2. analog
  3. 192814-178608

Linn LP12 turntable

I was in my favorite audio store yesterday talking turntables… Rega P10, MoFi MasterDeck etc, when he stated he had a Linn LP12 he was selling for a customer at $2,400 & the customer had $14K (with upgrades) into it. Intriguing, but knew nothing about Linn. After my research, people seem to love it or hate it. But it is installed in many fine audiogon systems. 
I would like your thoughts and recommendations. 
I have asked the following questions of the dealer: 

1. Date of production 

2. Upgrades that have been added 

3. Power supply / tone arm

4. Condition 

5. Recently serviced

I have not yet seen it, but it is there now. What other questions should I ask?

My current analog system: 

Pro-ject 1xpression carbon classic with Hana ML

Rega Aria

PS Audio BHK pre

Simaudio Moon 330A amp

KEF R11’s

Advise would be greatly appreciated. 

128x128signaforce

Showing 3 responses by jasonbourne71

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,297 posts
 

As to the idea that only a Linn specialist can properly adjust the LP12 that's nonsense! Just another money grab from Linn! It is no more complicated than the original AR - one of which I have from Vinyl Nirvana. Plus I have two Ariston RD11's  -  Scottish-built cousins to the Linn - which I have worked on and adjusted during different tone arm swaps.

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,297 posts
 

I have an older LP12 that I bought from an eBay seller in England. I paid less than $1K for it, including shipping - and no sales tax because this was seven years ago. It had a Grace 707 arm and a mm cartridge. The Grace arm is worth at least $300! I don't know what upgrades were done to it. IMO the Linn upgrades are just to get the owner to keep spending money. The stock LP12 sounds excellent! If you are so neurotic that you need upgrades well it's your money!

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,297 posts
 

Back in 1978 you could buy a LP12 for $450 here in the USA. Even less in the UK! Ivor Tiefenbrunn was a clever marketeer and milked the hype about it during the onslaught of cheaper Jap direct drive turntables invading the UK. The LP12 is basically the same as the venerable original AR TT from the early 60's. You want a Super Deck? Buy a Continuum Caliburn!

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