Linn LP-12 worth it?

[Enochrome]

Hey all,

Just noticed a sale posting for an early 80's LINN LP-12 for $200.00?
Not sure if the guy can verify that it works: he does not have a cartridge
and it has been in storage. Worth bring a cart over and checking it out?

Cheers

[JohnMichael]

Hey all,

Just noticed a sale posting for an early 80's LINN LP-12 for $200.00?
Not sure if the guy can verify that it works: he does not have a cartridge
and it has been in storage. Worth bring a cart over and checking it out?

Cheers

My first response was buy it. Then I thought about all the work to balance the suspension which can go out of adjustment over time. There are a lot of upgrades for the Linn so you could bring it up to current specs.

I was also curious which tonearm is on the table? Many people who bought a Linn mounted a different brand of arm. If it has the Linn Ittok I am back to yes buy it.

What it boils down to is do you want a table that requires a lot of hands-on adjustments or a set it and forget it ttable.

[poppachubby]

John has made some good points. From a straight up value perspective....YES!! All day long!! Particularily if it's functioning, even if it's not it's still worthwhile. Think about it, this could be your last table you EVER need to buy, they are that good.

As John mentioned there are tons of upgrades available from Linn. I say grab it and start what will surely be a short road to TT greatness.

[frenchmon]

Hey all,

Just noticed a sale posting for an early 80's LINN LP-12 for $200.00?
Not sure if the guy can verify that it works: he does not have a cartridge
and it has been in storage. Worth bring a cart over and checking it out?

Cheers

I would call the guy up and ask a few more questions, like when was the last time it played. Is it all stock? IF you can, try and go and listen to it. IF not its a crap shoot. Perhaps you can talk the guy down if he does not know if its working or not. If not then the crap shoot begins if you buy. IF you are handy with trying to restore your self, you can try and repair it if it needs it. You could buy it and take your time getting it repaired, when time and money allows for it. But still $200 claims is $200 claims. You could take that and put some more money with it and get a newer table that may sound just as good. Personally I have never heard a Linn table, but those Linn tables get very good reviews. A few weeks ago a guy listed a Linn table in our local craigslist. But he never listed a price. So I called the guy up and he wanted something like $1200 or $1400 dollars. For that money I would buy a new table and not a used table. But one thing is for sure....some of those old vintage tables have a bunch of character like they can tell you some good stories....or should I say, put out some very good music.

[02audionoob]

If it were me, I'd just buy it and figure out what I have when I got it home. Surely your investment could be easily recouped, and then some, if you decided you didn't want it.

[frenchmon]

If it were me, I'd just buy it and figure out what I have when I got it home. Surely your investment could be easily recouped, and then some, if you decided you didn't want it.

very good point!

[poppachubby]

I would call the guy up and ask a few more questions, like when was the last time it played. Is it all stock? IF you can, try and go and listen to it. IF not its a crap shoot. Perhaps you can talk the guy down if he does not know if its working or not. If not then the crap shoot begins if you buy. IF you are handy with trying to restore your self, you can try and repair it if it needs it. You could buy it and take your time getting it repaired, when time and money allows for it. But still $200 claims is $200 claims. You could take that and put some more money with it and get a newer table that may sound just as good. Personally I have never heard a Linn table, but those Linn tables get very good reviews. A few weeks ago a guy listed a Linn table in our local craigslist. But he never listed a price. So I called the guy up and he wanted something like $1200 or $1400 dollars. For that money I would buy a new table and not a used table. But one thing is for sure....some of those old vintage tables have a bunch of character like they can tell you some good stories....or should I say, put out some very good music.

frenchie, you know I love ya but you're undervaluing the strength of this table. It's simply unlike anything else and is arguably one of the greatest tables ever produced. Do some research and you will discover the engineering that goes into an LP12, at any point of it's history.

Yes, he could put cash into a new table but will that table satisfy him for life? Because THAT is the kind of table an LP12 is. At 200 it's a giveaway working or not, unless it's condition is beyond reproach, which I doubt.

[poppachubby]

someone on AK posted this table Eno and it appears that it's gone. Next time don't think about it, just run with the cash.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=307320

[frenchmon]

frenchie, you know I love ya but you're undervaluing the strength of this table. It's simply unlike anything else and is arguably one of the greatest tables ever produced. Do some research and you will discover the engineering that goes into an LP12, at any point of it's history.

Yes, he could put cash into a new table but will that table satisfy him for life? Because THAT is the kind of table an LP12 is. At 200 it's a giveaway working or not, unless it's condition is beyond reproach, which I doubt.

Wow...I'll do just that. Thanks Pops. I had no idea.

[poppachubby]

frenchie, my local Linn dealer sent their analog guru to Linn's newest factory in Scotland. He told me many amazing thiings about it, but a couple that stuck in my mind were that the office people had basic windows which overlooked the parking lot.

The plant had ceiling to floor windows which wrapped around and overlooked the Scottish countryside. They obviously want their labourers inspired.

He also mentioned speaking to a millwright who used to work at Rolls Royce. He asked him why he came to Linn, the answer was tighter tolerances!!! He said Linn demand some of the tightest tolerances he had ever seen. Coming from Rolls Royce, you could only imagine.

Anyhow, not your typical audio company contracting Chinese factories.

