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In Reply to: LP-12 vs. TD-150 posted by soundnut on August 22, 2005 at 16:21:17:
Wow this seems really biased.
I have a very nice LP12 and a very nice TD150. I bought the LP12 for less than $500, and I bought the TD150 for $50. If I had to pay again, I would shell out the $500 for the Linn. Although they might look the same, they are not the same. Everything on the Linn seems to be made to a higher standard. Bearing, plinth, subplinth, armboard, platter, subplatter, powersupply, and motor are of a higher quality.
I am not a linnie (I think that there are quite a few deck out there that can stomp a linn), but I do think that the Linn has higher quality parts and a better sound than a TD150.
It is obvious from the original post that the soundnut has not owned a Linn before. I would suggest that he gives it a shot. they can be picked up on the used market for quite cheap, and I think he might like it more than the TD150
Follow Ups:
And I said so in the post. Also, I'm not biased against Linn. I've read my original post now about 10 times trying to pinpoint where I may have come off as biased. It looks pretty neutral to me. I conceded that there could be sonic differences between a tweaked TD-150 and an LP-12. I did say that I had doubts if it would be a difference worth $1400. (To me, anyway.) The point of the post was to suggest that since the two tables are designed quite similarly, perhaps a tweaked & modded TD-150 would be somewhere in the ballpark of an LP-12.And the LP-12 SHOULD be built better. It costs 10 times more than the TD-150.
If I could afford it, I'd buy one. So where are these cheap LP-12s hiding? There are 3 on Audiogon now, the cheapest of which is around $1400.
Have you modded your TD-150 if I may ask? Just curious.
I was thinking that your post was pretty biased because you compared the modern day price of a LP12 to the bargin basment used price of an TD150. If the two decks were in production at the same time, a fair comparison would be to compare the new prices at that time. I think that you are correct in thinking that the TD150 is a great deck. I have yet to do any mods to it (I am finishing up a teres right now, so the 150 is on the back burner). If I can remove the bearing, I am planing on fabricating a carbon fiber subplinth for the 150, but that is a ways in the future.
Yup, I reckon the price disparity may have been a bit off. I never thought of the fact that they were spaced apart by a few years. My fixer-upper Thorens was $50 & the used LP-12s I could find were still in the $1500 range. I can afford $50 for a table. But an armless $650 table of any kind is still out of my price range, at least for the forseeable future.BTW, I don't think an unmodded, untweaked TD-150 is anything to write home about. Especially the Mk.I with that Godawful clunky arm they stuck on there. (The later arm was reportedly much better.) I was comparing an upgraded, damped, modded TD-150 with a good arm like a Linn, Rega, SME, etc. to a stock LP-12 with a similar arm. I think if you performed the right mods to that 150, you'd be pleasantly surprised. It's still (usually, at least) a much cheaper alternative to the venerable LP-12.
Regardless, the Linn is a classic & great table and I never meant to infer otherwise. Enjoy it. I sure would!
TD150 vs LP12 well I have a TD150mkII that I have made a new plinth out of Oak about the same size as the Linn a linn armboard a Rega RB250 arm rewired & express heavyweight , 16V motor power by a Project Speedbox PSU changes 60Hz to 50Hz alot like a Lingo also Linn springs longer bolts for the springs,the table looks like a linn and it sound GREAT!!! Alot like a Linn
yes, i'd like to know too. i would definitely come up with $500 if an LP12 surfaced at that price - even if i had to sell some internal organs. :)
I bought a Linn with the basic power supply, SME III tonearm, NOS Dynavector cart, a crazy amount of extras (carbon brush, kinetic barrier mat, mounting screws, Lube, extra belts and alignment protractor) for $600. I sold the arm for $300, put a rewired rega (total of $150). I had to change the unit from 220 to 120, but that was just a matter of the removal of a cap and new power cord. I bought this guy on ebay, and I think people were scared because it was in the US and wired for 220.
I just saw a LP12 on Audiogon for $650 without arm, and quite a few have gone for cheaper on Ebay. It is not as easy as going out and picking them off the vine, but if you search around, you will be rewarded.
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