I need HELP with my LP12 based system

Pscialli,

Nice system. The cartridge may be responsible (I'm not familiar with it) but I suspect the weak link in the chain is the entire analog rig. The LP12 was a category leader 23 years ago. It no longer is, and hasn't been for quite some time.

Unfortunately, $2-3K will not buy a (new) table and arm that compare with the level of your other components, or with your Sony/Modwright in particular. Digital has gotten pretty good in the last few years and your experience proves it. I use an unmodded Denon DVD-3910 and its performance is also quite respectable. My analog rig outplays it in every way, but my analog rig has a retail value that is twelve times higher.

You won't have to go quite that far to better your Sony, but I don't think you'll do it for much less than $6K for a table and arm (using new retail prices for the yardstick).

Of course it wouldn't due much harm to try a different cartridge. If it does the trick, great. If it doesn't, it would readily move to a new rig when funds become available. VdH's are well known for dynamic bass. Shelters have full and weighty bass. Dyna's are known for strong bass. The ZYX Airy 3 has bass that goes low and it's more tuneful than most and excellent on big classical. I'm sure there are others that might satisfy.

My rambling thoughts...

I always love back-handed complements from LP12 bashers. The LP12 is still the deck to which all other tables are compared, and it has certainly stood the test of time. Anyway, I'd start by having your LP12 tuned-up by your local dealer as suboptimal setup can affect performance markedly. The Ittock is still a pretty good arm (assuming proper setup), but the original cable should be replaced with the newer Linn Silver tonearm cable (about $300). The Akiva is spectacular cartridge, easily bettering the somewhat similar Lyra Helikon. It costs all of your $3000, but I'll bet your dealer won't charge much for the tune-up if your buying the cartridge and cable!

I was in exactly your situation about 2 years ago and auditioned many turntables. There are a number of well documented design limitations in the Linn LP12 that will prevent you achieving your goal of deep, tight bass.

I found that turntables with rubber belt drive and suspended sub-chassis all had the same limitations as the Linn to varying degrees. In contrast, those using mass to damp resonance were capable of far better performance.

25 years ago the Linn shifted expectations of analog reproduction but there have been huge strides in technology since then.

I would suggest you check out the Galibier Serac turntable which falls within your budget range. I haven't heard one yet but I bought it's bigger brother, the Gavia, and it's designer is passionate about good analog sound.

The other option I would suggest, which is not approved by the audiphile taste police but works, is a Technics SL1200 table fitted with a modified RB250 arm (Expressimo or Michell Tecnoarm) and the cart of your choice. Being direct drive it delivers great speed stablity and mounted on a sandbox shelf would be well isolated from resonance problems.

The adapter plate for the arm is sold by Origin Live. Sell the standard fit arm on ebay. I tried an old SL-150 and was surprised how much better than the Linn it was when fitted with an Expressimo and mounted on a sandbox. The SL1200 is ridiculously underpriced because it has been in production so long and the tooling cost has been amortized.

A third choice would be to check out the "Building high-end 'tables at Home Despot" thread and join that experiment. I did and it really does work.

Welcome to LP12, a table that does need TLC. I had a similiar situation that was cleared by wall mounting. Seriously. When I wall mounted mine the infamous Linn midbass tightened up. I did a DIY shelf I found at the vinyl asylum. Good Luck.