Good turntable equipped for about 700 dollars?

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.

Twl: Linn probably stole / modeled their motto after Stiff Records, which was a "punk" record label back in the 70's and early 80's. While they had MANY "amusing" motto's over the years, the one that i was thinking of went something like "If it ain't stiff, it ain't worth a ****". Beautiful, ain't it ??? : ) Sean
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Hi,

Here is some further info with regards to buying a used Linn. There are only 4 screws on the base to remove if one wanted to inspect things. Should you consider an LP12 from a distant seller, I would want a photo of the innards, so to speak. The primary concern is the Valhalla. Look closely at the Vahalla for evidence of heat. This is easy to identify since the mounting board will be discolored. I have a bad board and will be glad to forward a photo of what NOT to buy. By the way, the table would still perform but didn't sound right, having lost it's famous PRAT.

I always urge folks to do it right the first times since it's much cheaper in the long run. Bump up your investment a couple of hundred bucks and you can get an Ittok in the mix. This is a great arm and is well worth the extra $$.

As a Linn owner I can attest to the pleasure of owning one for well over 20 years. Yes, there are better tables BUT you would never have a COMPELLING reason to replace it. It is that good.