Klimax components in style. However, the considerably cheaper Standard or Akurate Radikal does exactly the same job. Linn never claimed there was any benefit to sound quality.

@newton_john If you take the LP12 Klimax and divide it into its various parts, then subtract some of these parts, you will certainly be left with a less expensive table.

For example, one can utilize a Lingo 4 instead of a Radikal, but you give up not only the better speed controller, but also the superior motor. I don’t think this becomes a fair comparison if you then say, well this table or that table is more expensive or less expensive...than this or that LP12 version?

The LP12 in its top flite form has increased in price a lot over the years, and yes it has also increased a lot in ability and quality.

When I talk about competition to the current LP12 Klimax with bedrock plinth and its price, I see a number of competitors that are now on my radar. More if we are also including a used table, which in many cases is an even better purchase. For example, one can acquire a very nice Brinkmann, or a TW Acoustics...for similar money as the full bore Linn. That option used not to be the case.

IMO, and I have stated this numerous times before, the basic table is close to as great as one can get, but it is severely let down by the arm choices that work with it, and the competition simply is not hampered in this way! Want multiple arms, nope won’t work, want an arm that has exacting and multiple adjustment options, no not offered, want an arm that is compatible with large number of cartridges...not offered, want an arm that utilizes an arm cable from the cartridge pins to the phono stage in one piece, nope..not possible etc.,

One other thing, IF ( maybe a BIG IF) Linn ever do get around to upgrading and replacing the old war horse EKOS-SE, I would suspect that their new arm would be priced so far into the stratosphere ( based on what they are asking for the Bedrok plinth) that probably just a very few would ever consider it within budget! Not ideal either, IMO.