Linn Basik question

Posted by: Guido on 13 November 2001

Hi there!

Months ago I got great advice by the forum which ended up in the purchase of a vintage lp12 - old version, no additional plinth bracers.
The turntable came with a transcriptors reference fluid tonearm but although I had support by the helpfull son of the original inventor (by supplying spares) I never managed to get it going. Then I changed plans, purchased a vintage Grace tonearm, the 707, things started ok - but no armcables available / in sight. In the meantime the lp12 got a valhalla ps, although it rests on top of a dedicated altar (rega wallshelf with diy wooden shelf on spikes on top) I made a trampolinn baseboard fit (corners didn't fit - due to age of plinth) - a friend of mine, master of powertools cut it. Although I read on this forum the "nirvana" set was no longer available there was no difficulty in purchasing new springs (black ones) and rubber bearings in Munich/germany. I also added new main bearing oil and a new felt mat. Then I decided to go basic - bought a Linn Basik Plus tonearm and a nearly unused (local dealer) K 18 cartridge.
This baby rocks!!
Although my humble CDI pleases me I did not listen to CD for more than a week by now. And these are only my "old" records - rediscovered my teenage time!!!
And here is my question:
How is the ranking of the Basik tonearms:
Basik LV V
Basik LV X
Basik Plus
Akito????
Just curious....
And: many thanks again for the advice given around
may - made me a proud lp12 owner.
Best regards
Guido
P.S.: It's snowing in Munich

Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Steve G

quote:
Originally posted by Guido:
P.S.: It's snowing in Munich

We had snow here in Scotland at the end of last week too. I love Munich - I lived there for a year (about 1995). This is a great time of year, with all that skiing on hand.

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Craig B

Hi Guido,

Glad to hear that you have the Sondek up and running.

Craig

Posted on: 13 November 2001 by rp

I bought an Axis Basik LVX K9 then K18II then Akito2 then found an old grey dustcover Sondek, clean, Nirvana'd and tuned. Akito went on that with a new armboard.
12 (?) years ago the Axis Basic blew me away, light years better than my previous Philips GA212. Later when it came out I got a scot Akito - Boy did the Basic ever suck! Really. I don't know how the Akito compares to an old Ittok but the Basik isn't very good at all.
So now I have a Sondek, I still love the Axis, I was my first *real* hifi piece. Maybe I'm attached to it because I still remember dropping the needle on that first record and going, 'holy @#$%!' but the Sondek is in an other universe. Recently, I plugged in the old Axis w/ Basic and old tired K9 and was seriously underwhelmed. I blame the Basik most.
I hated the K18 at first - thought it sound just like CD. I felt the k9 didn't resolve as much and wasn't as clear, but boogied better and did Fender bass much better - got that grunt right. But I got used to the K18. Avoid the Basik if you can. Find an old Ittok.