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Linn LK140 kicking out on phono

Daniel Dubé

Daniel Dubé

New Member
New to me are a Linn LK1 and a Linn LK140. I just started playing records on the setup this weekend. AR XA with MM (Shure M91ED, w/new JICO), stock arm. LK1 has MM and MC phono stages. On MM, sounds beautiful, but one or twice per side, in the middle of a track, the LK140 will shut off. I know the LK140 has an auto shut-off feature when it ceases to detect a signal. This will occur in the middle of a track, not simply in between tracks. Does not occur with other inputs, only phono. Anyone run into this issue previously? Ideas?
 
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Only phono, not on any other input such as CD/Aux? Have you also checked wiring just for the sake of doing so, speaker cabling not shorting out or cabling between pre and amp? My initial thought is maybe too much subsonic rumble on phono is causing the LK140 to go into protection mode possibly? That is just a bit of a wild guess here....I had an LK1/LK2(later updated to LK280), was a very nice little setup, and not a minutes issues with mine for quite a few years. Hopefully maybe some more answers will come in that might be more than a wild guess on my part.
 
Thanks for the input. Yes, only phono. Running an AR XA with stock platter but GEM Dandy mat, new springs from Vinyl Nirvana, and sorbothane feet. I wouldn't think rumble would be an issue, but worth considering. Since I posted, the LK1 stopped working entirely. I played it the evening prior. No issues, great sound. Turned it off for the night (usually leave it on, but decided to turn it off), and got "disco lights" in the morning. Located a service manual, which uses the phrase "disco lights", and suggests certain repairs in sequence, mainly replacing certain capacitors. Makes me think the phono problem may have been symptomatic of another issue. Going to follow the repair sequence laid out in the service manual.
 
That is a bummer on the LK1. They are getting on quite long now, age wise. One thing to keep an eye out too, there is a battery on the main board, if that hasn't been changed out, it can leak and create havoc on the main circuit board. Worth a look/inspection. I remember when I first bought my LK1/2 set back when they first came out, I was one happy camper. The phono stage in the LK1 was quite good in the day, as it should have been!

Best of luck with your quandary here on both pieces!
 
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