Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable

No amount of wishful thinking or modification is going to make the LP 12 representative of what a modern intermediate priced turntable can do. The Avid Acutus, SME, Sota and Basis turntables all are definitive improvements over the LP 12. The LP 12's day were done with the release of the original Sota Sapphire, never to return. This is not to say with careful use and setup a used LP 12 can not be made to perform at a reasonable level but to buy one new you have to be out of your mind. This is not IMHO, just a fact of life.

For a while, me and my wife (the cyn in edcyn) had dueling systems with her's having a Linn and me having a SOTA. Frankly, I appreciated both. The Linn had better pitch stability and a punchier sense of drive. The SOTA gave better instrumental timbres and soundstage immersion.

@mijostyn  you say "No amount of wishful thinking or modification is going to make the LP 12 representative of what a modern intermediate priced turntable can do. The Avid Acutus, SME, Sota and Basis turntables all are definitive improvements over the LP 12. The LP 12's day were done with the release of the original Sota Sapphire, never to return."

Clearly you didn't bother to read @pani  post when he said on 6/26/22 "In a shootout at one of the London's audio store the fully kitted LP12 bested an Avid Acutus. Many listeners in the room preferred the LP12. So it is not an easy TT to dismiss even in the latest context"  This was a direct shootout with the Avid Acutus that your have on you list.

You also must have missed the post of @krameshmurthy on 6/24/22 when he said.... "I had been using a SOTA Sapphire for many years but found a decently priced used LP12 (circa 1990) last year. As someone who likes to tinker, I took the time to upgrade the motor and control (dual speed) and tune the table. Once I properly installed my cartridge, I was extremely amazed at the how much better this table was than my SOTA- quieter background, phenomenal dynamic range and outstanding soundstage. I do see all the “naysayers” but in my system, the LP12 is staying. I like the fact that I can continue to upgrade it as time goes by. In fairness, I haven’t had any of the newer higher end turntables (don’t have any need at this point), but I wouldn’t dismiss the LP12."  Yet again, another comparison to the SOTA Saphire which is also on your list.

You might have not noticed when @daveyf said on 6/24/22 "The current LP12 Klimax model had a good review recently by Herb Reichert in Stereophile. Herb compared it favorably to his Dr.Feickert and others and seemed to feel it was still at the upper echelon of performance!"

Clearly, for whatever reason, the LP12 has been a very polarizing table over the years.  It would seem by simply viewing this thread alone, that there are just as many people who are enamored by the LP12 as there are that are not. Roughly 20 members for and 20 members against, with roughly 8 members that are neutral on the subject.

I have never said the Linn LP12 is the "end all / be all" turntable of all tables. However, I and many others do believe that it has come a long way from it's original inception...benefitting from advances in technologies over the years to the top plate, frame, sub-chassis, bearings, motor, power supplies, etc... (just as many other turntable manufacturers have benefitted as well over the years).  I, and others, happen to believe the new LP12's can still compare very favorably with the other modern offerings of today.

Again, as I have said so many times... we are all blessed to have so many analog choices to choose from in this day and age, from tables/arms/cartridges/phonostages, etc.  There are great offerings from many manufacturers at many different price points so that virtually anyone can enjoy their vinyl collections.  

So, to the OP, what's important is to go out and listen to as many options as possible... but I urge you to do so with an open mind and without any pre-conceived notions, and simply let your ears decide what will work well for you and your system.

Best wishes to all,

Don

Finally had just a little time to listen to my friends LP12, recently back from a Tom O’Keefe installed bearing, new plinth and so on. Initial impression was it’s very impressive!

@no_regrets , you have to be kidding me. I have used them all and the LP 12 is an antique. Its days ended in 1980. As a used turntable it is decent if the price is right. You might as well go out and buy an AR XA. That turntable is way more important from a historical perspective as it invented the genre. The LP 12 is nothing but a higher quality AR XA. It invented nothing.