Product Description

Linn Sondek LP12

Reference standard transcription turntable.

Rare early model in Very Fine Condition

Offered for sale complete with  Linn LV X tonearm and A&R Cambridge P77 MM Cartridge, both in excellent order.

The deck is supplied with a copy of the Sondek LP12 set-up manual. 

This is a lovely unspoiled deck in original specification. It is ideal for the person wishing to start a serious hifi system at moderate cost, in which case the deck can be gradually upgraded should you desire. Alternatively, this Sondek would be of particular interest to the collector interested in retro hifi.

"In 1972, Ivor Tiefenbrun, the founder of Linn Products, first demonstrated the Sondek LP12 turntable; and, if you excuse the pun, it started a revolution.

Prior to the Sondek LP12, conventional thinking was that the loudspeakers were the most important element of a hi-fi system. Ivor and the Sondek LP12 turned this completely around and proved that it was the other end of the hi-fi chain, the turntable, that was most significant. After all, loudspeakers can only reproduce the signal that is fed to them. So if the power amplifier and pre-amplifier degrade the signal and lose some of the audio information, and the turntable does so too, then not even the best loudspeakers in the world can bring that music back. On the other hand, if the turntable extracts the maximum information from a record that it can, if a little of that audio signal is lost further along the path then even average loudspeakers can still produce excellent results. Extracting the maximum information from a record is what the Sondek LP12 has been doing for more than thirty-five years, making it the longest-lived hi-fi product still in production anywhere in the world, and the benchmark by which all other turntables are judged.

Enjoy"

Taken from the introduction to the Linn Sondek LP12 user manual, this concisely explains the revolution in thinking which transformed the British HiFi industry in the 1970's.  The conventional mantra that the loudspeaker was the key component in the chain was turned on its head in favour of the signal source, and extensive listening tests eventually confirmed the unarguable logic of "rubbish in - rubbish out".

This particular example will be of interest to connoisseurs as an early model in exceptionally fine condition and almost completely true to original specification. The serial number is in the range 188xx which corresponds  to a manufacturing date of around 1976 / 1977, and includes the first design updates introduced from Ser No 2000 which included a change to the main bearing liner,  stiffening of the sub-chassis by addition of a strap which is spot welded in place, a change to the motor control circuit from terminal strip to a small printed circuit board, and the mains switch changed from two buttons to a single with mains neon. The deck  appears to be entirely original for its year, but although the plinth has the cut-out corresponding to the earlier lid prop design, the later and far more convenient spring hinges are fitted. The point is made simply because Linn claim that the upgrade to spring hinges took place at serial number 23000 in 1978, so either Linn were using spring hinges earlier than claimed while using up a supply of plinths designed to accommodate the prop lid, or this deck may have been upgraded to the later spec hinges some time after purchase. 

You will see from the photographs that the deck is in exceptional condition for its age, with only occasional use over the last 10 years in my possession. The smoked lid appears to be an original item, without cracks or obvious damage that I can see, and  it has always been protected by clear plastic shrinkwrap in my ownership. 

The deck was originally installed by a Linn Dealer and the owner did not receive the original Linn box. I can provide the specially designed Linn box with moulded inner compartments by special order from Linn Products. Although expensive, these boxes are designed to keep the turntable as safe as possible in transit, and they will retain much of their value if you come to sell it at a later date.  If you do not wish to add this cost, every effort will be made to ensure that the deck is safely and securely packaged using generic packaging materials.  You can order a new Linn box by choosing that option in the Packaging Options below.

Price £0.00

Product Code: LINE16

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