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My first turntable... Linn LP12

Used Ittoks are very risky IMO do to reasons listed above. And if you upgrade arms, you had better upgrade that cartridge too!

And definitely stick with the Linn Felt matt.

However if I were you, I'd listen to this unit for a while before you jump right into upgrading it. You need to discover what you don and don't like about it first.
 
All great suggestions... I do need to listen to it like this for a while and see what i do and don't like. Right off the bat I love the smooth real non digital sound....strings sound like strings...horns like horns al being played and strummed in my living room. I need to figure out the hiss and pop... its not really loud I just hear it in the background and in between tracks which makes me listen to it during the track.

I need find a local dealer or an online dealership for OEM parts. I want oil, a belt and a new mat just to get a good base.

I will def look into a RCM and wash this one by hand to see if that solves my issue.

I bought this preamp just this week for this turntable. I have had a passive creek in my main setup as I just had a CD Player....thanks though!!

Once I do get a new arm I will def keep an eye out for those carts. Then after that i will work with wiring...

Whats a good base for a table...I have seen others use marble and stone bases and people use these isolation feet and pins??
 
MeatInStereo said:
...I will def look into a RCM and wash this one by hand to see if that solves my issue. ...
Click to expand...

Washing by hand will help, but not like a deep soft scrub with the appropriate cleaners, followed by a vacuum stage to suck up the filth and detritus hiding it's craggy scales in your vinyl's grooves (I feel an RCM with a vacuum stage is a superior cleaning method and lots of people agree).

Only then will dirty records live up to their potential.

But- if the record is damaged/scratched, cleaning won't help.
 
Yes,

Wash new vinyl! I need to heed my own advice more often, but new vinyl often has all sorts of surface scuffs and debris.
 
Thanks...I am very happy to have my new table....and further my addiction.

Tomorrow I am going to wash it and try it out and look for a cleaner and those accessories I wanted. seems like everything is overseas...I want to try and find them from a state side online store.

Oh its dark alright...I am already thinking of ways on how to get one and what i can sell :D
 
before climbing the upgrade path..i'd spend some time reading up on linn's suspension tuning..they are supposedly fiddly to get right..and once set..its not a turntable that you move around often..

perhaps focus on the turntable's placement first...fine tune its suspension second.. ensure the main bearing has the correct grade lube..balance the arm and set downforce well... obsess a bit over cartridge alignment....then try out a few affordable MM cartridges ...before considering MC

as with many suspended turntables... if the suspension is performing well..the tonearm has a far easier job ...and subsequently so does the cartridge..

do some research ..try some tweaking...then consider upgrades... you may find they are not necessary for a while..

linn's philosophy tends to favour turntable first..arm second... cartridge third.. which may or may not be true...but is certainly the most economical way of tuning up an analog front end in the long run..
i happen to agree with their approach that the cartridge is the least important link in the turntable chain ( until you get to very high end set ups where the cost vs performance ratio gets a bit skewed..)...

i've heard even basic linn lp12 set ups on good quality records pretty much leave cd's for dead..including linn's own cd players...
 
MeatInStereo said:
The vinyl I am testing is brand new, just opened Mofi vinyl... Ryan Adams.

Does new vinyl need washed?

If so....how?
Click to expand...
New vinyl absolutely needs to be cleaned with a proper apparatus. A good, inexpensive place to start is a Spin-Clean. Kits vary in price from $80-120. You also need to clean the stylus periodically as they pick up small bits from the groove as well as wear products. Any of the well known vinyl houses (Music Direct, Needle Doctor, etc.) will have stylus cleaning kits. No free lunch with vinyl. Have to insure both the LP and the stylus are clean or you will hear about it. ;)
 
I washed the viyl last nigth manually following some instructions I found online and played the same SACD in my Marantz SA-1.....The Linn toasted the Marantz SA-1. The hiss and pops were totally gone....all was left was the smoothest most natural sounding musicI have ever heard but still so accurate and precise. Nothing was lost in the vinyl playback but the edge was taken off that I didn't even realize was there. To me the Marantz SA-1 was the most analog player I have ever heard and i have had a lot of better CD players in my setup.



melofelo- I am going to follow your words. I am going to fine tune the setup before upgrading to get a good base where I am. I have see the same thing with great speakers placed incorrectly in a room...setup is a key step.
 
