LP12 sound quality

In my experience, no Linn or Naim dealer would be happy to leave you with a product that you weren't satisfied with, even if the only reason for that was that your expectations of the new item were unrealistically high. You should discuss this with them sooner rather than later.

I haven't heard the Majik version of the LP12, but I'm a little surprised it can't give the Unitiqute streamer a run for its money. One possibility is that you're just not used to the different style of presentation of vinyl in your current setup, and you may (or may not) grow to like it as you listen to it more. Did you dem the Majik at the dealers?   

Hi

Could it be a cartridge mismatch MM/MC ?

Regards,

Al

I would very much hope not, given that it was set up by a Linn/Naim dealer!

Hi

I did listen the Majik at the dealer and it sounded wonderful, BUT it was not set up the exact same as I have at home. I am using the MM cartridge that came with it and the stageline N which is for MM. I will discuss with Loud and Clear and maybe take it in and have them listen to it.

Simon,

What's it sitting on?

Chris

In my experience many factors may have to be looked at when looking for a cause. Fairly recently I realised I had for the first time a turntable combination that was no where as good as my cd player. I asked for help on a forum and most said to replace the arm, cartridge and even the phono stage but the cause to my problem was not as expensive as a new arm, cartridge or phono stage would have cost. The problem was a rubbish interconnect from my phono stage to pre amp.

The cost for me was less than £300 and now I have no problems with my turntables performance being bettered by my cd player. My advice is to look at the easiest things first such as cables and only then think about more major components. That said can you say what cartridge you are using only as it sounds as if that is the problem or possibly even the phono stage loading 

When I bought what is possible my fourth LP12 (I forget but I may have had five) I was not very impressed with the Project arm fitted to the Majik LP12 and opted for an older Akito arm and I believe the Akito is a better arm for my cartridge arm combination works well together infact it is the only combination I have ever had that will track every one of the Telarc 1812 cannon shots, including the last one,  every time I play it! I would check the cartridge playing weight first and then the phono stage  before I did anything else. Please keep us informed.

Thank you for the help...It is sitting on a Custom design Milan rack. The LP 12 is linked to the phono with the Linn interconnects that it came with and the phone stage is a Naim SAIC 4 pin to 4 pin.

I got the turntable in May and have been happily listening to it and enjoying Vinyl, and hadn't played any downloads since getting it. I then played Susan Wong on 24 bit and it sounds amazing and just a feeling I haven't got from the LP12. So I listened to a few more and it just seems better on 24bit than vinyl. I would understand that with a cheap turntable, but for the price of the basic LP12 I was expecting a bit more. I guess I shouldn't have played any HD files on my unitiqute. I will speak to the dealer and get their thoughts since I trust them a lot.

If it's sitting on the rack with the rest of your kit, you are killing it. If it is on it's own dedicated support, then i am surprised with your findings. 

Hi Gary. It is sitting on the top shelve of the rack, with the Unitqute on the 2nd, Stageline on 3rd and NAP 100 on the 4th....Unitiqute, Stageline and nap all sitting on isolation shelves on the rack....not really anywhere for the turntable to sit apart from on the rack. 

Simon, can you not find space for a turntable wall shelf?

Simon, how is the stageline connected to the Unitiqute? and what is powering the stage line?

I began my LP journey with the Majik and was never really satisfied with it ( the presentation was flat and lack of details) then I auditioned the Akurate level LP12 (which I then bought) and now my NDX is getting more and more dust !

So it should since the Akurate is 2x the price of the majik and quite a bit more than the NDX. Very interested in this thread as I am looking to replace my rp6 with either an RP8/10 or LP12 Majik

The Rega RP8/10 and the LP12 are 2 different beast: Personally I wouldn't go for a high level Rega because apart from the cartridge there is not much you can do to change the sound. The LP12 can be upgraded and modified in so many ways that it is nearly impossible to find a combination that won't suits you. So if you have the money for a Rega RP10, please yourself with a piece of hifi history and buy an LP12 !

If it can help you my dealer (which is both Linn and Rega official reseller) told me that for Rega Rp1 to 6 there is high demand, but the in the high priced TT demand the RP10 cannot even stay behind the LP12.

My point was that if you have a good streamer you need also a good TT otherwise you will tend to go on using your streamer and leave behind the TT. Digital and analog music reproduction can give both a great satisfaction but you need a balanced system.

Moved from a Rp6 and ends with a brand new RP10. A no brain for me as not willing to tune my turntable every day to be sure it s well setup. The Rp10 is what was looking for a turntable, very nice sound, easy to setup then listen hours and hours of music. But as usual preference may differ.

Well AbsoluteMusic, I understand your point and I would never buy an LP if I hadn't a Linn dealer at a reasonable distance that can do the setup for me. That said, if the TT is well done, the LP will give you many years of enjoyment (not that the RP10 won't give you that).

Agreed, I am about to move from a SuperUniti to a 272/250dr, hence the desire to upgrade my TT. As for RP10 vs LP12 ease of setup and lack of upgradability are a bonus in some ways. I plan to just listen to them both and see what I think. I have a rega fono at the moment so would need to upgrade that if I go RP/Apheta whereas I could hold off that upgrade if I went LP12 Majik

my magik p12 sounded wonderful from the off, and better still once i upgraded the power supply - what records are you playing vs the download - recording quality can play a part too

The LP 12  is highly sensitive to what it sits on. When I read you were disappointed in it's performance my thoughts went immediately to inappropriate 'siting'. It can really be made to sing if it's on a dedicated wall shelf like the Audiotech or Vulkan. A typical heavy or wobbly rack can give a leaden, 'plodding' sound quality, and adding a better arm may only make matters worse. My LP 12 is a bit better specified than yours (1984 model with Lingo, Ekos, Keel, DV xx2) and I have a Naim CD player as well - though I rarely use the latter. That should give you an idea of what's possible. The downsides are the considerable cost and a willingness to keep 'on top' of the installation.

Thanks everyone for your input. I could look at a shelf for it, but before I go to the expense and hassle I want to make sure there isn't something fundamental wrong with the sound.

Hey Alfa4life...I am using a naim cable that they built for me when I got the stageline..so its a Naim 4 din to 4 din.

Maybe my power supply could be the issue since I am using the iSupply, but then I did read somewhere on the forum before that it worked well with the stageline...could this be my issue?

Hi Peez...I am listening to new LP at 180gram mostly, and I get Music Matter Blue note Jazz vinyl sent to me each month, which are fantastic quality. Downloads tend to be 24 bit 96-192 from various sites including HD tracks (AMS..), Niam, Linn etc etc

Er, you'd want a 4 pin din out of the Stageline to two RCA phonos going into the analogue inputs of the UQ2 wouldn't you?

C.

You could do worse than swap the I-supply for a Flatcap - they appear regularly on that famous auction site, which is where the one that powers my Stageline came from.  Of course if your pockets are deep enough for a new one, so much the better.

With regard to siting, I can recommend a dedicated wall shelf; unfortunately Audiotech ones are rarely seen, but your dealer should be able to fix you up with a lightweight, rigid shelf.

Having moved onto a wall shelf, there then appears the question of the glass & balls on top of the shelf and below the LP12 (or not).  Much has been written on that subject & the jury is out for me - at the mo I have an LP12 sitting right on the shelf... no balls, no glass, but I'm willing to listen to anyone who's been there and done it.

Whatever else you do, though, you need (as others have stressed) to talk to your dealer (that's the dealer himself, not his sales assistant ! - with all due respect to audio sales assistants who might be reading this).