Is a Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo/Ekos with a Cirkus update, the last turntable I’ll ever buy?

as far as the technics tables, you will have a hard time finding a table that is as true to the source for the money than the Technics. If you like coloration, by all means most belt drives will give you that softer warmer presentation. However, if what you are looking for is what is really in the grooves, the Technics tables will get you pretty close. I honestly could never go back to a belt drive design asa main table after hearing the Technics. Maybe an Idler drive is more of a compromise and they can sound fantastic, but most are older and may need a little tender loving care.

Davey, I don’t know how Linn could rebut what is after all nothing but a dissenting opinion in the first place. So they are wise to keep mum. Their products represent the sum total of a set of opinions first formulated by Tiefenbrun.

@lewm Lew, I am surprised that you would post such a comment! It would be more than easy for Linn to rebut all of this stuff, but they would be spending way way way too much time doing it, so why bother when it would fall on deaf ears anyway?
I am beginning to feel exactly the same way, lol.

Linn aren’t going to rebut anything!

Ivor’s son Gilad who now runs Linn
(though his dad came back as ’advisor’) has never shown any interest in the LP12 or even turntables in general.

I wouldn’t be too surprised if he sends out the kill order sometime in the near future. I’m guessing it’s just the revenue from the various add-ons and upgrades that are keeping it afloat and the accountants at bay - for now.

For sure it’s a nice deck and is kind of iconic, but it started off with a terrible cheap motor and comparatively poor speed control, issues they’ve been addressing ever since.

Nearly all LP12s out there still have two other serious problems, and where is the fix?

The first is the way Linn chose to attach its arms to the sub-chassis - the structurally disastrous armboard.

The need for absolute structural integrity between the bearing and the arm pillar was long known. So why did it take Linn so long to address this issue (Keel £2600 /Kore £800) themselves. And what about the cost?

And why do it twice? Is there going to be a third effort, or even a fourth?

Rega seem to have tackled this issue in a far more economical fashion with its metal top brace.

Here’s another reminder of its importance from the creator of this design.

https://youtu.be/OOlAua3tBSw


The second, more intractable one is the issue of a floating 3 point sub-chassis attached to a motor via a rubber belt and a thick arm cable.

Just how do you intend to ever improve stability and speed accuracy without a truly radical overhaul?

May I suggest a direct drive motor mounted underneath the floating sub-chassis that would do away with the outdated belt attached motor?

I don’t know if you remember but Linn used to claim that belt drives were superior because the rubber would would isolate some of the AC motor vibrations.

Well, it looks as if that concept has finally reached the end of its useful road. There are better options now.

[Anyone care to publish the top of the range current Linn specs for rumble and wow/flutter?]

The astronomically priced LP12 is little more than a period piece now.

Even its makers know it.

@cd318  Like I stated in my prior post, I'm sure this is falling on deaf ears, but I would like to know how you know so much about what is, or is not, happening at Linn? Particularly when it comes to Gilad?
When Ivor first designed the table, it clearly could be bettered, over time. Linn have always offered a path to an improved version...how many other table manufacturer's from that era, or even today, offer this same aspect. Please do not tell me that there were perfect turntable designs out there back in the day that needed no upgrades...