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What is a fair price to pay for a early 80s used LP12 with no arm in good shape?
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Marty -
Not much. I see that vintage with arm and some of the 10 million Linn upgrades for around $1500.Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs. -
I take it you are not a fan of the LP12 Mark? There is one local for around $700 no arm.MartyComment
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Couple of things you need to look for too. I'm not a Linn expert but I would check the condition of the spindle bearing as some early Linns showed wear. Plus I wonder about the condition of the springs after all this time and do they need replacing. Then depending upon your floor/mounting, the table is susceptible to footfalls. My friend couldn't walk in his room without the table going berserk.Originally posted by nc42acc View Post
Like Mark, an early '80s Linn is just not competitive. You are going to pull your hair out getting it properly set-up and the suspension properly bouncing. Then mounting an arm is no easy task and chances are you will have to find a Linn dealer to properly mount the arm. Plus you have to be careful about the weight of the arm interfering with balancing the suspension. Then after you are done, I just don't think you'll be happy with the investment or especially the low end. By the time you are done updating the table, you would be better off just saving your money for a better table.Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
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-Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
-Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
-Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
-Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
-VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
-VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
-Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
-Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
-Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
-Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.Comment
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I just want one because of how much I held them in high regard back when I started in the 80s. I have two tables I use for serious listening. Common sense should prevail and I dismiss the nostalgia.Last edited by nc42acc; 02-22-2016, 06:55 PM.MartyComment
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does it have a push button or rocker switch? The oldest table I'd consider is a late '80's model with a serial number 70,000 or higher. There are so many Sondeks out there don't settle, get at least a Valhalla and a LVII Ittok at minimum. IMHO an early '90s 'table with Lingo and Ekos arm is the sweet spot relative to price/performance ratio. Getting something newer/costlier is a waste of money (flame suit on!).Originally posted by nc42acc View PostComment
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Well if it's nostalgia and you are willing to endlessly tinker, then go for it. But Rob's suggestion makes a lot of sense.Originally posted by nc42acc View PostMyles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
________________________________________
-Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
-Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
-Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
-Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
-VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
-VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
-Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
-Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
-Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
-Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.Comment
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Myles I would set the LP12 out as table art and as a conversation piece. It has a lot of nostalgic meaning to me and my audiophile history.MartyComment
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Originally posted by nc42acc View Post
Marty-I think you made my case when you said how much and I said not much. $700 is not much. I always thought of the Linn table as a glorified version of the original AR table built to somewhat of a higher standard. Something resembling a cult was built around the LP-12, but I never joined. Someone with time on their hands should put together a list of all the upgrades offered by Linn over the years and how many of those upgrades fixed problems with the previous upgrades they sold the owners. Then factor in all of the aftermarket upgrades which were meant to fix the Linn upgrades and you would have quite a list to read over.Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.Comment
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Where's DaveyF?Dynavector DV20x2L MC cartridge - Genesis G7.1f speakers - Marantz Reference PM-KI-Pearl Int. Amp. - Oracle Audio Paris MkV turntable - Various Morrow & Valab/King cablesComment
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You should remember that buying a tonearm compatible with an old Linn Sondek can cost you more than the turntable - the early turntables dropped in price but the tonearms seem to be keeping the price.My opinions rely on listening mainly to acoustical, non amplified music. I do not care about electronic music or listening to rock at stadium levels, but I enjoy Mahler and Shostakovitch.Comment
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Originally posted by Johnny Vinyl View Post
Adding fuel to the fire on WBF?Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.Comment
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What arm (s) do you recommend? I know there were different iterations of the Ittok but none ever blew me away.Originally posted by microstrip View PostMyles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
________________________________________
-Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
-Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
-Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
-Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
-VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
-VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
-Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
-Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
-Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
-Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.Comment
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good lord, is it still 1984?Originally posted by Garth View Post
Buying a used Linn, get one with an Ittok, excellent arm and matches better than most to the table. Don't deal with tinkering with it yourself, have a real, honest to goodness Linn expert set it up for you. I had my 1984 vintage LP12 last serviced about a year and a half ago, and it is still in perfect tune. If you get a Valhalla power supply, if it works expect it to fail sometime in the near future. They ran too hot and burned themselves up. I replaced my Valhalla with a Mose/HerculesII power supply, and am very satisfied with it.Steve Lefkowicz
Senior Associate Editor at Positive Feedback
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Analog 1: Linn LP12 (MOSE/Hercules II), Ittok, Dynavector 10X5 MK.II Low, iPhono2/iPowerX; Analog 2: Pro-Ject RPM-1 Carbon, Talisman S, iFi iPhono.
Digital: Geekom Mini PC (i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, JRiver Media Center 29, Tidal HiFi, Qobuz Studio), iFi NEO iDSD, iFi iUSB3, iPurifier2, Audioquest Jitterbug FMJ.
Electronics: Jolida Fusion (fully upgraded) line-stage, DIY passive line-stage, Antique Sound Labs MG-SI15DT-S, Burson Timekeeper Virtuoso
Speakers: Tekton Perfect SET 15, Tekton Lore, Magneplaner .7
Interconnects: Morrow Audio MA1, Vermouth Audio Black Pearl, Audioquest Evergreen
Speaker cables: WyWyres Diamond, Morrow Audio SP4, Vermouth Audio Red Velvet, Audioquest Type 5
Digital cables: Aural Symphonics USB, iFi Gemini twin-head USB.
Accessories: Sound Organization turntable shelf, Mondo racks, Pangea Audio Vulcan rack, Pi Audio Group Über BUSS, Monster HTS2000 power conditioner, Kinetronics anti-static brush, Pro-Ject VC-S record cleaner, Spin Clean record cleaner.
Headphones: Schiit Valhalla amp, Burson Conductor Virtuoso Amp, Meze Audio 99 Classic and 99 Neo, Beyerdynamic DT770Pro 600 ohm, 1More Triple Driver Over Ear, 1More Triple Driver IEMComment
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