I have had a Linn for about 20 years (serviced and brought up to latest spec every 2 years) and remember being blown away by Linn/Naim demonstrations at hifi shows in the late 70's.
Recently, I've upgraded my cd player and it blows the Linn away. I have a few tracks on vinyl that I know really well that I use as a kind of reference. There's one, "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" by Mott The Hoople, that is a real test of timing, dynamics, PRaT, and holding a tune. On my Linn it really drags, it's like the band are playing without hearing each other.
I'm convinced that the Linn suffers in terms of speed stability. I've now bought a Technics Sl50 and a Lenco L75 and I'm going to play with both.
IMHO, both the Technics and the Lenco have more upside potential because they were launched in an era when acoustic isolation was not well understood. The Linn is kind of okay at everything, but it's not an example of great engineering is it? Cheap motor, pressed steel sub-chassis, etc.
There's a theory that current belt drive tables struggle when fitted with low compliance moving coil cartridges because the motor/belt lacks sufficient torque to overcome stylus drag. I'm going to put the theory to the test and make my own mind up.
I'm quite certin that a SP10 MkII in a good CLD plinth, mounted on a state of the art isolation table, fitted with a Schroeder arm and Zyz Airy would smoke the equivalent LP12 set up. What's more I'd love the chance to put this hypothesis to the test!
Regards
Red
