Linn Sondek LP12
Encyclopedia
The Linn Sondek LP12 transcription turntable
(often shortened to LP12) is produced by Glasgow
-based Linn Products
, manufacturers of hi-fi, home theatre
, and multi-room audio systems. Its name is derived from the 12" vinyl LP (gramophone record
).
machined to extremely tight tolerances. The LP12 has evolved since its introduction, but its basic suspended sub-chassis design has remained. At the time, the design was similar to the Thorens
TD150, the AR. Some contend that it was a copy of the Ariston
RD11 which Hamish Robertson had come to Castle Engineering to have manufactured.
The thinking at the time was that the most important component of a high-end audio system is the loudspeakers. Linn presented an important challenge to that by claiming that the source (i.e. the turntable) was the most important part of the system.
Ivor Tiefenbrun
has talked about how Sondek derives from the word Soundex as each hi-fi design always ends up having its own unique identifiable and recognisable sound. Some report the original name was just Sondek without the LP12.
Early versions were a platform for mounting third party tonearms, had a basic power supply arrangements, and would only revolve at 33⅓ rpm. Those users requiring a 45 rpm option would have to purchase a special adaptor to increase the diameter of the motor pulley and platter speed accordingly.
Throughout the years, there have been many changes to components such as rubber feet, baseboard, armboard, suspension springs and grommets and reinforced plinth. However, the Cirkus kit, with its newly designed bearing, is one of the most significant. This subjectively offers a large performance upgrade. Since 1991 (serial number 87600 onwards), the LP12 has been supplied as a mechanical assembly only, without power supply fitted.
at different price points.
Today, many options are available for tonearms and power supplies to partner the deck. The LP12 allows the purchaser to select from a number of Linn as well as third party options. It is commonly partnered with the Linn Ekos SE tonearm, or the unipivot ARO tonearm from Naim Audio. External power options include Linn's own top of the line "Radikal" power supply featuring a speed management system that auto-calibrates the motor every time the Sondek LP12 is powered on; Naim Audio manufactures the Armageddon power supply for the LP12, based on its own Hi-Cap power supply unit..
It was at its most popular in the golden age of vinyl playback, principally the 1970s through to the 1980s. Its closest competitors were probably the Xerxes turntable from Roksan Audio
, the Michell GyroDec, the Well Tempered Table, the Dunlop Systemdek II, and the Pink Triangle.
The LP12 has acquired such cult status amongst audiophile turntables that many seek to knock it off its pedestal. Although the design has not been fundamentally revisited, there have been improvements to the turntable's design since its launch using advances in material science, over 25 years ago. In 2004, Stereophile said it was "a classic, a revolutionary, an iconoclast, a survivor."
Lingo Power Supply (Introduced: 1990)
Linn describes the LINGO as a "high precision, direct coupled, power supply designed to sit alongside the LP12 turntable".
Stereophile describes the Lingo as "a power amplifier intended to deliver a high-purity 120V 50Hz sinewave to the turntable's synchronous motor". The Lingo synthesizes the supply voltage and delivers two sinusoidal waveform
s to the turntable motor, instead of a single sine wave generated by the Valhalla.
The Lingo employs two "very low noise" crystal oscillators, one for 33⅓ rpm and one for 45 rpm. By the length of time the switch is depressed, the switch on the turntable allows selection of the appropriate oscillator the output of which is fed into a synchronous counter to produce a 50 Hz or 67.5 Hz square wave for 33 rpm and 45 rpm respectively. The square wave is filtered into a clean sine wave to minimise motor vibration, and amplified to 120V to feed the turntable.
The Lingo feeds the motor with a higher voltage for increased start-up torque. When the platter reaches the selected speed, this load-sensing circuitry reduces the output to where the motor just maintains the platter's own inertia to keep it going silently.
The Cirkus upgrade (Introduced: 1993)
Aiming to provide the LP12 with greater stability and ensure the bearing sits perfectly true to the chassis, an improved bearing and stronger sub-chassis assembly are core to the Cirkus upgrade. The bearing housing was completely redesigned – its height has been increased to improve lubrication; its mounting flange thickness has been substantially increased; the geometry of the top and bottom liners in the bearing housing has been altered to further reduce incidence of rocking. Thickness of the sub-chassis was doubled to improve rigidity, reduce flexing and improve control of the relationship between turntable platter and arm is reduced, thus limiting the audible degradation to the reproduced signal. With the new bearing comes a new sub-platter.
