Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable

With my own Linn, I am happy to occasionally use it, the experience always ends up the same, I am happy to own it, it was a first entry into a long term hobby in maintaining a LP Source. I am also quite happy to put it back into storage, and make way, to have more time for experiencing the other TT's available and much preferred when used.               

This is not being a 'naysayer'. It is about an experience of replaying a LP, ones which have a significant influence when being experienced.

In relation to the owned Linn TT, It is a bonafide report on how a use 1990's era version of the TT stimulates the senses and emotions when used to replay a LP.

The resulting influence is quite clear, the Ownership is pleasant and produces a happiness, due to the sentiment around the TT.

The decision made to not use the TT continuously, also produces a feel good factor, where there is a happiness, to see it be put into storage and make way for other TT's to be used, that have for myself proven to be preferred as a tool to replay LP's.  Especially in being able to produce a connection with the stored content that adds to the stimulus during the replay.

As said, the Linn TT, will one day be gifted to a Grandchild, so there must be some type of value seen in it from my end.     

As a person with no opinion, my observation is that both groups are guilty of taking the pro and con arguments personally, not just the negative side. If one wanted to defend Linn’s upgrade policy, one could say that other companies follow a similar path, except each succeeding set of improvements to the base product is given a new name and touted as a new improved product, at a higher price point. On the other hand, some of the LP12 upgrades, including those that stiffen the structure or upgrade the bearing, were not unknown in the 70s. It appears that compromises were originally made in favor of low or mid-market cost. My impression is that the original was built to a price point and that the subsequent upgrades were introduced to enhance the ranking of the product to compete with much more ambitious efforts from others. Linn was moving the product perception from “mass market” to “upscale”.

@lewm I am unaware of any table from the past, except for the LP12, that has been continually modified over time to compete with the current crop of ’ambitious efforts from others’. To me, this is one of the biggest benefits of LP12 ownership, the consumer will not have to move away from the basic platform and thereby incur loss of investment in order to update the platform. I don’t think you can say that about very many pieces of gear in this hobby, if any.

I take no personal feelings from this discussion one way or the other, I do happen to believe that if one has no experience with the current product and subject of this thread, then putting in one’s 2 cents is very disingenuous, at best. IMHO.

In relation to a TT, The perfect function, in relation to the mechanics and electrics, of any device and ancillaries, does not equate to a user experience that will be attractive and enjoyed by all who encounter such a level of function.

It is the same for a TT and ancillaries that are with identifiable shortcomings in the area of mechanics and electrics, for some, and most likely a large proportion of users who encounter such a TT, it will not equate to a user experience that has an attraction or is enjoyed.

The is no right or wrong way to meet the middle ground and above where there is a condition present, that does create an attraction and enjoyment for the user.

What is the goal of the investigation?                                                                          Is one looking of the LP replay that is most engaging and stimulating?

Is one looking for the outcome, where they feel there choices, have produced the most accurate assembly to allow for the optimisation function of the entirety of the  parts?

There are some who go on a quest to discover something that is new and notable, where just a simple change of a drive mechanism is enough, or an alternative drive mechanism or change of an ancillary has been adequate and improved over the  others that have been experienced prior to any new experiences.

I myself have been an individual who has shared in the former description of a experience. I have also been an individual who has shared for a longer duration in the latter description of a experience. 

There are the types who will require a whole lot of interrogating a set up for a TT, adding and removing Support Structures, Drive Mechanisms and Ancillaries, to find their attractor and place of enjoyment.

For these types, their is always an analysis not too far away, as well as a judgement.

What really matters in the end is not ones personal journey and experiences encountered, but how they accept the experiences of others, it is quite important to embrace another's notification, that they have discovered their happy place with the use of certain TT and ancillaries. The search does need to have an end, it is not necessary for it to be continuous.

Some will not wish to go on to reach such endeavours that others have, and are in my view quite fortunate to have settled contentedly with their made discoveries.

I have been sharing in the journey's of others and their experiences as seen on Lenco Heaven, where some contributors are totally content with a Basic Model, maybe a little TLC and a aesthetic change, others are content to settle with a Serviced Model and through to where there are to be seen a complete rethink for the mounting of the original parts to function as a TT.

What is witnessed on LH, is nothing new and can be seen as comparative trend with other Drives and Brands of TT's, albeit, maybe with a little less DIY involved to produce the changes being made. 

In no way am I implying there is anything lacking in the choices made, it is great that individuals have found a place of enjoyment and stimulus that offers a happiness, without needing to extend to the lengths that others have gone on to, over a long period of time with much fiddling. 

Not everybody needs to be adorned with the appraisal offered for winning a Grand Prix, to be able to claim their driving is a 'Job Well Done'.