Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
I don’t see many discussions that include the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable and was wondering why? They’ve been around since the late 70’s and other then power supply and a few other minor changes (IMO) are relatively unchanged. I had one in the early 80’s and another in the late 90’s. They are somewhat finicky to get setup correct and once you do, they sound great. That being said I know there have been a lot better designs to come out since the LP12’s hey-day. Are they worth considering anymore or has the LP12 just become another audio vintage collectors item?
@zavato Great question! Why is it that mijostyn and others who have to denigrate and naysay the LP12 get butt hurt when folk like their LP12? Anyone who last owned the LP12 in the 70’s ( if at all!) has zero credibility with me when it comes to their ’expertise’ on the LP12, and particularly when they comment negatively on the updates and/or the current models. Zero. |
This is not being a 'naysayer'. It is about an experience of replaying a LP, ones which have a significant influence when being experienced. In relation to the owned Linn TT, It is a bonafide report on how a use 1990's era version of the TT stimulates the senses and emotions when used to replay a LP. The resulting influence is quite clear, the Ownership is pleasant and produces a happiness, due to the sentiment around the TT. The decision made to not use the TT continuously, also produces a feel good factor, where there is a happiness, to see it be put into storage and make way for other TT's to be used, that have for myself proven to be preferred as a tool to replay LP's. Especially in being able to produce a connection with the stored content that adds to the stimulus during the replay. As said, the Linn TT, will one day be gifted to a Grandchild, so there must be some type of value seen in it from my end. |
As a person with no opinion, my observation is that both groups are guilty of taking the pro and con arguments personally, not just the negative side. If one wanted to defend Linn’s upgrade policy, one could say that other companies follow a similar path, except each succeeding set of improvements to the base product is given a new name and touted as a new improved product, at a higher price point. On the other hand, some of the LP12 upgrades, including those that stiffen the structure or upgrade the bearing, were not unknown in the 70s. It appears that compromises were originally made in favor of low or mid-market cost. My impression is that the original was built to a price point and that the subsequent upgrades were introduced to enhance the ranking of the product to compete with much more ambitious efforts from others. Linn was moving the product perception from “mass market” to “upscale”. |
@lewm I am unaware of any table from the past, except for the LP12, that has been continually modified over time to compete with the current crop of ’ambitious efforts from others’. To me, this is one of the biggest benefits of LP12 ownership, the consumer will not have to move away from the basic platform and thereby incur loss of investment in order to update the platform. I don’t think you can say that about very many pieces of gear in this hobby, if any. I take no personal feelings from this discussion one way or the other, I do happen to believe that if one has no experience with the current product and subject of this thread, then putting in one’s 2 cents is very disingenuous, at best. IMHO. |