Keel (Introduced: 2006)
The Keel upgrade to the LP12 is a replacement subchassis, machined from solid aluminium. It builds on the Cirkus upgrade (now fitted as standard to new LP12s) but is not included as standard in 'regular' production LP12s. Linn claims that the Keel is an application of its "close-tolerance aluminium machining", first seen in the ingot casing of the Sondek CD12 CD player. The Keel, along with the Ekos SE tonearm and Trampolin Mk.2 were three Special Edition upgrades for the turntable's 33⅓ birthday, 33⅓ being the standard rotational speed when playing LPs.
Trampolin Mark 2 (Introduced: 2006)
The original Trampolin baseboard was made from MDF
, rather than masonite, incorporating damping feet which were optimised for LP12 placement on heavy furniture. The Trampolin II is made from aluminium, and is said to offer an improvement.
Radikal (Introduced: 2009)
The 'Radikal' system, priced at £2,500, comprises a "control box", DC motor and power supply which, according to Linn, offers new levels of speed accuracy, plus "radically reduced electrical and mechanical noise". The design goals included more accurate speed control, and reduced vibration and resonance. This is achieved by using on-board speed management system with automatic calibration, and use of a new motor with low magnetic field and electrical noise, located within a machined housing.
Gives off no electromagnetic radiation so allowing for the Urika upgrade at the same time, a Radikal powered phonostage mounted inside the turntable on Mark 3 Trampolin.
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
(often shortened to LP12) is produced by Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
-based Linn Products
Linn Products
Linn Products is a Scottish company, based in Glasgow, that manufactures hi-fi audio equipment, home theatre, and multi-room integrated audio systems...
, manufacturers of hi-fi, home theatre
Home cinema
Home cinema, also commonly called home theater, are home entertainment set-ups that seek to reproduce a movie theater experience and mood with the help of video and audio equipment in a private home....
, and multi-room audio systems. Its name is derived from the 12" vinyl LP (gramophone record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
).
History
The Sondek LP12 turntable, introduced in 1972, utilises a suspended sub-chassis design and a patented single-point bearingBearing (mechanical)
A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...
machined to extremely tight tolerances. The LP12 has evolved since its introduction, but its basic suspended sub-chassis design has remained. At the time, the design was similar to the Thorens
Thorens
Thorens is a Swiss manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. They are historically renowned for the range of phonographs they produce...
TD150, the AR. Some contend that it was a copy of the Ariston
Ariston
Ariston was a king of Sparta, 14th of the Eurypontids, son of Agasicles, contemporary of Anaxandrides.He ascended the Spartan throne before 560 BC, and died somewhat before , or at any rate not long after, 510 BC...
RD11 which Hamish Robertson had come to Castle Engineering to have manufactured.
The thinking at the time was that the most important component of a high-end audio system is the loudspeakers. Linn presented an important challenge to that by claiming that the source (i.e. the turntable) was the most important part of the system.
Ivor Tiefenbrun
Ivor Tiefenbrun
Ivor Sigmund Tiefenbrun MBE is the founder and Chairman of Linn Products Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland-based manufacturers of Hi-fi and home entertainment equipment...
has talked about how Sondek derives from the word Soundex as each hi-fi design always ends up having its own unique identifiable and recognisable sound. Some report the original name was just Sondek without the LP12.
Early versions were a platform for mounting third party tonearms, had a basic power supply arrangements, and would only revolve at 33⅓ rpm. Those users requiring a 45 rpm option would have to purchase a special adaptor to increase the diameter of the motor pulley and platter speed accordingly.
Throughout the years, there have been many changes to components such as rubber feet, baseboard, armboard, suspension springs and grommets and reinforced plinth. However, the Cirkus kit, with its newly designed bearing, is one of the most significant. This subjectively offers a large performance upgrade. Since 1991 (serial number 87600 onwards), the LP12 has been supplied as a mechanical assembly only, without power supply fitted.
Partnered tonearms and power supplies
Linn capitalised on the success of the Sondek LP12 by introducing the more affordable Basik and Axis turntables, complementary tonearms for the Sondek and cartridgesMagnetic cartridge
A magnetic cartridge is a transducer used for the playback of gramophone records on a turntable or phonograph. It converts mechanical vibrational energy from a stylus riding in a spiral record groove into an electrical signal that is subsequently amplified and then converted back to sound by a...
at different price points.
