Ayre monoblocks featured NC machined-from-solid aluminium casework as did Dan D'Agostino's latest triumph - "The Momentum" pre-amp costing £32K(!) but the casework of those units is probably less relevant to their performance than a Keel is to a Linn and yet we never seemed to hear as many complaints? ;^)
Granted, they're not upgrades but they cost real money. It's all relative. To put the LP12 chassis in context an additional armboard for my TT (a small NC machined 2cm thick flat billet of aluminium) would set me back £600(!) With a top-of- the-line LP12 you also get a very good phono stage (probably worth £1-2K) making the overall cost cheaper than some competing "reference" tables. Not saying the ultimate LP12 is cheap or that I personally would buy one but it's important to maintain a sense of proportion?
Many of the reference "mega" tables are tipping the scales at over £30K. The top LP12 may or may not be in their league but it's a clear case of horses-for-courses?
Granted, they're not upgrades but they cost real money. It's all relative. To put the LP12 chassis in context an additional armboard for my TT (a small NC machined 2cm thick flat billet of aluminium) would set me back £600(!) With a top-of- the-line LP12 you also get a very good phono stage (probably worth £1-2K) making the overall cost cheaper than some competing "reference" tables. Not saying the ultimate LP12 is cheap or that I personally would buy one but it's important to maintain a sense of proportion?
Many of the reference "mega" tables are tipping the scales at over £30K. The top LP12 may or may not be in their league but it's a clear case of horses-for-courses?