Linn LP 12 Problem.......

My fave review of the LP12 from Basik through Valhalla to Lingo was Corey Greenberg's. I couldn't find it online but I have it somewhere in hard copy. This is what I got from Stereophile's review archives (John Atkinson):

In its various incarnations, the Sondek LP12 turntable has been reviewed a number of times in Stereophile: first by Larry Greenhill in February 1984 (Vol.7 No.2), then by Martin Colloms in March 1990 (Vol.13 No.3), then by Corey Greenberg in December 1991 (Vol.16 No.12). The effect of the Lingo power supply was first described by me in January 1991 (Vol.14 No.1), with a Follow-Up by Wes Phillips as part of his report on the Naim ARO tonearm and Armageddon LP12 power supply in February 1996 (Vol.19 No.2). Robert Deutsch also commented on the improvement wrought by the Cirkus base in May 1997 (Vol.17 No.5).

My reaction to the external Lingo supply, comparing it back in late 1990 with the older Valhalla board, was very positive. In particular, I felt the low frequencies were reproduced with considerably better extension and definition. I performed some basic measurements on the combination of the Lingo-driven Sondek with the Ekos and a Linn Troika cartridge in my 1990 review, which are reproduced in the Web reprint. In comparison both with the LP12 Valhalla and an Australian Aura turntable fitted with an early Graham tonearm, the LP12 Lingo had slightly better speed stability, evinced by the slightly narrower "skirt" around the spectral peak representing a 1003Hz tone from the Denon Test LP. However, low-level sidebands were visible both at the 11Hz frequency of the tonearm-cartridge suspension resonance and at ±50Hz, the latter not uncoincidentally the frequency of the Lingo's synthesized sinewave supply. Rumble was very low.

First question is, do you have the Cirkus bearing upgrade in your table? If not, I'm not sure you want to spend the money for a Lingo, but others may differ. I have seen the Lingo go for from $550 to $1200 used depending on type (half size Lingo I vs full size Lingo II) and condition. If you have a Cirkus bearing, it is definitely the way to go if you can afford it at this time. Otherwise, fix your Valhalla and upgrade when you can. The Lingo will have a more fundamental and wide ranging effect on the sound of your table than if you added an Ekos II tonearm (3K). It is absolutely incomprehensible that a power supply should make this much difference, but it does in this case.

Linn themselves say get a Cirkus before a Lingo, but that doesn't get you music if what's not working is the power supply. My 2 cents: if you can find a used Lingo or spring for a new one, that's the way to go right now. With fewer dollars, get the Valhalla fixed or replaced.

One more thing, talk to your dealer about the Lingo upgrade. If you are buying used you will need the kit that attatches to the table - new power button, etc. I am not sure how all this works on the used market because I bought mine on demo. If you don't like the answers your dealer is giving you, email me. I know of a couple of excellent Linn dealers who will be helpful even if you are buying used.

A good technician can replace the bad capacitors on a Valhalla board in about twenty minutes, tops. He would spend much more time making sure the suspension is still set up properly after he did the work, after which the owner would just plop it on the back seat of his Benz and let it jiggle all the way home. I'd be surprised if the parts (three electrolytic capacitors) cost over $10-15, and if the tech's got a good parts source, he'd probably get 'em for less. It's not rocket science, no matter what Linn tells you, and the replacement capacitors don't have to be blessed by Tiefenbrun. In fact maybe you don't WANT the ones Linn sourced, as they fail! Good, reliable Japanese ones...now, THAT's what you want. What is hardest is finding ones that lie flat on the circuit board (axial type) rather than standing on end (radial).

I can hear the peanut gallery now, shouting "Horrors, NO!"