Today, many options are available for tonearms and power supplies to partner the deck. The LP12 allows the purchaser to select from a number of Linn as well as third party options. It is commonly partnered with the Linn Ekos SE tonearm, or the unipivot ARO tonearm from Naim Audio. External power options include Linn's own top of the line "Radikal" power supply featuring a speed management system that auto-calibrates the motor every time the Sondek LP12 is powered on; Naim Audio manufactures the Armageddon power supply for the LP12, based on its own Hi-Cap power supply unit..
Popularity
The LP12 is popular with many audiophiles around the world for its excellent ability to play music with "pace, rhythm and timing". It is sometimes used by hi-fi reviewers as a reference turntable.It was at its most popular in the golden age of vinyl playback, principally the 1970s through to the 1980s. Its closest competitors were probably the Xerxes turntable from Roksan Audio
Roksan Audio
Roksan is a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products for domestic use, based in North West, London, United Kingdom, was formed in 1985 by Touraj Moghaddam & Tufan Hashemi, graduates of the University of London, Imperial College London & Queen Mary College...
, the Michell GyroDec, the Well Tempered Table, the Dunlop Systemdek II, and the Pink Triangle.
The LP12 has acquired such cult status amongst audiophile turntables that many seek to knock it off its pedestal. Although the design has not been fundamentally revisited, there have been improvements to the turntable's design since its launch using advances in material science, over 25 years ago. In 2004, Stereophile said it was "a classic, a revolutionary, an iconoclast, a survivor."
Product history
Changes thereto are elaborated below. related serial numbers in square brackets- 1972, LP12 turntable introduced.
- 1974, Main bearing liner changed. Sub-chassis strengthened by addition of strap, spot welded in place. Motor control circuit changed from terminal strip to small PCBPrinted circuit boardA printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
. Mains switch changed from two buttons to single with mains neon. [s/n 2,000] - 1978, Top plate modified adding two holes for 6 x 0.5 self tappers into wood block. [23,000]
- 1979, Lid prop removed, hinges changed to spring loading. [27,000]
- 1981, February. Nirvana mechanical components. [32,826]
- 1982, May. Valhalla crystal-driven electronic power supply made standard. [38,794]
- 1984, Enlarged plinth corner bracing. [53,000]
- 1984, June. Sub-chassis strengthening bar epoxy glued instead of spot welded. [54,101]
- 1985, August. Cap head screws on bearing housing. [60,383]
- 1985, September. Diode modification to Valhalla board [61,090]
- 1985, December. Strengthening blocks on corners of plinth.
- 1986, May. New clear lid.
- 1986, Suspension springs improved.
- 1987, March. New bearing housing, New Formica and MDF armboard. [69,161]
- 1987, April. New springs. [69,591]
- 1987, Bearing improved with better lining material and tighter tolerances. Change to black oil. Suspension springs ground to improved tolerance. Arm board composition improved. [70,000]
- 1989, Motor thrust pad changed. Valhalla surge guard modification. PCB mains lead (UK). [79,700]
- 1989, New MDFMedium-density fibreboardMedium-density fiberboard is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure...
armboard, laminated top and bottom. [79,160] - 1989, Harder suspension grommets fitted. [81,000]
- 1990, External Lingo power supply available as add-on.
- 1991, motor thrust pad cap added to Lingo models. [87,047]
- 1991, Valhalla board with 45RPM capability added [87,047]
- 1991, motor thrust pad cap added to Valhalla models. [87,206]
- 1991, Introduction of LP12 Basik, a stripped down version of the turntable [87,672]
- 1991, Solid base board replaces hardboard. [87,672]
- 1991, Trampolin base board with isolating feet available as an option [87,672].
- 1992, Improved top plate fixing. [88,950]
- 1993, Cirkus upgrade (larger and better machined inner platter and new bearing, new springs, armboard, belt) fitted as standard. [90,582]
- 1997, a limited edition commemorative LP12 was created to mark the 25th anniversary of the LP12. Amongst other features, it bears a plaque etched with the signature of Linn's founder Ivor TiefenbrunIvor TiefenbrunIvor Sigmund Tiefenbrun MBE is the founder and Chairman of Linn Products Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland-based manufacturers of Hi-fi and home entertainment equipment...
. - 2000, 4th bolt added near motor on top plate, fitted as standard. Required extra cross beam on plinth.
- 2001, New motor used (first new motor since original 1972).
- 2002, Maple plinth introduced adding to existing black, walnut, rosewood and afromosia options.
Important upgrades
(in chronological order)Lingo Power Supply (Introduced: 1990)
Linn describes the LINGO as a "high precision, direct coupled, power supply designed to sit alongside the LP12 turntable".
