Linn Klimax LP12
The Linn LP12 was introduced in 1973. This unassuming belt-driven turntable took a while to gain traction, but by the 1980s it had become the dominant premium record player on the UK market. Even today, it’s held in high esteem and still considered by many as one of the most capable decks around.
Invisible changes
Despite appearances, it has changed almost totally over that time. The good thing is that all the key improvements are retrofittable, so an early deck can easily be brought up to current standards.
Perhaps that should be “bought up”: the basic deck (called Sondek LP12) – no arm or cartridge – comes in at below two grand, which is not so bad for a top-end turntable. It’s available in one of five standard plinth finishes: oak, cherry, black ash, rosenut or walnut. The Ekos SE tonearm and Kandid moving-coil cartridge combination add just more than £7000 to that. Factor in an Urika phono stage, Radikal power supply and Keel sub-chassis and you reach the figure we’ve quoted.
Thoughts of the price start to fade once we take a careful look. Every part of the Klimax LP12 has the aura of carefully honed engineering coupled to fit and finish of the highest level.
The Urika phono stage, mounted inside the plinth of the deck, needs power – and the Radikal outboard unit supplies this. Speed change is electronic and done by the press of a button on the left of the plinth.
The further away from the speakers you can get the LP12, the better. To truly appreciate the deck, the rest of the system needs to be top-class too. We use our usual reference Gamut D3i/d200i amp with ATC’S SCM50 speakers.
Journey to neutrality
It sounds fabulous. Over the years, Linn’s developments have steadily moved the deck from delivering a rich, fluid sound into a more neutral performer. Detail resolution, agility and transparency have improved notably with each new step.
The Klimax LP12 is still a wonderfully musical deck, though. It charges through Prince’s Controversy with enthusiasm. There’s just so much detail; every instrumental strand is brushed up for inspection yet it all comes together as a cohesive and engaging whole. And it’s great fun too. LP12S have always been known for their ability to convey rhythms well, and this range-topper is no different – punchy and precise but with plenty of texture and nuance as well. Moving on to something very different, we find the Klimax right at home with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, serving up a sound of huge scale and power.
Compared with a similarly priced Clearaudio Innovation Wood/luxman EQ-500 turntable/phono stage combo, there’s less natural warmth and spaciousness (the Linn preferring a more forward and direct presentation) but, if anything, the LP12 renders the sound with more precision and agility. Both are excellent, leaving the choice down to the sonic flavour you prefer.
The soundstaging is good too. There’s not the emphasis on image depth that we hear from rival combinations, but the Linn still locates instruments distinctly.
There’s no denying that the LP12 is mighty expensive. Yet it’s startlingly better than what has gone before and still up with the very best at this price.