I quite agree on all your AR reference amps, although I only have Ref 6 right now. I can't use Ref 3 because for some unknown reason it can't be run balanced in and out (earlier AR Ref phonos could be). So I bought a van den Hul Grail SE and couldn't be happier - hugely underrated unit largely missing from these pages.
But you really need to upgrade that Linn. Not by spannering in 50 years of Linn upgraded parts built on the same 50 year old design. I had a Linn in the early 80s when they were £250. Today the Klimax at £23,000 is the most over-priced turntable you can buy. That money will buy any number of far better units. Linn are taking the *iss.
50 years ago the Linn was a very good turntable, even if difficult to keep in tune. But that was 50 years ago. Time moves on apace. I have upgraded three times since then and left Linn far behind on the first move.
Bin the Linn and get way better SQ.