Zavato,
I was once a Linn fan and had an LP12 for years. I never was able to get my LP12 to make me happy no matter what the upgrade. But thats me. I do remember swaping out my power supply and motor, but I don't remember to which one. It was expensive and I had my Linn dealer do the work.. My point is, that it made not one bit of difference in the sound. My dealer kept trying to convince me that I would hear a "world" of differences and experience spooky black backgrounds and incredible dymanics, etc, etc.. My wife and I couldn't hear any change whatsoever.
If your'e looking for improvements in your Linn, maybe consider a new tonearm or cartridge? Or do what I did.. Try and old idler wheel drive table. I rebuilt and old Dual 1229, replaced the tonearm with a Grace 747 and never looked back. It's the quitest, most dynamic table I've ever had in my system. I also have a grease bearing Garrard 301 with a SME 3009 that is equally as dynamic.
Maybe your Linn dealer has a table fitted with the upgrade and you do a "A/B" comparrison?
Best,
Norman
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Zavato,
Just read your comment about the Dual 1219 and the VI5 III?
The 1219 was the table I owned before I bought my LP12. That table was one of the prime reasons I sought out the 1229. In top condition, it's fabulous as is the VI5 type 3.
Very musical combination.
Norman |
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Hello daveyf,
Thing is.. I experienced much of what he was complaining about. I have had several turntables in my modest vintage system and by far and wide the Linn was the worst at communicating pace, pitch, power and musical presence to me. It just never had any drive. Comparing LP such as Miles Davis Kind of Blue on the Linn to a second generation Master Tape, the Linn isn't even on the same page. Play that disc on my ancient modified Dual 1229 and Grace 747 tonearm and suddenly I am in the game. The tape is better, as it should be, but the Dual does provide what I am looking for in LP playback. My Garrard 301 is also very good in this regard. A close friend has a Technics Sp-10 with a SME 3012 and it is sooo much better then the Linn it's comical.
I know those who love their LP12's and adore setting them up, and upgrading their various bits, etc.. Nothing wrong with that. I spent nearly four times the cost of the original arm and table in upgrades. It was so frustrating. I just wanted to hear the music played as it should. I didn't want to worry about what brand AC line cord I was using, or what power supply I had, or what type of belt, or what bearing etc, I had. I replaced all of that and it still didn't come close to my old Dual 1219 that I had prior to buying the LP12.
When I play a solo piano or guitar piece on my Dual 1229. the sustain of the notes is thrilling, the impact of drums, and the texture of voice life like. With the Linn they would dye off so quickly that it sounded like I was using a compressor for a preamp.
Hat's off to those who love the LP12s. If you find that the LP12 is your cup of tea, then you should use it and enjoy. Most LP12 owners I have met are usually thinking about, talking about or performing an upgrade.
Really? Whatever happened to buying a table setting it up and just listening? My Dual and Garrard don't provide me one ounce of snob appeal, but man I am telling you they do sound musical and that is what I am after. For me, it's the music.
Norman
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davey,
My LP12 was purchased in 1992. I changed the top plate, the bearing housing, the trampoline was adjusted multiple times, grommets were changed, motor thrust plate changed, bearing flushed twice, two different mind blowing oils were added, then switch to Lingo direct couple power supply, Valhalla motor upgrade, second trampoline installed, top place modification, top plate replacement, Cirkus bearing upgrade. These were just the table mods, not to mention the four different tonearms I had on the table.
My Linn dealer was at my house so much I even purchased a Linn Table jig (which I still have.. anyone interested?)
So, I don't know and NO I can't say that I have ever hear the LP12 Radikal D Klimax, but you know what? I really don't even want too. My Linn experience left me completely exhausted.
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melm,
No. You have it exactly right.
N. |
daveyf,
There are many things I liked about my Linn LP12 (and Ariston RD11s). The build quality was first rate, and it was a beautiful table. I had read so many positives about it, that I walked into my Linn dealer and purchased what he recommended certain that it would be an improvement over my old Dual 1219.
I know many who love their LP12's, and I have heard some that were much better than mine. It just seemed to be such a fight to get it to the level that I expected it should have been right out of the box.
I will make it a point to get to my Linn dealer and listen to the latest mods. Who knows?
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melm,
I completely agree with you. I listen to live music often and that is my benchmark. I mentioned the second generation master tape as something that anyone with a quality open reel deck could enjoy and compare their analog rig too.
My Linn sounded soft, and very warm. I also felt it sounded compressed compared to my idler drive tables and a couple of direct drive tables I've heard.
My personal experience concludes that it is very difficult to get the table to sing. My purchase and upgrade path was nearly 10 years long. Nothing should take that long to sound right or be that difficult to dial in.
It could also be a simple matter of the fact that I don't like the sound of a Linn. No biggie. I know a number of audio nuts that don't care for the sound of idler drive tables and thats fine too.
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daveyf,
I am in the City this weekend and will see if I can listen to the latest Linn mods. I might be surprised.
N.
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Zavato,
If 10,000 was your budget, you could easily do better than a Linn. A VPI Classic II is about $4000.00 with a very respectable arm, that gives you quite bit of room for cartridges, step up preamplifiers, etc. And it is most definitely "plug and play". A close friend has one and it's superb. Further, no one had to come to his home and set it up and dial it in. It truly was fantastic right out of the box. He and I had it set up and playing in about an hour. So simple and straight forward.
That's what I wanted with my Linn, set up and enjoy. Not set up and "I think if I did this it would be better, or why does it sound like that?". I was constantly analyzing the performance of the table instead of enjoying the music.
My 42 year old modified Dual, and 58 year old Garrard were easy to set up and sound amazing. When playing either of them I don't ever think about "what can I do to improve the performance", I just enjoy the music. (and yes, there are many many tables that are much better than the Dual and the Garrad, but they are giving me what I expect, silent backgrounds, along with pace, pitch and power.) For me they convey a great deal of emotion that I experience with I listen live.
My friends VPI was like that. If I were buying a new table today, it would probably be a VPI, based solely on my experience with the sound and set up of his Classic II.
With most everyone having the day off, I am sure their is a lot of music being played today. Enjoy!
Norman
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daveyf,
My Linn comparison is based on my personal table. That is the only thing I could really based it on, as I had it for 10 years and am very familiar with it's sound.
While the Classic II is an introductory table in the VPI line, it's dynamics and pace are excellent.
I am a little surprised though at your staunch loyalty to Linn. Linn isn't and has never been the last word in turntables. There are just so many finer options, both vintage and new. I will stick to my $4000.00 budget VPI Classic II over the Linn any day. (again comparing to my LP12, which by the time I sold it I believe was about a $9000.00 table.. that's in 2003 dollars not including the arms)
Funny story, when I decided to move on to another turntable I called my Linn dealer and he took it personal. He offered me $1650.00 for my LP12 (absolutely pristine conditions with all upgrades purchased and performed by his dealership) Go figure?
I will be at my Linn Dealer tomorrow. I will let you know if I get an opportunity to hear the latest mods.
Norman
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Sadly,
My big city Linn Dealer is belly up. =/ I would have to go into another state to find an authorized Linn Dealer. So for now.. I will have to wait.
Norman |
