Exactly my point, 17K minus a phono stage and cartridge puts you right at this price point. I don't read threads complaining about the high cost of the SME very often, but the LP12 just keeps getting bashed.
If you don't like the sound of the LP12- okay no problem. But is it "worth" the asking price? Well, is the SME "worth" the asking price?
ATB,
Mark
Put it this way. The LP 12 is and always was essentially a fruit box with a whole shedload of issues. ( I had one.. LP12/Cirkus/Lingo1) for many years.
Suspension drift.
Suspension affected by belt tension.
Tone arm cable affecting suspension necessitating the whole mythology around the 'P-clip'
Motor issues.
Top plate mounting screws coming loose in plinth
Etc., etc.
It was, IMHO, a pretty crude (and pirated) design, which needed constant upgrades to sort out its issues. On the upside it is physically compact, tidy and a bit of a 'looker'.
Even Ivor himself admitted that if he was starting again, he would go with a Direct Drive TT.
Linn is a company built on the re-packaging and clever marketing of existing stuff.
Linn speakers such as Kan and 'Barik were built from KEF drivers.
I have a good friend who has had a 'Linn' for decades. Like Trigger's Broom, it now has nothing of the original left. (Possibly the lid.. I'll have to check)
Think what this actually means... At least Trigger presumably replaced numerous broom heads and handles with identical bits.
With the LP 12, every single component has been 'upgraded'. IOW, every single component was in some way wrong to start with.
TTs such as the SME (and indeed my Gyro SE) have no such issues.
Mull