Linn Sondek LP12

[Unican_Eric]

I have a chance to get a Linn Sondek LP12 from a coworker. Its her uncles turntable and he wants to sell it. What am I getting into here? She says its in fair condition.

[Nat]

The Linn is one of the great products of audio history. It is a fine product and historically important, since it, and its manufacturer, Ivor Tiefenbrun (sp), were very important in the rediscovery of listening as the most important test of quality. The Linn redefined what could be expected from records and established the importance of the source as the determinant of ultimate quality.
When it came out the usual notion was that distortion figures were most important thing to pay attention to in electronics, that wow and flutter were the thing that mattered to turntables, and that speakers were the most important part of stereos. Stereophile had been fighting this attitude for years, but with only marginal success. The Linn didn't have as good figures as the average direct drive table, but sounded better to many many serious listeners, and established the hi end in phono reproduction at about the same time that Audio Research was doing the same in electronics, and The Absolute Sound came along to do the PR for the hi end. (Obviously this thumbnail sketch is a gross oversimplification.)
None of which has much to do with whether you want the table. Linns can sound very good, or nothing special. They are fussy -- they need to be set up correctly, and need to be sited carefully. Like almost all suspended subchasis tables they bounce alarmingly when you use the cuing. They don't get up to speed instantly.
But people who like them gush on and on about speed and pacing -- they are good at digging out information and,more important, presenting it coherently so that you can follow the small details in relationship to the whole. There have been many upgrades to the Linn, and new ones sound different than old ones, but all changes are available as retrofits -- not cheap at all, but perhaps worth considering if you get bit by the bug.
The Linn was an expensive turntable, and so the arm attached is probably a very good arm, ditto the cartridge. It possible that the cartridge is a moving coil,and if so you will need a step up transformer or headamp.
Ask your friend to be very careful moving the turntable, or do it yourself. You should remove the platter at the very least, and be gentle. Protect the arm and stylus.
The Vinyl Engine site has a lot of information including manuals and so on. I'd like to hear what you do, and what you think of it.

[Unican_Eric]

Ok, Thanks for the input. Now I know that I might be getting in over my head though. This seems like a turntable that I might not be able to afford. I of course would have to inform her of its status in the market and do some looking to see what the prices would be, I assume a good place to start would be ebay finished auctions. I'll let you know what she wants and see if I can afford it.

[ProAc_Fan]

Eric what you want to do is score this table on the cheap and then sell it to a very local fellow AK'er who would appreciate it. :)


Mike

[grumpy]

Would that local AK'er be you Mike ? LOL


The LP12 is a super table. depending on the age, condition, arm and cartridge you may be surprised. Older ones do not command the "huge" money newer ones do. And if it was paired with say the Linn Basik arm you should be able to get a bargain without feeling guilty. Now if it has an Itok arm then the price can start to jump a bit again depending on how old and what series the arm is. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Grumpy

[reyneman]

DO NOT LISTEN TO PRO!

The Linn is a very finicky table, and works much better in more southern climes. However, too far south and it once again is unhappy :worried:

The Pittsburgh area has been found to be optimum for this table, and I do believe that is where it should go. :thmbsp:

However, I do believe that Pro could deliver it :yes:

[SPL db]

From what I've seen on Ebay (and other places) a LP12 usually
start at about $500 (and that's very low, usually with no mods
done on an older table) and go way up from there.

They're definitely a table worth having though! :thmbsp:

Scott

[Unican_Eric]

I'll tell you what I am gonna do. I'll check it out. Give the info here in this thread with the price she wants. If there are any takers here I'll find a way to set up a deal for ya. Is this ok? Now on a different note, she also stated that the stuff he had it paired up with was MacIntosh but she dosent know where that stuff is right now. :cry: This post will probably not be updated till at least Monday when I see here again at work.

[ProAc_Fan]

Eric if the table is in nice cosmetic shape and works fine, you can tell your co-worker I've got $500 CAN burning a hole in my pocket. The condition of the cartridge is irrelevant.


Mike

[grumpy]

I'll make it 510.00 canadian here :lmao:

[Unican_Eric]

I showed here this post and she called for the information. she also said she could probably get a pic. Now dont ask me when she will give me the info, Monday the latest for sure. Ill keep in touch.

[ProAc_Fan]

I'll make it 510.00 canadian here :lmao:


Why you son of an unnamed goat, I outta ..............:mad:




Mike

[Billfort]

$511.00

:)

[Unican_Eric]

Geez guys you havent even seen it yet. I am getting a pic sent to me from e-mail and as soon as I get it will be posted. Now for an update. it has a Shure Series III tonearm and a Dynavector cartridge. Whatever that means.

[grumpy]

Were just messing with mike.

[one1speed]

I think many of us are watching this thread with interest. Let's see what you turn up...

[grumpy]

A SME on a linn ? Thats a different combo. Wouldnt have been my 1st choice. Most likely the dynavector is pretty ancient and due for replacement.

[Unican_Eric]

Well beats me but here are the pics so far if they will upload.

[Unican_Eric]

Number 2

[one1speed]

Very cool!! Nice and simple, any pricing information yet?

[Yamaha B-2]

That arm certainly needs a bit of adjustment. Tough to get the record on and off with that location. And, no way to play the first 1/4" of the LP. That's all right. Am sure I still have my SME supplied hex driver around here some place. Pretty neat combo. Don't see many with that set-up.

[Nat]

I am puzzled by the mat -- linns came with a felt mat, and they made a big deal about its role. Might be worth trying alternatives since that one looks like a haphazard replacement -- might be good, might not be.
The SME series III is a fine arm, buts its real best use is not moving coils like the Dynavector, even though the damping makes it work reasonably well. I used one happily with a Denon 103(!), but perhaps didn't get the sort of bass impact I might have with a more massy/rigid arm. Didn't know what I was missing... But if the Dynavector's stylus is worn -- not a certainty, but quite possible -- it might make sense to go with a good moving magnet.

[melofelo]

look very similar to an ariston rd 80 :naughty:

[Yamaha B-2]

My recollection is that the early Dynavectors, at least as old as to be the same vintage as this arm/TT combo, were actually an 'electret' type of affair. There was a small circuit of some sort inside the cartridge rather than the standard MC or MM rig. Just going by my old memory, but is a good chance that it is not an MC.

[Nat]

There were a couple of high output Dynavectors, but otherwise I believe all of them were low output moving coils. MicroAcoustics and Win made electret/piezo type cartridges about the same time that the Linn came out, and I believe Azden made them later, Weathers and Euphonics earlier in the sixties. Interesting type of cartridge, and I think its a pity that noone is doing anything with them now. Certainly MicroAcoustics cartridges seem to be desireable as used choices.

[michael w]

I am puzzled by the mat -- linns came with a felt mat, and they made a big deal about its role. Might be worth trying alternatives since that one looks like a haphazard replacement -- might be good, might not be.


That mat (and the SME arm) are telltale signs that that is a very early Linn.

Getting rid of that bollocky felt mat is one of the best moves a Linn owner can make !

Best thing to do is take it to a Linn dealer for a thorough going over but don't fall for the you-must upgrade line unless you have very deep pockets.

[Stanton681EEES]

Unican_Eric
I guess you know now from the replies you have received that this is a great turntable. My advice to you is RUN DON"T WALK AND BUY It :yes: If price is what you can afford cause one of these may never happen your way again and half the fun in owning something as nice as this is learning how to set it up, and the sweet sounds of analog.
That’s my 2cents.