Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable


I don’t see many discussions that include the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable and was wondering why? They’ve been around since the late 70’s and other then power supply and a few other minor changes (IMO) are relatively unchanged. I had one in the early 80’s and another in the late 90’s. They are somewhat finicky to get setup correct and once you do, they sound great. That being said I know there have been a lot better designs to come out since the LP12’s hey-day. Are they worth considering  anymore or has the LP12 just become another audio vintage collectors item?

markcooperstein

If you want to see LP12 samples in the wild then this thread on the Naim forum is worth a look. There is a long established friendly (mostly) rivalry between Linn and Naim fans, especially in the UK. But this shows the level of support this table has.

Folks can dump on this kit all they want but the fact is this the LP12 is a rare popular 50-year-old survivor in a battlefield littered with many fancy eye candy turntable companies that burst on the scene but went kaput…

 

 

 

And it is also true that an LP12 can sound very ordinary to outstanding depending on the way it is kitted out and setup

In a shootout at one of the London's audio store the fully kitted LP12 bested an Avid Acutus. Many listeners in the room preferred the LP12. So it is not an easy TT to dismiss even in the latest context

Was the  Avid Acutus set up on the exact same mounting system ?

Were the same Cart's and downstream System used for both Sources ?

It would even be off interest to know if the invited to the demonstration were not specially selected for their allegiance to a Brand ? 

There are practices used that are quite useful as methods of swinging  a presentation favourably toward a particular device.  

Sorry for my cynicism, I got out/escaped from the Dealership and HiFi Magazine  Lions Den, way too many years ago, and 'did not go back for my hat'.