New Scout & MH MM-7 or old Linn Sondek. ?????

My personal opinion is that the Linn Sondek will outperform either of those other turntables that you mentioned.

It must be set up properly, and be in correct working order to do it.

It is a fussy turntable about set up, and may not be for everyone, but it will sound very good when it is right.

My 20 year old LP12 still sounds better than all but the most $$$$ tables I've auditioned. As my disposible income went up, I tried to find a more expensive 'table. I couldn't find anything under 8-10k which brought me more musical pleasure, so I gave up trying.
Twl is right about it being fussy, but once it is set up it'll give you years and years of satisfaction.

Hm, interesting answers.
Personally, from my own experience the last 10 years, I never had the 'luck' to listen to a good sounding LP12.
Well, maybe the two above me have absolutely no idea about a good sounding turntable ot they have found the wonder I always was looking for.
Normally it is coloured, low dynamic and is super sensitive with set up, when opening a window, the sound changes and and and.....
One time a found a real competent Linn dealer who made the best set up with the Lp 12 I ever listened to. That was acceptable, well, at least for me.
That's my opinion, I know, there are some out, who think different, and for some it's maybe a kind of religion, was never able to follow this line .....

Well, I've certainly heard alot of other very good sounding turntables, and own a Teres 245/OL Silver/Shelter 501 right now, so I guess that eliminates the possibility that I "have no idea what a good sounding turntable sounds like".

Perhaps since I was the main TT setup man at the audio shops that I worked at, and was trained in Linn setup by "the man" at Linn, that I was able to properly set up my Linn and get good sound from it.

It is an older design, and is not on par with the finest turntables of today, but it will still do better than the lower level models and entry level models from these modern turntable makers. It has it's weak points, and being fussy is one of them, and so is the coloration, but it is musical and can provide good enjoyment. I think at the prices that they are selling for used, they are a good value. But the setup is critical to get the most out of it.

I'm a bit offended by the statement that I don't know "what a good sounding turntable sounds like". I've listened to many of the available TT's out there, and auditioned a few of the VPI's, Regas and Sotas in my home system. While I found the sound satisfactory in most of them, I didn't think the price difference was worth dumping my LP12.
I do agree about the "fussiness" issue. I have mine serviced and set up by a "pro"- I don't think it's a good idea to have the set up done by a "novice".