Linn Sondek LP-12 happy/un-happy owners

My vote is for the Linn Sondek a table with excellent timbre, fine detail, and outstanding musicality. I have had an Lp12 since 1983 with little or no trouble. It concerns me when someone finds that they can't keep one in tune though. Sound more like a Linn dealer that is possibly out of tune. In all the years that I have had my table I can only think of one occasion when it fell out of tune in less than one years time, so you shouldn't worry much about that. Do yourself a favor and look at Stereophile: Linn Products LP Playing System, Michael Fremer, November 2003 http://www.stereophile.com/analogsourcereviews/1103linn/index.html it is just one good overall review of the Lp12 as a complete turntable system. Many people over the years have talked about this table because in many ways it (has been/is) a reference standard for more than 30 years. Another interesting aspect of Linn and the Lp12 is that Ivor Tiefenbrun (owner/creator) pretty much single handedly proved to audiophiles of the day how great the analog source component could influence the overall musicality of a Hifi system. That in fact no matter how cool your speakers and amps were, the turntable/tonearm could make a greater difference (note that I did not include the cartridge). My point is... is there a better turntable today? Yes, maybe, and how much will it cost you? I find it interesting that until just a few years ago, most everyone compared their table to this one. Theo, most folks I've meet who run this table down (and they are few and far between) have never owned one. There are some real nice turntables out there today... this is still one of the best. Enjoy!

Theo, Nothing like a little I love it or I hate it banter to clear the waters all up. As for the "cult of Linn" ... Only initial purchasers had to go through a blood ritual of sorts (as is true with most product purchased at retail prices for the first time) but, I was of the impression that you would probably be finding a pre-owned table. Just to set the record straight, I wasn't tricked mystically into buying a Linn and it then wouldn't have taken me 20 years to figure out that something else, and than something else, and... sounded better. Actually the dealer went out of their way to give me excellent A/B (like/same) comparisons and I was very much seduced musically. But in the "real world" if you get a Linn with the "circus" bearing upgrade and the "lingo" power supply, I think you could hold up very well to what is available in turntable recommendations in so far. Again, there are a lot of great tables out there. Good luck