Every brand has their very own icon. The thing that propelled them into the mainstream, the unit that shaped their philosophy or technology or perhaps the thing that garnered so much commercial and critical acclaim that it became synonymous with the brand as a whole.
Well, the turntable at the epicentre of this particular piece manages to be all three of those things, rolled into one – almost literally – timeless package.
The Linn Sondek LP12 is Linn’s very own icon that manages to redefine the term “iconic” in terms of what one single item can do. Not only is it Linn’s icon it is, arguably one of the most iconic units throughout history of hi-fi as a whole. It has gone on to stretch the boundaries of what analogue is capable of, and yet has barely changed since its inception… way back in 1973.
Glasgow, 1973. Linn’s founder, Ivor Tiefenbrun had just invested in a brand new hi-fi system and was unsatisfied with the sound. At the time he was working as an engineer for his father’s company Castle Precision Engineering Ltd., so he decided to take advantage of the resources there to build something that he would be satisfied with.
The Sondek was the very first emergence from the Linn brand. It began its journey in 1973. and it’s still considered one of the finest turntables money can buy, to this very day. Little things have changed for the LP12 along the way, and there are plenty of variations of those little changes, but the foundation and the main components are much the same now as they were in 1973.
What has ultimately stayed the same, and also what made the LP12 different from day one, is the fact that its sub-chassis is suspended, offering a greater level of isolation. This and the single-point platter bearing have made the Sondek virtually timeless. Yes, there are plenty of upgrades and tweaks that can be made and nought along the way (including several partnerships with the likes of Naim, Grace and Sumiko, among others, which created upgrades and kits specifically for use with LP12s) which we will detail below.
The LP12 was released in 1973, to critical acclaim, and the core design has yet to be fully revised. Or even, it’s worth mentioning, partially revised. The basic ingredients were perfected way back in 1973, and little has been required ever since.
In 1990, there was a slightly more substantial revision, and then four more regarded as noteworthy up until today, all with very fitting (and typically Linn) monikers.
In chronological order…
1990: Lingo
The first LP12 power supply. Before the Lingo, the speed accuracy for 33 rpm (and 45 rpm) rotation was determined by the LP12’s Valhalla. Along came the Lingo, a “high precision, direct coupled, power supply specifically designed for use with the Linn.Using crystal oscillators, one for 33⅓ rpm and one for 45 rpm. the two speeds become possible. The lingo, as the name suggests, made the LP12 a polyglot, able to speak both analogue languages.
1993: The Cirkus
The first Linn “upgrade kit” was developed to provide greater stability (and greater stability means less interference and, as everyone knows, that means a much cleaner, purer sound. The kit makes the bearing sit true to the chassis, via a newly revised bearing and stronger sub-chassis assembly. Coupled with a stronger sub chassis, the Cirkus, much like its performers, improved rigidity, reduced flexing and added control of the relationship between turntable platter and arm, What does a Cirkus do? It has acrobats. The Cirkus eventually became the standard in all new LP12s.
2006: Keel
The first LP12 replacement subchassis, in order to apply Linn’s newly developed “close-tolerance aluminium machining”. It was, as can be gleaned, machined from solid aluminium and built to work along Cirkus upgrade. Much like the keel of a ship, the Keel was the kind of upgrade that meant extra stability and a firmer foundation. It never quite made the ‘standard’, as The Cirkus, but still remains a highly recommended option.
2006: Trampolin Mark 2
Okay, this wasn’t the first baseboard. The original Trampolin – the original LP12 – baseboard was made from MDF. The Mark 2 is masonite and made out of aluminium (to match the other upgrades) and is coupled with new damping feet, which make the LP12 a little more versatile in placement. The Trampolin II is made from aluminium.
2009: Radikal
The Lp12 control box. A DC motor and power supply offering accurate speed control, alongside reduced resonance. Its on-board speed management system combined with automatic calibration, and use of a new motor with low magnetic field and electrical noise, all located within a machined housing. This was, as the name suggests, the most Radikal LP12 revision yet.
The New Hierarchy
As Linn moved into the 21st Century, their exemplary series of separates and one box streaming systems emerged. There were (and still are) three distinct hierarchies: Majik, Akurate and Klimax, with Majik being the ‘entry’ point, and Klimax being the reference.
As you may have gathered, Linn has managed to bring its beloved LP12 into the equation regardless of the context, so it was only fitting that there be a Majik, an Akurate and a Klimax version of the LP12. These are, to this day, sold as Linn’s ‘complete’ turntables with different levels of upgrade. This means they arrive as a complete and ready-to-go turntable, with no need for upgrades… unless you want them, of course.
The Majik is the ‘first step on the LP12 ladder’, with the base-level upgrades from the classic, including its own base board, power supply and subchassis.
The Akurate is loaded with many of the upgrades that saw the LP12 into the new age, including: the Trampolin base board, the kore aluminium sub-chassis and the lingo power supply.
The Klimax is the best you can get, featuring every premium Linn upgrade there is, including: the Keel subchassis, the Radikal power supply and the Trampolin base board.
The LP12 has the kind of history of gentle tweaks, incremental revisions and tiered variations that would take up five times the space of this blog, but the point is clear: in all of its 40 years, all it has needed is a few modernising upgrades to bring it up to the standard expected of a brand such as LInn. The basics (and the intermediates) are very much unchanged.
We are an official Linn dealer, and can provide a full-service on the subject. Everything from demonstrations to purchasing, and even professional in-house servicing of LP12s of all ages and eras. Take a closer look at what we can provide by clicking here, or get in touch to speak to one of our Linn enthusiasts.