[frenchmon]

Is that a Pro-Ject arm on this linn? The Pro-Ject 9cc



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[poppachubby]

Yes it is. Believe it or not, the local Linn shop here are using that combo presently. I have sat in front of it for many hours. Once, they had it hooked into a Mac set up with Martin Logan ESL speak's. By far the best set up I have EVER heard.

[frenchmon]

Yes it is...Read it here http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CCAQ9QEwBQ

linn-majik-lp12
Linn

After 35 years, the Linn LP12 Sondek has a baby brother, enter the Linn LP12 Majik, a budget version of the original turntable. The Linn LP12 Sondek has been a defining piece of hi-fi equipment so it will be interesting to see how well the Majik LP12 performs in the digital age as CD makes way for Hard Disk Servers and multi room media playback.

Available with a choice of five plinth colours (black, rosenut, maple, walnut and american cherry) the basic Majik LP12 retails around £1995 and comes as standard with Linn Solid Base, Linn Majik LP12 Power Supply, Project 9cc Arm and Linn Adikt MM Cartridge.

The other good news for prospective Linn Majik LP12 Turntable owners is that Linn offer several upgrade paths in the form of the Linn Lingo power supply, the new all aluminium Keel sub-chassis and armboard, Linn Akito tonearm, Linn Klyde moving coil cartridge, and the Trampolin base board. Although none of these upgrades are particularly cheap, they are all execeptionally well engineered in true Linn style and offer a high level of sound reproduction.

The Linn Majik LP12 Turntable can be auditioned at all good Linn dealers.

[poppachubby]

Hahaha, nice find. Never heard one of those. The table I am speaking of is a Sondek however. Every now and again they change the arm on it, it's a house table.

[poppachubby]

My tube tech,an audio sceptic, bought the Trampolin for his LP12 and swears up and down by it.

[jrhymeammo]

My tube tech,an audio sceptic, bought the Trampolin for his LP12 and swears up and down by it.

I've never head a Linn TT either, but from what I've read over the years, Swearing is about only thing you can do "Up and Down" near this TT. I've entertained the idea before, but placing a TT in a different room or getting a 300lb dresser as a TT base isn't very ideal.

If wall-mount is an option....

[poppachubby]

I've never head a Linn TT either, but from what I've read over the years, Swearing is about only thing you can do "Up and Down" near this TT. I've entertained the idea before, but placing a TT in a different room or getting a 300lb dresser as a TT base isn't very ideal.

If wall-mount is an option....

Maybe a little overstated? It's not for you, I get that.

[Enochrome]

Yeah guys,

I missed that one. I hesitated because of "not another cash project, that I can't afford right now", but hey that's the breaks. I am listening to my Luxman with the OM20 blasting through my Mini Monitors and am loving it (also thanks to that great raquetball tweak thanks to you guys). In the halls of Hifi this pales in comparison to the Linn LP-12, but ya know: be thankful for what you have and focus and enjoy what you got inside first and apply that to what you have already. I think I am enjoying the DIY tweaks more than upgrade buying (audio science is tre' cool), although I can't wait for my Luxman R-3045 to get out of the shop

Telling me what is that is really singing on your decks right now? What album makes your system feel like your audio best bud? Mine, which I am listening to now, is Wish you were Here by Pink Floyd, my system is giving it to me %110!!!!!

Cheers everyone!

[02audionoob]

My turntable and my whole setup loves Grace Slick. Okay...maybe it's me that does. Jefferson Airplane spinning on my best bud.

[Enochrome]

Noob, I was just listening to Surrealistic Pillow through my Grado. That is hands down one of the best albums from the sixties, up there with any Kinks, Stones,Beatles or Byrds. The song "Today" still floors me.

[02audionoob]

Noob, I was just listening to Surrealistic Pillow through my Grado. That is hands down one of the best albums from the sixties, up there with any Kinks, Stones,Beatles or Byrds. The song "Today" still floors me.

The more I like a record, the more it stays out of my alphabetical stacks. Surrealistic Pillow never gets alphabetized.

[E-Stat]

Just noticed a sale posting for an early 80's LINN LP-12 for $200.00?

I would have jumped on that for the table alone which would be easy to check whether or not the platter spun. I have a similar lineage 1975 Ariston RD-11s which continues to work just fine in my vintage system using an SME 3009 II. I'm only on the third belt!

rw

[02audionoob]

I would have jumped on that for the table alone which would be easy to check whether or not the platter spun. I have a similar lineage 1975 Ariston RD-11s which continues to work just fine in my vintage system using an SME 3009 II. I'm only on the third belt!

rw

That's what I was thinking, too...get the table no matter what the arm and then put an SME on it.

[basite]

that's no money for the Linn, too bad you didn't get it
big chance it'll turn up on ebay for several times that money...

but, if you're up for some more serious DIY'ing, look into a Lenco L-75, 78, 99,88, ... and give it a good plinth and a good arm, it'll blow the linn out of the water...

[frenchmon]

that's no money for the Linn, too bad you didn't get it
big chance it'll turn up on ebay for several times that money...

but, if you're up for some more serious DIY'ing, look into a Lenco L-75, 78, 99,88, ... and give it a good plinth and a good arm, it'll blow the linn out of the water...

basite...can you post pictures of your Lenco? Im sort like a gear slut. I like audio porn. Just post pictures of all of whats below please if you dont mind?

Lenco L75 TT
* SME 3012 S2
* Rega RB-301
*Denon DL-103 in midas body
*Denon DL-304
*Graham slee elevator EXP & revelation
*Lehmann audio black cube SE