Help for a vinyl novice

For pure audiophile use the Lp-12 by leaps and bounds over the 1200. The Technics is what i call an industrial use piece of equipment, robust, as one has said can be used as in evironments with more than your conventional home audiophile use. Its not an elitest thing at all, its a fact. The Lp-12 with the proper Tonearm/cartridge is still held in the highest regard among audiophiles. The Lp-12 of course cannot be used for Dj work or nightclub/frat party use. It sounds like Simao is more heading into the home/audiophile direction. So Lp-12 hands down. There is plenty of information on the 2 units so I would be interested to hear what your impressions are.

The LP-12 is a continuum of product bifurcations dating back a mid-70's design. I wouldn't recommend it to any self-professed novice, and certainly not at the $1K price level.

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Linn.html

Arthur's site can be controversial, but so is an LP-12.

Agree with Dgarretson. The LP-12 is a fussy, sensitive thing that requires either deep knowledge or deep pockets to perform well. $1K won't get you far with a Linn dealer, and a newbie's inexperience would be sorely tested by the LP-12's fickleness. If you love your Linn that's great, but that doesn't make it a suitable recommendation for everyone.

As a Linn LP-12 /Ittok owner since 1982, I would never recommend that to a novice. The suspension and power supply problems are enough to steer clear of any used Linn's.

I personally don't mind fussing with turntables, but it is not for the faint hearted or folks that just want to enjoy vinyl.

Project, rega, and vpi traveler for a little more would be my recommendation.

So - I went on an impulsive hunch and ordered a Pro-Ject 5.1SE yesterday. Came with the Blue Point 2 and the carbon fiber arm.

I mean, I researched the heck out of it before I ordered it, so it wasn't just a "oooh - that looks pretty and audiophile-esque)" decision. But I wanted something I could be happy with and build on as needed.

About ten years ago in another life and with a lot more money than now, I had a Meridian/ARC/Maggie system and though I don't know whether I'll get into vinyl enough to warrant laying out that kind of cash again, I did want something beyond a nouveau-hipster tt.

Anyhow, thank you again for all the advice - especially the warnings about the Linn. I actually look forward to learning how to tweak and adjust and fuss with my vinyl components, so in a few years maybe I'll move up to something like that.

Question, though - since the stylus feeds into the cartridge which feeds into wires - doesn't the quality of those thin wires leading back to the IC's really determine the sound quality?