Stereophile describes the Lingo as "a power amplifier intended to deliver a high-purity 120V 50Hz sinewave to the turntable's synchronous motor". The Lingo synthesizes the supply voltage and delivers two sinusoidal waveform
Sine wave
The sine wave or sinusoid is a mathematical function that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation. It occurs often in pure mathematics, as well as physics, signal processing, electrical engineering and many other fields...
s to the turntable motor, instead of a single sine wave generated by the Valhalla.
The Lingo employs two "very low noise" crystal oscillators, one for 33⅓ rpm and one for 45 rpm. By the length of time the switch is depressed, the switch on the turntable allows selection of the appropriate oscillator the output of which is fed into a synchronous counter to produce a 50 Hz or 67.5 Hz square wave for 33 rpm and 45 rpm respectively. The square wave is filtered into a clean sine wave to minimise motor vibration, and amplified to 120V to feed the turntable.
The Lingo feeds the motor with a higher voltage for increased start-up torque. When the platter reaches the selected speed, this load-sensing circuitry reduces the output to where the motor just maintains the platter's own inertia to keep it going silently.
The Cirkus upgrade (Introduced: 1993)
Aiming to provide the LP12 with greater stability and ensure the bearing sits perfectly true to the chassis, an improved bearing and stronger sub-chassis assembly are core to the Cirkus upgrade. The bearing housing was completely redesigned – its height has been increased to improve lubrication; its mounting flange thickness has been substantially increased; the geometry of the top and bottom liners in the bearing housing has been altered to further reduce incidence of rocking. Thickness of the sub-chassis was doubled to improve rigidity, reduce flexing and improve control of the relationship between turntable platter and arm is reduced, thus limiting the audible degradation to the reproduced signal. With the new bearing comes a new sub-platter.
Keel (Introduced: 2006)
The Keel upgrade to the LP12 is a replacement subchassis, machined from solid aluminium. It builds on the Cirkus upgrade (now fitted as standard to new LP12s) but is not included as standard in 'regular' production LP12s. Linn claims that the Keel is an application of its "close-tolerance aluminium machining", first seen in the ingot casing of the Sondek CD12 CD player. The Keel, along with the Ekos SE tonearm and Trampolin Mk.2 were three Special Edition upgrades for the turntable's 33⅓ birthday, 33⅓ being the standard rotational speed when playing LPs.
Trampolin Mark 2 (Introduced: 2006)
The original Trampolin baseboard was made from MDF
Medium-density fibreboard
Medium-density fiberboard is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure...
, rather than masonite, incorporating damping feet which were optimised for LP12 placement on heavy furniture. The Trampolin II is made from aluminium, and is said to offer an improvement.
Radikal (Introduced: 2009)
The 'Radikal' system, priced at £2,500, comprises a "control box", DC motor and power supply which, according to Linn, offers new levels of speed accuracy, plus "radically reduced electrical and mechanical noise". The design goals included more accurate speed control, and reduced vibration and resonance. This is achieved by using on-board speed management system with automatic calibration, and use of a new motor with low magnetic field and electrical noise, located within a machined housing.
Gives off no electromagnetic radiation so allowing for the Urika upgrade at the same time, a Radikal powered phonostage mounted inside the turntable on Mark 3 Trampolin.
LP12
- Type: Belt-drive transcription turntable platter
- Power: 100/120/220/240V 50–60 Hz
- Dimensions: W445 x D356 x H140 mm
- Power consumption: <13W
- Weight: 13 kg (turntable mechanics only - packed weight)
Lingo
- Type: precision, direct-coupled LP12 power supply
- Speed accuracy: 0.03%
- Power: 100/120/220/240V 50-60 Hz
- Dimensions: 320 mm(L)x 325 mm(W)x 80 mm(H)
- Motor frequencies: 50Hz (33⅓); 67.5Hz (45) sinusoidal
Recognition
- Named #1 of 'The Hot 100 Products, 2002' by Stereophile.
- Named '2004 Analogue source component of the year' by Stereophile.
- In May 2006, Hi-Fi Choice reviewers voted the LP12 "the most important hi-fi components ever sold in the UK".
- Named '2007 Analogue source component of the year' by Stereophile.
External links
- Linn Music Systems – Turntables
- Gresland, Antoine (July 2009) Test : platine vinyle Linn Sondek LP12 Radikal et Urika, EcoutezVoir