LP12 - valhalla or majik power supply

Yes. Get the Valhalla Rebuilt. 

Thanks Michael.  Here is another question.  The two I'm looking at are as follows:

Private seller - LP12/Lingo/Akito

Dealer - LP12/Valhalla/Ittok

I'm not sure which would be the best way to go. I once had an LP12 and loved  the Lingo when I upgraded to it but I'm not sure that it would sound better than the Valhalla with the Ittok arm

There has been another thread on here recently asking about comparative performance of Akito and Ittok, but the normal LP12 hierarchy would suggest upgrading the power supply first. So, all other things being equal (e.g. they are both post-Cirkus, Braced plinths, I assume), I'd probably go for the Lingo. Again, that too may need a service if it's a mark one. First thing to do though would be to have it checked over and serviced by a Linn dealer.

All things being equal (and who knows if they are) the Lingo Akito deck would be better. There are a ton of variables on used LP12's so I would have it checked over and serviced as Clive suggested. 

About ten years ago Ken, I bought a used LP12 privately. The spec was no corner braces, pre-cirkus, welded subchassis, Valhalla and Ittok LVII. Phil at Phonography (now Winchester Hi-Fi) set it up beautifully with my DV10x5, for the the price of a service and one or two new small bits.

A couple of years later, I heard my deck against Phonography's Majik LP12, which I preferred. This led me to have the Cirkus fitted to my deck and a welded sub-chassis.

What I'm trying to suggest is that the Majik LP12 is totally up together with all of Linn's latest thinking. This now includes their new standard sub-chassis (as well as Cirkus) which mates better with the arm board and seems to be the result of trickle down from Keel ideas. It might be worth forming an opinion on how the Majik LP12 sounds relative to the best of what you can find secondhand. The difficulty is that these dems aren't going to be side by side.

Enjoy it whatever you choose.

Chris

....to have the Cirkus fitted to my deck and a *glued* sub-chassis.

C.

KenRose posted:

Thanks Michael.  Here is another question.  The two I'm looking at are as follows:

Private seller - LP12/Lingo/Akito

Dealer - LP12/Valhalla/Ittok

I'm not sure which would be the best way to go. I once had an LP12 and loved  the Lingo when I upgraded to it but I'm not sure that it would sound better than the Valhalla with the Ittok arm

With an LP12 (bit like a Porsche) my advice would be to always buy from a good dealer; a Linn dealer in this case rather than a Porsche dealer  The TT has probably been looked at and set up and you're more like to get a more receptive approach when you inevitably trade for your LP12 upgrade.

Definitely talk to an experienced dealer on this. I can recommend Peter@Cymbiosis, who has done wonderful things to my various Linn LP12s over the years

Arguably, setup is way more important than the bits within the LP12. A "full house" LP12 can sound awful. A simple basic one can sound wonderful. 

When I had an LP12 I tried the (non Linn) Hercules II in place of Valhalla and liked it a lot. It had both 45 & 331/3 rpm as well.

The Majik P/S is similar to the original, ca 1974, LP12 P/S (phase shift cap, supposedly with a little additional filtering).  Definitely not an upgrade from a Valhalla;  Can't believe a dealer told you this (?)  

If you get the Valhalla'd LP12, definitely get it serviced (new main caps, resistors and rectifier).

[@mention:1566878603879762] - Certainly have any Valhalla ps looked at, by an 'experienced Linn specialist'. You might be surprised. I was going to have mine serviced or replaced, but was assured (by a certain well known & respected Leicester area person), that it was fine as it was.  But - worst case - believe Class A can refurb Valhallas..?

It also depends if you need 45rpm.

Bob the Builder posted:

It also depends if you need 45rpm.

Not necessarily a deciding factor. I used to use a Linn 45rpm adaptor on the rare occasion when I fancied playing a few singles and when I was using a Valhalla equipped LP12. Bit of a faff fitting it, but it was possible and it did enable playing 12" 45rpm singles, which can sound really good. 

Calling Ken!

C.

Clive B posted:

Bob the Builder posted:

It also depends if you need 45rpm.

Not necessarily a deciding factor. I used to use a Linn 45rpm adaptor on the rare occasion when I fancied playing a few singles and when I was using a Valhalla equipped LP12. Bit of a faff fitting it, but it was possible and it did enable playing 12" 45rpm singles, which can sound really good. 

Possible yes  but to be honest a bit of a pain removing felt matt, platter, sub platter and belt fixing adapter and then replacing belt, sub platter, platter and mat and then removing matt, platter, sub platter and belt and then replacing belt, sub platter, platter and matt when you want to play 33 rpm again.

I'm using a Mose supply with my LP12. Considerably cheaper than a Lingo and not much in it performance wise IMO. Definitely worth having switchable 45rpm these days with the number of 45rpm albums being released. I'd go that route if your dealer stocks them and if the extra expense is within budget. A good set up is a must too. I'd also echo that buying from a dealer is advisable in case should something go amiss. 

thank you all for your thoughts

MARKSNAIM

Considering a Mose for my LP12, bit concerned that it may need a bit of help to actually start rotating, i.e  spin by hand, have you found this to be true?

Best

Chris

Not at all Chris. The slow start up is a deliberate feature evidently but I've never felt that it was a problem. I press start then let it settle down while I go and choose a record, certainly don't have to give it a helping hand.

Regards

Mark

Thanks Mark, will certainly put that on my shortlist!

Best

chris