I started in the late 70s with a Rega Planar 2 which I still own. I went digital in the 90s. The quality of my music system has become more important and I have a Chord Hugo 2 as my Dac/PreAmp.
I then came back to vinyl 9 months ago.
Oh boy what had I been missing, I have had so much fun buying new, s/h LPs etc etc. over the past few months. I also upgraded to a vintage, slightly unfashionable turntable, namely a Manticore Mantra with a suspended chassis, which in its day was supposedly between a Rega 3 and a Linn Sondek LP12. It is lovely and I adore playing vinyl now with that analogue sound ……..
I thought I was done but due to an upcoming celebration, I have decided to treat myself to a Linn. I realise it may not be the best turntable for the money but I am after that musicality (whatever that may really mean) that a Linn can bring.
So, I have done some research and have narrowed it down to three options.
1. Buy a new base model with Karousel bearing and have it professionally built for me by a Linn Specialist with s/h parts like :Baseboard : Trampoline 2 , Motor : basic one, Power Supply Hercules , Sub-Chassis : cirkus, Tone Arm : Rega 3 or Ittok, Cartridge : tbc
OR buy a s/h higher spec second hand model already built that has a much older base unit but which has been carefully/thoughtfully upgraded over the years and recently serviced.
Anticipated cost £3K/£3.5K
2. Buy a lower spec s/h model already built with say a cirkus bearing, hercules power, ittok arm - cost £1.5K
3, Buy an older grey bearing machine professionally & purpose rebuilt for me by a Linn Specialist with some new parts eg springs etc, with say a Hercules power supply & an ittok arm - cost £1.5 K
This turntable will go into Music 3 Revolver speakers via either a pure SET class A tube amp (chinese build) but with 1950s, 70s best in class valves or a Marantz PM75 Amp.
I realise this is a question like how big is a piece of string and I am a first poster, but I do promise to feedback ultimately on what I buy. I have also done some research into upgrade options but as ever you get differing feedback.
My questions really relate to these things. The benefits of buying an early pre-cirkus Linn with that special Linn musicality but less detail or buying in the middle but a higher spec both around the £1.5K mark OR getting the most uptodate bearing model (new or old but well cared for), but that is twice the money.
The personally built models would be by Cymbiosis : should this fact be a key determinant in the decision that I need to make
Once again , this will be a question that has been asked in different guises many times before , but please indulge me
Many thanks for your help.
I then came back to vinyl 9 months ago.
Oh boy what had I been missing, I have had so much fun buying new, s/h LPs etc etc. over the past few months. I also upgraded to a vintage, slightly unfashionable turntable, namely a Manticore Mantra with a suspended chassis, which in its day was supposedly between a Rega 3 and a Linn Sondek LP12. It is lovely and I adore playing vinyl now with that analogue sound ……..
I thought I was done but due to an upcoming celebration, I have decided to treat myself to a Linn. I realise it may not be the best turntable for the money but I am after that musicality (whatever that may really mean) that a Linn can bring.
So, I have done some research and have narrowed it down to three options.
1. Buy a new base model with Karousel bearing and have it professionally built for me by a Linn Specialist with s/h parts like :Baseboard : Trampoline 2 , Motor : basic one, Power Supply Hercules , Sub-Chassis : cirkus, Tone Arm : Rega 3 or Ittok, Cartridge : tbc
OR buy a s/h higher spec second hand model already built that has a much older base unit but which has been carefully/thoughtfully upgraded over the years and recently serviced.
Anticipated cost £3K/£3.5K
2. Buy a lower spec s/h model already built with say a cirkus bearing, hercules power, ittok arm - cost £1.5K
3, Buy an older grey bearing machine professionally & purpose rebuilt for me by a Linn Specialist with some new parts eg springs etc, with say a Hercules power supply & an ittok arm - cost £1.5 K
This turntable will go into Music 3 Revolver speakers via either a pure SET class A tube amp (chinese build) but with 1950s, 70s best in class valves or a Marantz PM75 Amp.
I realise this is a question like how big is a piece of string and I am a first poster, but I do promise to feedback ultimately on what I buy. I have also done some research into upgrade options but as ever you get differing feedback.
My questions really relate to these things. The benefits of buying an early pre-cirkus Linn with that special Linn musicality but less detail or buying in the middle but a higher spec both around the £1.5K mark OR getting the most uptodate bearing model (new or old but well cared for), but that is twice the money.
The personally built models would be by Cymbiosis : should this fact be a key determinant in the decision that I need to make
Once again , this will be a question that has been asked in different guises many times before , but please indulge me
Many thanks for your help.