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

cd-18......that's exactly what I did....got that dealer setup manual, the device to put the table on so that I could get under easily to adjust the springs, etc.   Was quite good at it...lots of experience.

I worshipped my LP12- had it for 15 years. Used it with a number of cartridges and phono preamps but the last it was running with was a Lyra Delos through a ASR Basis Exclusive. I wasn't thrilled with the sound at the end and went to have it re-setup but the Linn guy had passed away so I tried to set it up myself and had zero luck and sold the table. All that said, when I finally ended up with a Well Tempered Amadeus, I found that I preferred the sound of the new table by a large margin and I was able to easliy set it up myself!

Everyone should be happy....enjoy

@stringreen,

’cd-18......that’s exactly what I did....got that dealer setup manual, the device to put the table on so that I could get under easily to adjust the springs, etc. Was quite good at it...lots of experience.’


Brave man. It’s not for everyone, and lord help you if you’ve picked up a dud. Personally I wouldn’t touch one with a pre-2003 top plate.

One of the top experts in setting up this challenging deck seems to be Peter Swain of Cymbiosis who have very generously made his excellent set up guides available here.

These are not only been updated but are infinitely more useful than the original set-up guides.

https://www.cymbiosis.com/downloads/

In the ensuing years... the Karousel came by....

Regardless of what else is in your LP12, IMHO, the Karousel is a must and it’s a steal by Linn pricing. Not only is the manufacturing and design a work of art, but the sound, the way it drops the background noise into the, well, background, is undeniable. I put one in my LP12 two years ago and it shocked me how much better the sound got.

So, IMHO, the LP12-Karousel-Keel-Trampolin2-Ekos SE-Kable and Lingo-4 would be my end point suggestion.

I’m not quite sure about the built in phono preamp idea as I have a couple of awesome DIY, fully tweaked preamps....

Right now I just bought the Keel and Ekos-2 (used).. .and I’m soldiering with the original Lingo...

Technics... I know people that like those things. And they rebuild them. Not for me, though.  My table is on top of a Target TT5-T tall stand and it doesn't go out of kilt.