Following Mcrheist's post I went to my nearest Linn dealer to hear the current spec LP12 yesterday. They are a long-standing Linn dealer in London who are still very active in analog. They claim to dismantle, measure, inspect and rebuild every new turntable they receive from the factory and, if you believe forum posts, it's said that Linn send their trainees to this dealer for training in set-up. The dealer was very confident about being able to get the best possible performance from the LP12.
The table was fitted with Akiva/Ekos with Lingo and Linto PSU and phono stage, through Magik pre/power and Akurate speakers. Initially I heard the system with the Magik cd player. It sounded slightly solid-state "hard" but had good deep bass extension and it didn't have that characteristic in which negative feedback makes vocalists sound short of breath.
Switching to the LP12, I initially noticed good tonality, detail and resolution. However, as the tracks built in complexity and ampllitude it was harder to hear individual instruments in the mix - the lead part dominated with micro-dynamics being lost. Also, compared to cd, there was significantly less bass energy and extension. All audio involves compromise of some sort, but the LP12 asks too much in my view.
I'm surprised that Mcrheist rates the LP12 on similar terms to the SME 20/2 - I would say that it is on a par with the SME 10 which is dry, organised, with deep extension although not the greatest at conveying a sense of performance.
So I stand by my original statement, the LP12 is outdated, over-rated and over-priced. If your priority is to create an illusion of live performance in your home then the LP12 won't get you there.
Finally, after 2 hours of listening to ss amplification I'd had enough. It was so good to come home to my DRDs.
Today I've been playing with the DV 507 Mk II and XX-2 but that's for another thread!
The table was fitted with Akiva/Ekos with Lingo and Linto PSU and phono stage, through Magik pre/power and Akurate speakers. Initially I heard the system with the Magik cd player. It sounded slightly solid-state "hard" but had good deep bass extension and it didn't have that characteristic in which negative feedback makes vocalists sound short of breath.
Switching to the LP12, I initially noticed good tonality, detail and resolution. However, as the tracks built in complexity and ampllitude it was harder to hear individual instruments in the mix - the lead part dominated with micro-dynamics being lost. Also, compared to cd, there was significantly less bass energy and extension. All audio involves compromise of some sort, but the LP12 asks too much in my view.
I'm surprised that Mcrheist rates the LP12 on similar terms to the SME 20/2 - I would say that it is on a par with the SME 10 which is dry, organised, with deep extension although not the greatest at conveying a sense of performance.
So I stand by my original statement, the LP12 is outdated, over-rated and over-priced. If your priority is to create an illusion of live performance in your home then the LP12 won't get you there.
Finally, after 2 hours of listening to ss amplification I'd had enough. It was so good to come home to my DRDs.
Today I've been playing with the DV 507 Mk II and XX-2 but that's for another thread!