Linn LP12 vs. VPI Classic 1 and 3

I owned a Linn LP12 with Ekos 1, Lingo 1, Cirkus and Tramp 2. The table sounded okay and was a lot of fun and taught me the importance of set up.

Linn lost me as a customer as future upgrades became extremely costly and I had a difficult time justifying Linn’s pricing model. I also did not like the lack of adjustability for their tone arms. With the Ekos, VTA was difficult to set and there was no provision for azimuth adjustment.

If you like to mess around with table set up and you have some technical skill and patience, I would recommend a use LP12 with a recapped Valhalla, Cirkus bearing and Ittok LVII. For less $1500 you will have a great performing table that will not depreciate in value. Read the numerous Linn forums regarding set up and play around with the table’s setup. There will be periods of frustration and periods of reward, but in the end, you will know if this table is for you or not.

I am a VPI user now and love the sound of their table plus the affordable of VPI’s upgrades. If money is not a deciding factor, I would recommend the Classic 3, but for $1500 the used LP12 as described above provides great value if you are willing to put in some time and effort.

I had LP-12 with Ittok arm. I used several third party upgrades of power board, arm board and sub-chassis. Read all of the setup advice and worked diligently for proper setup. To my ears there was no huge difference between my digital sources and my vinyl. Thought seriously about trying the Lingo but decided to go for a major change and bought a Classic 2. In my system there is no comparison. My analog now clearly superior to the same digital sources and I find myself anxious to listen to my vinyl collection. Classic 2 with Soundsmith Counter Intuitive allows me simple adjustment of VTA, VTF azimuth. Also find basic setup easier with VPI jig.

I owned a Linn LP-12 for 35 years and always said it was the ONE component I would never sell. It always sounded good to my ears but, when the Classic came out, I had to admit the time had come to make a change. With the return to a metal platter, the machining available on the Classic and the solidity of the entire platform and tonearm, I think it was a definite step up. Not day and night, as in the hyperbole sometimes heard in reviews, but better. The bearing is better as is the mass and associated speed accuracy of the platter.

The VPI arm also works better with its sibling than the Linn with several tonearms I have tried over the years. A bit like how the OS-10 operating system works better with Mac computers than does Windows with machines manufactured by other companies.

If you make the switch I think you will be happy you did. (BTW... I totally disagree with the poster who said the Linn was a POS. Not even close to the truth.)

Wynnosu, I agree with you. The poster who said the Linn is a POS either a) has never heard a Linn, or b) Has never heard a correctly set up Linn.
Did you have a chance to hear the Classic 1 vs. the Classic 2,3 or 4?
BTW, you have a great looking system.

Thanks for the compliment, Davey.

No, I didn't hear the other Classics. My dealer said the 2 was not that much of an improvement, just a little more convenience with VTA. Supposedly the 3 was a fair amount better with the better arm and chassis upgrades. But I can't comment from personal experience.