@ajhsu2 , No turning a sows ear into a silk purse. The current LP12 is just as antiquated as the one from decades ago. It does not even rate a class B in Stereophile terms. It's mystique was created in the mid 70s when (defective as it was) it was the best sounding turntable you could buy for reasonable money. I bought LP12 # 1 IN 1977 and held on to it for a year when frustrated with it's incompetent suspension I sold it for a Micro Seiki only to discover that I prefered the sound of the Linn so, in 1979 I bought LP12 # 2 and suffered with it for two years when I sold it for a SOTA Sapphire, a breath of fresh air to say the least. Not only did it sound better than the Linn but it was a delight to use and unlike the Linn nothing bothered it. Today there are several tables that surpass the LP12 in performance and are a better value, the Thorens TD 1600 to mention one.
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?
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LOL, this thread has a new life! In the latest Stereophile component ranks, on page 36, the Linn LP12 Klimax model is ranked in class A. |
Marketing. If Linn had renamed their product with each upgrade, we’d be free of the inevitable comparisons between the original LP12 and the current variant, which although an upgraded variant, we’d now call an “LP20” or the like. Psychologically this might have been better for the Linn image. I liken it to Technics with the SL1200. They were foolish to re-use that name and to reproduce that appearance in the context of the current G/GR series tables, which are different and better in every way compared to the original SL1200 lineup. Many novice buyers cannot separate the old from the new in their thinking. Likewise too, the original SOTA Sapphire vs the Cosmos. The latter is really an upgraded Sapphire, a 40 year old design. But we discuss it as if the Cosmos was something new. Shakespeare had it right when he wrote”what’s in a name…?” |
I understand why some people do not like the Linn they want to see lots of parts and wild design and "original" thinking and bold, decisive, distinctive executions using parts that are unique, unusual, and unexpected these kinds of people think they can judge a product by simple "examination" when they lack the technical skills, knowledge, and understanding to comprehend the folly of their assessment method which lacks discipline, confirmation, and rigor it is alwys this one guy whoo attacks Linn |
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