Upgrading an LP12

Posted by: Top Cat on 23 June 2003

Hi folks.

A week ago I bought my second LP12. It's an early 90's Valhalla in Afro with an Aro and no cartridge. Nirvana, but no Cirkus. Very clean, been well looked after.

What I want to do next is to get a cartridge and a better PSU.

My budget is likely to be £1500, but I could feasibly up that a bit once I sell my old deck. Assume I don't have a cartridge right now (I do, but it's not really optimised for the Aro).

Can anyone who knows these sorts of things help me choose between:



I've got a stand I'm happy with, and I'm happy with my phono stage, but I want to take this deck up to a new level.

It's going to be tricky to audition such choices - no dealer up here now stocks both Linn and Naim (RR in Montrose no longer deal with Linn, though I think they remain able to order in bits such as the Lingo2 or Cirkus).

I spoke to RR himself on Friday and he recommended the Cirkus kit - though forum consensus doesn't always agree. Has anyone done the upgrade to the Cirkus (full kit) from a Nirvana-spec deck? Was it a positive or a negative move?

Ta,

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by Top Cat
All ordered... now it's just a waiting game...

Quick question: Cirkus kit - does it include a baseboard (not that I'd necessarily use it) because my LP12 has been re-baseboarded and 3M-feeted.

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by John G.
"Cirkus kit - does it include a baseboard?

No
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by Top Cat
Shouldn't matter anyway, as I've never used one in the past - quite happy with the current arrangement. You know, I had a baseboard kicking about for so long as well, but I ended up chucking it out if I recall. Ironic.

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by Rico
quote:
You know, I had a baseboard kicking about for so long as well, but I ended up chucking it out if I recall. Ironic.


I understand that when (if?) one orders a new Lp12 these days, it come sans baseboard - the buyer selects either standard solid baseboard or Trampolin - both cases additional to the naked LP12.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by paul99
Rico,

That's right. When I ordered my LP12 last year the trampolin base board cost 125 GBP +VAT. Prices have gone up since then.

I notice that you say "when(if?)", should I infer that you think it not a good idea to buy a new LP12?

Regards,

Paul.

[This message was edited by paul99 on WEDNESDAY 02 July 2003 at 13:19.]
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by Paul Hopkins
TC

What have you ordered? It is a bit late to say this: but HiFi World came out quite strongly for the Lingo 2. Have/Did you check the web for comments and views etc?

http://www.n.mackie.btinternet.co.uk/linn/tlp12faq.html#linninfo .

The above link may be of use.


Paul
Posted on: 03 July 2003 by Top Cat
I ordered a new-style Armageddon (figuring that it would be a synergistic match for my Aro) plus a Cirkus kit (my old deck was Cirkused, my current one isn't - in balance, I prefer the Cirkus-style bass, but mainly I'm updating so that my deck is completely up-to-date and the springs and such are therefore new. Also, there's s/h value in the non-Cirkus bearing and bits, given that they're all in good condition). The fellow who will be setting my deck up maintains that the precision pressing of post-Cirkus era parts is much more consistent and that a Cirkus deck should stay 'in tune' far longer and more consistently than a pre-Cirkus deck. Given his reputation and obvious pedigree where setting up LP12s is concerned, I am willing to accept his advice - after all, he is the expert...

Lastly, I've provisionally ordered a Lyra Helikon - not the SL, for gain matching reasons.

The Lingo2 was very tempting, but it's £100 dearer and RR again implied that the Armageddon:Aro is a perceptibly more musical combination than the Lingo2:Aro. I also had a Lingo1:Aro on the previous deck and I quite fancy a change anyway...

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
Posted on: 03 July 2003 by Top Cat
It's Robert Ritchie, in Montrose. I have complete faith!

Point taken - but I am willing to take the gamble - after all, there's one name in this game whose reputation has never been questioned =- and that's Robert.

John

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."