Interesting thought- Linn &

The Radikal is a $4250 kit.  I'm not taking sides here, but a fairer comparison would be with the VPI Prime supplemented with an SDS or even Eagle speed controller and 300 rpm motor which would improve the performance in a way that's easy to hear.  Fairer still would be the addition of the single unit motor-flywheel that has not as yet been released for the Prime.  Surely the two systems make different presentations and it's for the listener to decide.  Disclaimer: I have used VPI products for many years.

Stringreen, I would say you have never heard a top flite LP12 Radikal D.
I have heard a Prime, I wouldn't even compare it to the entry Linn LP12 Magik!

I will say this.  I have heard a Linn recently with the radical and it is a very nice sounding table if set up correctly.  I was pleasantly surprised at how my scout sounded in comparison to the Linn.  My setup cost about 3k including cartridge.  The Linn was close to 10k.  The Linn did sound very good but the scout had more air.  At least with my cartridge.  The Linn had  better control and depth.  It was better than the scout but it also cost over 3 times as much.  It did sound better than I thought it would, especially with the Linn cartridge.  It did not sound as good with a Benz.

Tzh21y- what cartridges were on the respective tables? 

What's interesting about your post is that you were surprised that the LP12 could sound really good. It's a common urban hifi myth that the LP12 is a bad music maker these days. 

I would say say that myth mostly comes from people how either haven't heard a properl se up LP12 or have not heard one in 30 years. 

Perhaps 25 plus years ago I went to hear a VPI HW19 table. The demo was awful- the dealer could not get the belt to stay on. Well, that soured me go VPI but my recent experience with the Prime was really very very good! The table prejudice works both ways- 

Zavato, that is my observation as well. I see all the time people who are saying this or that about the LP12 and yet they either have a) never heard a LP12, b) have not heard a LP12 in over ten years, c) have only heard the entry level model---and probably years ago, or d) have not heard a properly set up model.