Do Linn Sondeks Live Up To The Hype?

[Pio1980]

I opted for a VPI HW19-MKIII rescue, mainly to get the fitted E-T 2 arm as a package. I would like to find a nos platter bearing assy for it sometime but it's working well as-is.

 

[jrtrent]

there's one of the "hyped" ideas behind the Linn mystic . The bearing. One of my tables, the thrust is Tungsten Carbide on sapphire plate. About as hard, un wearable, as it gets. . .

One of the things I always liked about Linn was their downplaying any form of mystique about their turntable. They stressed good design, quality materials, and superior machining and tolerances for the performance they achieved. Even particularly long life was not something they claimed for their bearing design, estimating about 20 years of use before it would need replacement (the bearing in my 1993 model was showing signs of wear after 18 years). Having worked for a Linn dealer, I got to hear a variety of LP12 setups of various ages and conditions, and the difference in sound quality between a new bearing and one that was worn or damaged wasn't too hard to discern. 20 years may seem like a long time, but it creeps up on you faster than you think, and if you buy a used Linn, half or more of its useable bearing life may already be gone. And if the previous owner wasn't scrupulous about using the spacer to lift the spindle clear of the thrust plate when moving the turntable, or made the mistake of using record weights, sonically perceivable damage could easily have occurred even to a fairly new unit. The good news, of course, is that parts are readily available, and, for a price, an LP12 can be brought back to like new condition. One of the reasons I recommend buying used LP12's from a dealer is that they know what to look for and can estimate remaining bearing life, plus you can directly compare the sound quality of a used unit with one of their new ones to make sure you're getting something you'll be happy with (and are hearing what the Linn design truly has to offer, not a compromised performance caused by worn or damaged parts, or improper setup).

 

[theophile]

Here's a site for keel type subchassis:

http://www.analogueinnovation.com/page5.htm

for everything not at point of thrust. As that point, the amount of PSI pushes lubrication away. Only so much surface tension in oil before it ruptures. I'm not trying to disparage the Linn table, it is a fine table. I was just clarifying my position to the question asked to open this thread. The bearing assembly is "hyped". Nothing at all wrong with it mind you. But to claim that making it in such a way makes it superior to all for what its job really is, is marketing. I have no issue with them taking the time and trouble to machine to a certain tolerance, bravo actually. A sleeve to spindle clearance of 0.001 vs 0.0015 does what exactly?

marc, as per usual, is absolutely spot on. What matters at the contact point is the hardness of the thrust plate and the roundness and hardness of the ball. Why? Hardness means that there is both less wear and less microscopic deformation at the contact point. The same goes for the ball(or in the case of the Linn the spindle contact point): The harder(and more perfectly round)the material the less wear and deformation. Lubrication as marc points out is pushed out of the exact contact point between shaft/ball and thrust pad by pressure. Thus the materials and roundness are paramount.

Good work marc.

 

[savatage1973]

Much more amune to foot falls and feedback.

One of the significant upgrades to an LP-12 is the suspension (depending on age)--rubber deteriorates and springs weaken with age--this is not necessarily a "fault"--I know that I have gotten "creaky" with age--depending on age, it is just "routine maintenance".

 

[grottyash]

Actually marc is a little off beam on this one, as explained above.

 

[jrtrent]

One of the significant upgrades to an LP-12 is the suspension (depending on age)--rubber deteriorates and springs weaken with age--this is not necessarily a "fault"--I know that I have gotten "creaky" with age--depending on age, it is just "routine maintenance".

Yep. Linn's springs and grommets are pretty cheap, and the recommendation I heard was to replace them about every 5 years along with the belt. The guy who made the Neuance isolation platforms (which really improved the sound of my LP12 when I fitted his design to my Sound Organisation turntable stand) said something similar about Rega's feet, suggesting they be rotated once a year and replaced every 4-5 years. Things do age and wear out.