Linn LP12 turntable

@daveyf

I don’t doubt that there are better phono stages than the Urika. In fact, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Linn were to upgrade the analogue amplification part of their phono stages along with the Ekos SE as you suggest. I recently heard someone from Linn say that they anticipate a series of LP12 related upgrades in future.

However, what they have clearly demonstated with the Urika II is that it is beneficial to carry out RIAA processing in the digital domain, particularly with the improved clock of the Klimax DSM/3. That’s basically the reason why I returned to vinyl after a break of five years.

Of course, whether the improvement from thus reducing noise, interference and distortion in the RIAA processing, pre-amplification and also potentially the crossovers with Exakt, not to mention Space Optimisation, is worth the lack of flexibility to use other manufacturers’ components is entirely a matter of personal preference.

Re the $9K Linn plinth: seems to me an enterprising Linnie could have a new plinth made out of Panzerholz or generically similar dense material for much less than say $3K. Probably that would be worth the cost if the interior architecture was properly done to avoid hollow cavities.

@lewm 

It’s not just the plinth. There’s a new top plate attached. Presumably that contributes to the sound.

I was wondering if, given the huge number of LP12s out there, a company like Tangerine might market one. It would be interesting to see if it was as good and if they could make it cheaper. 

When I was last in business, we had a prospective competitor who spent a year or more telling all our customers that he’d soon be massively undercutting our prices. Guess what? When he finally opened for business, his product was inferior but his prices exactly matched ours.

@mylogic 

The Quadraspire was made out of a few spare bits left over from the main equipment racking. The wood clashed with the turntable plinth and some nearby shelving. I tried it with glass shelves, but they sounded terrible. Also, I didn’t like that the shelves dominated because they were bigger than the footprint of the LP12.

It was my decision to change the stand, although I think my wife approves. It was her who encouraged me to get another LP12 in the first place after I’d already decided it was too expensive. I am fortunate in that respect - she’s an amazingly generous and selfless woman. You wouldn’t believe the lengths she’s gone to for other people.

I wanted a NokTable, but that would have cost in the region of £1,000. As I’d already spent a lot on the turntable, that was far too much. I went for the much cheaper alternative of using an all metal Ikea Knarrevic bedside table customised with carpet spikes and self-adhesive car damping panels underneath the shelves. I couldn’t believe my luck to find something pretty well exactly the right size.

My dealer said metal shelves don’t usually sound good because they tend to resonate like glass. Fortunately, I seem to have got away with it. Perhaps, because it’s sited a long way from the loudspeakers.  One thing I can’t do is put the power supply on the bottom shelf. That kills the sound of the turntable.

@newton_john

STOP PRESS! lkea bedside tables sell out!

Thanks for that great breakdown of your upgrades.
Even greater, thinking outside the box for inexpensive solutions.

It’s not always the gear that counts but also displaying no fear in trying other solutions.

Car damping panels and spikes add more than the sum of all the parts and you may have something here. I was surprised your dealer did not like metal stands. Is he also saying the same for nearly all the turntable wall shelves out there too?

Strange the power supply results as it is far away from the deck relatively speaking.

By the way, the wife sounds like a keeper !