Radikal Linn LP12 or Palmer 2.5?

Hi all.  It’s been a while so I thought I would check in and share my decision. Unfortunately, I was unable give the Palmer a second listen; however I was able to make what I feel was a meaningful comparison between a full spec Linn LP12 and the Dr. Feickert Blackbird (bearing in mind that the associated components were completely different).

Both tables sounded great, and I knew that I could live happily ever after with either, but ultimately I decided to go with the Blackbird (with the optional external power supply). Both “played the tune,” both were rhythmically assured, and both had rock solid imaging. I thought the Linn sounded a bit richer and the Blackbird played music with a bit more verve. That said, I think my decision came down to three things.  

First, I thought the Blackbird had a slightly higher “fun factor,” though I’m hard pressed to qualify why this is so.

Second, the Linn had an Ekos SE arm (vs. the considerably less expensive Jelco TK 950L) and a Kandid cartridge (vs. a considerably less expensive Ortofon). So while I realize upgrades - even somewhat expensive ones - sometimes bring only incremental changes at this level, I felt there was more down-the-road room for improvement with the Blackbird (e.g., perhaps an eventual upgrade to a Kuzma 4point or an SME arm).

Finally, I think I was just ready for a change of direction. I was a perfectly content Linn LP12 owner for 25 years, and would have had no problem whatsoever continuing along that path. But when the old fruit box finally gave out it seemed like a good opportunity to think outside “the box” and try a different flavor. I haven’t been disappointed.

So that’s about it.  Again, thanks to everyone for their input. It was all interesting and useful.

@latenitecity Glad that you made a choice that sounds and works well in your system. I totally understand where you are coming from in your selection. The Blackbird is a very nice TT. I think that there was no wrong answer here. Blackbird, LP12 or even the Palmer are all great TT’s.

Thanks, daveyf.  I appreciate it.  It was a fun process and, as you said, there really was no wrong answer. I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to audition these wonderful contraptions, and would be delighted to own any one of them.

@daveyf 

 

This is an old thread, and I fully acknowledge that..But in the event someone stumbles into the opinion above, please do your homework...Sound of anything we discuss here is subjective and individual to the listeners ears. But to say that a fiddlly Linn LP12 is in the same league as the Palmer is laughable...On looks alone the opnion here is toast. Both are two radically different designs, two difference categories of TTs. Most shopping for a Linn aren't shopping for a high mass table..The bias in this opinion is almost laughable...Feickert yes I will give the nod to those tables as a viable competitor, Linn, not so much. It's a sprung table with marketing scheme behind it for upgrades. Basically it's a giant hole in the ground you throw money into..I know they have their following, and to each their own...A Palmer however should NOT be compared to an LP12. There is no comparison. 

@jc51373 Now that I own a Linn LP12 Klimax spec model, and having heard a lot of tables since this thread started, all I can say to your post is YMMV. I had the choice of buying a Palmer, a Technics 1000, a Dr Feickert and even a TechDas V Premium ( at considerably more $$). I own the Linn, if that says anything.
Question..when was the last time you heard a current top-flite Klimax LP12...??? It really sounds nothing like your fathers’ ’70 model.