Linn LP-12 compared to TW Acustic, SME, Nottingham

My LP-12 had the Lingo. Did it help the Linn? Yes. Did it give me everything I was looking for? No. The Linn compared to the TW Acustic AC-3 is like walking into a dark room and flipping the light switch - oh the details... On the AC-3 I get to hear the breathy musician at the mic, with violins I can hear the bow on the strings, with the high hat I can hear the drummers brush work. Breathtaking. Phenomenal. Musical. The AC-3 takes me places the Linn never did - and never could.

As you say keepitsimple, everyone has had and loved their LP12, I did. Is it up to other current models? No I do'nt believe it is. Moreover, the add ons like the Keel, Lingo, Circus bearings, are outrageously over priced and make a fully kitted out Linn very expensive. I changed to Origin Live Resolution, clearly an improvement, in base, neutrality and now to a TW Accustic Raven one. The latter is an equivelant, possibly greater improvement over the Origin Live.
I have heard and enjoyed SME decks, the 10 and 20, but found them to be neutral, but lacking in drive and dynamics. Just my opinion, but in my view TW is the cream of the crop. Moreover, Thomas the designer of TW, very honestly says, you get 95% of the Raven AC one's, performance, for the intro model, the Raven One, at a pretty reasonable price.

Thanks for the great responses. I haven't seen anyone weigh in on the Nottingham tables. I am curious as to whether anyone has compared the Nottingham tables to the SME and TW Acustic tables.

Thank you.

I had a fully decked out LP12 with Lingo, Cirkus, dedicated wall shelf, etc. tweaked by a dealer, and loved it... until I brought home a VPI Scout out of curiosity. There was no denying the Scout's superiority in all areas, even those Linn is famous for, such as the toe tapping, etc. The only plus on the Linn side was not having to use a clamp. LP12's are nice, and I really did like mine, but I am sure the tables you mentioned would likely kill it.

Were the cartridges the same on both 'tables?