MeatInStereo said:
...The Linn toasted the Marantz SA-1. The hiss and pops were totally gone...
Click to expand...

You're on it...'vinyl crack'...there's no hope for you now...well yes, there is, enjoy:D! You're going to have a fine time:music:.

I've coveted a Linn LP12 or the Sota Sapphire for some time now. Someday:yes:. Preston
 
Yeah I am....thinking of what to trade and sell to get money for future ungrades...fnd myself thinking about it all day here at work. Heck...I'm at work now and posting :D


I am def enjoying it though... Its my firt analog source. I have always used CDP and Ipods.
 
melofelo has give you some great advice. There should be plenty of info out there on how to set up a LP12.

As I recall Linn wants you to have a rigid but light stand for the table. At one time they never recommended an isolation platform, but i think they eventually gave their blessing to the Mana platform.

If this is a vintage LP12 that hasn't been serviced in awhile, you might consider a refurb of it. Replacing the rubber washers in the suspension, checking the springs themselves out. If the parts in the suspension are in need of replacing, then it will have trouble staying properly adjusted.

Do you know if yours has the Valhalla option? If so, that board should be recapped in short order, if you don't know if its been done or not. Don't want to lose that board, its far more expensive to replace it than recap it.

Sounds like you are having a great time with the Basik/Shure combo! Enjoy it, and don't get into a big hurry of upgrading then. Save your money for a good vacuum record cleaner, and buy vinyl.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
I will check the power supply when I replace the belt and re-oil the bearing. I just bought OEM oil, a belt and a felt pad from Linn. They should be here next week.

I do have it on the top of my audio rack which is very rigidid especially with all the iron below it on the shelves.

I def need a washer....and money for vinyl... can't download vinyl songs for a buck :D

I was going to have my friend who had one of these tables back in '79 come out and give it a look over...he knows a lot about tables and electronics. He owns and runs a small electronics shop.

If I dont have that board... would I eventually move to that board or an external power supply?

Also the cables look...well like crap.... can I upgrade those right away? I would rather cut one of my expensive Transparent RCA cables up and use them with the box then those dinky, old, cheap looking things.
 
I see you bought the bearing oil. Have you confirmed which bearing it is you have i.e, cirkus or pre-cirkus? If you put in the wrong oil it could mean very bad things for your table.

Also, I think it's high time you posted a picture of that beauty! :yes:
 
I didn't see it posted, but you can check your table's serial number against this website to see what upgrades yours has.

Doesn't mean that they are the only ones as a previous owner may have done some as well, but will give you a good starting point.

Scott
 
marantzfan said:
I see you bought the bearing oil. Have you confirmed which bearing it is you have i.e, cirkus or pre-cirkus? If you put in the wrong oil it could mean very bad things for your table.

Also, I think it's high time you posted a picture of that beauty! :yes:
Click to expand...

Didn't know there was a difference :D but I am glad you chimed in!

I bought it online from a store in the UK....they only had one oil. I will assume its for the later model?? I will check my serial number and let you guys know....I also bought it form another AK'er tubetude....it was in BT. I will post the thread with the pics.
 
MeatInStereo said:
It also has the dark tinted Linn cover as well with the silver band in the front that is not in these pictures.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=360694

...And by reading the post it says basic power supply ....
Click to expand...

It should be pre-cirkus but you will definately want to verify. You can tell it has the older power supply by the red power button.

My guess is, if they didn't upgrade the power supply, they probably didn't upgrade the bearing. Again, you will want to verify that.
 
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