Linn LP12 turntable

Was gonna say “thrown out of a window”. Then I thought “defenestrated” is easier to type on my cell phone.

lewm and your reply ref. rajugsw.

Reading back reminded me of an event on ‘looks or sound?’

Laskys we’re a London hi-fi store in the 1970s. They later opened stores across England in the 1980s. It was on a visit to one in Exeter l heard a few lads very excitably talking about a Marantz PM310 on display. I remember it like it was yesterday. The Amplifier was champagne in colour with led displays and really stood out from the crowd!

One of the guy’s suddenly and enthusiastically shouted out, ‘’I would like to SEE that one working!’’ Obviously this amplifier with added ‘bling’ was more of a consideration looks wise than sound wise! Not the normal ‘old way’ to audition a nice, but not too expensive piece of kit.

It all sounded wrong to me and totally illogical !
l had a quiet chuckle to myself and thought, how times were changing.

The Linn LP 12 in its various declinations is a great turntable. Its sound is warm, musical, and rich in detail (obviously a lot depends on the cartridge used, the better it is and the better the positive result will be). It is, in my opinion, a turntable that can give great emotions! I am currently using an SME turntable that has been giving me great satisfaction for many years. For me the only alternative could be the Linn LP 12 ... on the other hand the British sound has truly set a precedent.
Having said that, what can I recommend ... if you can, certainly get it and then eventually improve it little by little with its upgrades. But in the meantime, organize a perfect calibration by a certified Linn expert ... it is essential!

Kind regards

Alessandro Catalano

ericba

l first heard the LP12 in the early days at a demonstration room in Laskys Tottenham Court Road, London in the early 1980s. A v B tests with a Systemdek lll turntable. I can’t be sure of exactly what arms or cartridges but they were identical.

A few preferred the Linn…..bass bloomy reproduction and others preferred the neutral cleaner bass of the Systemdek.
I stayed for a while and listened again. Only one customer made a positive decision that day and bought the Systemdek.

I remembered this and years later (1990s) l bought a second hand Systemdek lll from a local guy for £150 and I still have it today. Never needed to be modified, is still totally original except for changes of MM cartridges and has remained my number two deck. It has never needed recalibration and just plays on…….

l did by the way prefer the Systemdek over the Linn at Laskys.

Pleased it proved to be value for money and a keeper.

@signaforce

I see you’re thinking about changing to a piano black plinth.

My wife insisted I do that last year because she doesn’t like the retro look of the fluted rosewood. It didn’t make any difference to the sound, but it sure looks good. I can post before and after photos if they are any help.

There’s an argument to be made that it would be better to keep the money to spend on upgrades that do improve the sound quality.

However, there is another option that my dealer didn’t tell me about until it was too late. You could get an old plinth sprayed with piano black lacquer. That may necessitate acquiring a second hand non-fluted plinth, but should still work out cheaper than ordering a new one from Linn. You may find that your dealer has a suitable old plinth lying around gathering dust.