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Help ! Best MC cartridge for Linn LP12?

I have a LP12 with new EkosSE arm with Skale weight. The TT has Keel chassis, Radikal power, AQ Leopard cable. I use a Krystal MC now. I'm asking what cartridges mate best with my setup from a compliance standpoint- weight mount, suspension table etc.  From that list I'll try narrow down to good selections that mate to my phono/pre. Hopefully I will have a few that I can choose from to suit my listening tastes, knowing that compatibility isn't coloring what I hear. My budget limit is $10k. I have some thoughts already, but don't want to bias comments by naming them. So please help me to narrow my options down to the best candidates. 
papafrgog

Showing 3 responses by glennewdick

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,737 posts
 
I have to agree with the first poster veeyat. I’ve heard a fully decked out lp12, garrard 301, thorns All in custom plinths side by side in a friends system. All with very good arms and carts. All playing through a nagra pre driving 6 quad mono amps driving 6 quad (3 stack) else 57s. And to be frank the Lin just can’t compete with the garrard and thorns. Also on hand was a tricked out VIP with an air bearing arm that’s was lovely as well. I think your best bet is to sell the linn and move on. Hate to stir the pot here but. There is much Better out there for your money specially used. I build a garrard 301 as well after hearing his set up ditching a tricked out oracle Delphi mk 4 and couldn’t be happier
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,737 posts
 
To be honest I don't have a list of everything that was done to the LP12 but I was told by the owner it was pretty much maxed out for upgrades. the rest of my  friends system is  Nagra PL L pre amp. driving the 6 Quad mono blocks all have been fully upgraded and rebuilt removing the silly quad cabling system. The work was done by a local friend who builds $25k SET amps and the quads sound very good indeed. the Panels have all be rebuilt and are inside a custom bamboo frame one on top of the other. the whole system is in a dedicated audio room built specifically built for his system with a sub floor for isolation and wiring. I have to say his system is very transparent, very wide and deep sound stage ( best I've ever heard) and fill that room totally. even the base is great with 6 panels. i'll add a couple pictures I took of his place to me profile if you care to look, he's got 15000 records on the walls lol that's what blows me away lol. anyway i'm not saying the LP12 wasn't good sounding just not up to what the others had to offer in musicality drive and toe taping pleasure.
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,737 posts
 

Probably April-May this year we started a lunch and ended around midnight. the Plinth was a custom job out of the UK very nice looking anyway and much more massive then the original.

I’m not trying to diss a great table here I just think to spend 10k on a cart for that table is well past the diminishing returns and the OP should invest in a table that will support that kind of investment. I know a lot of you really love the LP 12 and it rightly so has a place in history for starting the high end table market but I think there is limitations to how far it can be taken. a fully upgraded LP12 would probably sell for max $10-15k on a good day most you see in nice shape and well upgraded are in the $5k region so to put a $10k cart on one seems to me and most of my friends in our audio club not a good investment. now that said if you love your LP12 by all means go for it.


We feel if the OP sold his table and invested that money and his $10k into a used table he would get more for his money in the long run.

take a quick look on the sight there are quite a few tables in the 10-20k price range that are substantially better then the LP12 imo of course.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-artisan-fidelity-garrard-301-statement-dual-arm-1-year-...

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-vpi-industries-avenger-refrence-mag-platter-2017-08-28-...

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-garrard-401-statement-by-artisan-fidelity-world-s-first...

Drool that last one....


there are three that I would say are great tables but if the whole rhythum passe musicality thing isnt your thing then there are others.

Just trying to open the OP up to other options.. I.ve been down the many upgrade path my self and ended up at a old Garrard 301 in the end it just plays music not everyone’s cup of tea as I said there are many out there it is a buyers market.

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