Linn LP12......That good??

I remember when I learned of the LP12. It was in the middle of 1974, and the table's retail price was $300! I had a Thorens TD-125 Mk.2 (with an SME 309 Series II Improved) at the time, and almost bought a Linn for myself.

daveyf, do you honestly think I would spend $20k on a turntable and not try to solve its problems? I spent 6 months with my dealer (a very experienced and highly regarded Linn technician) working on it. There was nothing wrong with the Radikal. The problem, as it always has been, is the Linn suspension, which is inherently unstable. Speed stability from any Linn deck is audibly inferior to most others, because the platter is constantly trying to balance itself on top of three compressed springs, while simultaneously resisting the sideways force of the belt. It doesn't matter how good the power supply is because the turntable design itself is fundamentally flawed, and this is audible.

I get that you like your LP12. But that does not mean that people who cannot accepts its undisputed shortcomings are deaf or fundamentally incompetent.

rossb, you think the platter is constantly trying to balance itself on top of three springs, while simultaneously resisting the sideways force of the belt???? Where does this come from???
How on earth do you think a suspended chassis turntable typically works...I guess you don’t believe in suspended chassis designs. To say that the speed stability with the Radikal is poor is just more ’bs’ IMHO.
Kuzma has great speed stability....due to what?? Frank Kuzma believes in a multi layer chassis hoping to do away with outside interference...question is does this really work better than a spring suspension..You tell me?
If you had a problem with speed stability with your LP12, it was simply because you either had it on a non-level surface, or you had no idea as to how to set it up, or both! Luckily with the Kuzma, it’s pretty much plonk it down anywhere and walk away, unfortunately with the LP12 you cannot get away wth that....as you found out!

mem2112- who fitted the Stiletto and Scorpion for you?

Varyvat,

I fitted them myself. I am also trained by a longtime Linn tech.
The Stiletto fitting is way easier than a stock Linn as it does not have 
a sprung/curved top plate to deal with. The stainless top plate requires proper fitting and is an artform in itself. If installed incorrectly, the suspension bolts are very difficult to get properly aligned for a correct bounce.
The stilletto does away with all of that hassle as it it is one piece precision and the suspension bolts are precision machined. I will repeat what I said earlier, the antiquated spring and gromet design is what makes the whole system a pain. Non concentic wire springs that are adjusted to conteract each other for a vertical bounce definately takes practice and experience to get it right. The fact this still exists today with better technology is a shame especially for the prices they cahrge and making most customers reliant on a set up technician. For a turntable with a storied history, Linn customers deserve better. Linn could of course correct this but they clearly are concerned with marketing other areas of their product line.