I think the OP raises a very pertinent question, particularly relevant to the LP12 as it has been around for so long and has gone through so many stages of development. I don’t personally own an LP2 (in fact I never have done although I’ve had a few on long term loan) but I have heard most of the incarnations. My own preference is for latter generation, quite high spec versions - I prefer the tighter, leaner but more linear, transparent and detailed rendition. However, I’m not totally a fan of the Radikal motor ‘upgrade’ and I would take a good unipivot over the Ekos (even the SE). My personal experience is with the Naim Aro and TigerPaw Javelin (both no longer made), but the Roksan Nima has been very well received and probably the new Roksan unipivot will be too (perhaps even more so as it is a development of the Audio Origami unipivot).