Good turntable equipped for about 700 dollars?

Peter, in your price range you want to look for the LP12 with Valhalla. You can tell this by looking at the Power on/off switch at the front left of the TT. The older non-Valhalla models had a large red square pushbutton. The Valhalla changed that to a low profile black square button with a small red LED in it. That is the easy way to identify pre-Valhalla, and post-Valhalla. Virtually all Valhalla models were also upgraded with the Nirvana suspension kit, by the owners, and all Valhalla factory models had the Nirvana suspension kit in them. You don't have to worry about the Cirkus, and Lingo, and other such Linn stuff in your price range. I think the Valhalla is the ideal setup for the least money. All the other mods are somewhat controversial as to their effect.

The Basik and Basik plus tonearms are variations of the early lower cost Linn tonearms. I think the Basik had an "S" shaped chrome arm and a removeable headshell, and the Basik Plus had a black straight arm. They are well suited to medium weight and medium compliance
cartridges. A Goldring cartridge that fits your budget would do nicely.

Getting a Linn shipped to you is a complex matter. It must be disassembled and packed properly. Failure to know how to do this will result in damage. In any case the TT will have to be completely set up, as all settings will be lost from the disassembly or transit shaking. If you get one, you will need to post it, and ask for setup instructions. I will come to your rescue. I've done this for other members who have bought 2nd hand Linns by mail order shipping. If possible, buy one you can pick up in your car, and take home with you.

Hi Peter,

I have been satisfied with the music hall mmf5, though tempted to move up to a 7. I haven't heard most of the tables listed above. My understanding is Linn has its own style of sound that if it is for you, you will love it, but it is not for everyone. I notice you listed Proac speakers in your system. Did you get the Spica TC-60's and not like them? Just curious.

Paul

Thanks TWL and Paul. I'll keep my eyes open for a Linn table. I just got the Spica's in yesterday - puchased on a lark to experience good imaging. I have them 7 feet into the room based on the "golden rule" outlined on the Cardas site. The speakers definitely "dissappear" - I think due to the insulation on their front baffles. However, I think imaging is affected by reflections in the room. The ceiling is peaked up in the center, with three angled sides all pointing down toward the listening position. Tonally, my first impression is that these speakers sound a bit less "lively" than the Proacs, but I'm just starting to listen. More later and thanks for asking.

By the way Paul (or anyone else)... can you characterize the "Linn Sound" of the LP12? Thanks.

The Linn is a very musical table, and that is the best way to describe it. There isn't any one particular "audiophile" category that jumps out, with the exception of PRaT. It excels at PRaT. The resolution is very good, but not great. There is a slight warm "bloom" in the midbass, and the deep bass is not the best, but it's good. It is a very enjoyable TT to listen to, because you don't concern yourself with "audiophile neuroses", you just listen to the music and have fun. While it is not the "last word" in audiophile terms, it is a very nice TT and would be good enough to be a "final purchase" in TTs if you weren't obsessive about having the state-of-the-art. It was the best you could get, at one time, and many of the newer designers of audiophile TTs learned about TT design from studying the Linn. It probably had more impact on the future of turntables than any other TT made. Many people dislike Linn because of their "snooty" sales practices, and disparage the product because of that. I feel that is unfair, because the TT stands on its own merits as a good TT, regardless of the sales practices of its dealers. The attitude was rather like the Harley Davidson unofficial motto. "If you ain't got a Linn, you ain't got Sh*t." This offended alot of people.