2. analog
  3. 174360-170298

dumb down an LP-12

Ok so i decided to put together a  sound system for my office which is 2000 miles away from home and where I can spend weeks at a time. At home I have an MA-5200 and the accompanying macd player (with a dac input).

I had a music hall cd25.2 kicking arround (which i thought had a dac i could input into but i guess i waas remembering the mcintosh.)

I bought a croft integrated (sounded fun to goof around with tubes) will use the MH 25.2 which i thought i could stream into (nope). and I needed a table.  Tables have gotten very expensive in last ten years.....I have a cheap rega (rp2?) back home and never really felt much either way about it.

I thought - "hey your goofing around with tubes why not get a cool looking old TT and enjoy the look and vibe if the newer stuff has gotten this pricey..."

I bought an LP12 with troika for 15oo bucks. now I have learned a few scary things (SUT, HEAD amp, PARIS?) but its the setup finickiness that scares me. I wonder if going to an MM cartridge could avoid the gut-wrenching SUT decision and make the table less a musical instrument that needs to be tuned itself and more a device that plays music. 

Be nice - I am.

rand24us
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

The LP12 is not even an original design. It is a copy of the Ariston RD11. In fact early LP12 production was at the Ariston factory in Dunlopwestayre, Scotland before Ivor Tiefenbrun set up his own works. Besides the LP12 I have the Ariston RD11 in my TT collection. Same set up and sonics as the LP12.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@jasonbourne52 and both are copies of the lowly AR-XA. If you get the urge read about Edgar Villchur. Then watch this. 

 

Edgar was not perfect. His opinion of antiskate was wrong. I personally think he was just trying to avoid the expense as adding it to this design would have doubled the cost. The next real jump in turntable performance was made by David Fletchur when he introduced the SOTA Sapphire and again when he introduced vacuum clamping to consumer turntables. David turned the XA's suspension upside down creating a much more stable platform and the Ariston and Linn were left behind forever. AJ Conte then took David's design to the max with Basis. Avid also borrowed the design for their top turntables. 

yeti42's avatar
yeti42
287 posts
 

Cynbiosis, a Linn specialist in the UK make an LP12 set up guide available on their web site. If you’re going solo on an LP12 it might come in handy. Not sure if this link will work but if it doesn’t finding their downloads page isn’t too hard.

 

rand24us OP
4 posts
 

That guide should do it. I have no desire to step anything up right now so will just swap out the cartridge. K and k audio is a thought though. Onwards. Telefunken I always liked that name. Thanks all.

lewm
13,108 posts
 

Here’s the thing about the ARXA hammer test and all similar brags about the resistance of a spring suspended TT to banging on the plinth: Who cares? Why is that relevant to playing a record? It was good advertising. Period. (ARXA was my first TT too.)

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