Linn LP12 Turntable / Valhalla / Akito Tonearm / AT OC5 Cartridge

The classic Linn Sondek LP12 turntable is one of the oldest and most important audio components there is, and the fact that it still in production today, albeit with a few modifications along the way, says something about that original design. With well over 100,000 units produced in its 50-year history it has become something of a legend to many audiophiles across the world. Our example is in a particularly pretty plinth, fitted with the Valhalla Power Supply, Akito tonearm and Audio Technica AT OC5 MC Cartridge. It is in good fully working condition, but it would of course benefit from a full service & set up. It is supplied in original factory packaging along with our normal three month warranty. Please note that as we have no exact knowledge of the amount of use and wear to the cartridge this is not covered by our warranty.
Linn Say…
Linn Products have always stated that the turntable is the most important part of a high fidelity system. If you don’t get a good signal off the record then it doesn’t matter how good the rest of your system is, the sound will be bad. When upgrading your system there is a strict hierarchy to observe. After the turntable, the next most important component is the arm, followed by the cartridge. Once the turntable system has been optimised, the next component to choose is the amplifier. Finally, the last link in the chain is the loudspeaker
The Linn Sondek LP12 reference transcription turntable has been setting the standards by which others are judged for over 30 years. Each component of the Sondek LP12 has been painstakingly developed to optimise information retrieval, because information lost at the source is lost forever, regardless of the amplifier or loudspeaker quality. Linn is involved in every stage of the record and playback process. We can therefore check the signal at each step of the hi-fi chain, which is why we know what makes the Sondek LP12 a very special turntable: its perfect speed accuracy at 33rpm and 45rpm, its immunity against acoustical feedback, its low noise main bearing with mirror finish, and our legendary precision manufacturing, all of which ensure the pitch accurate faithful reproduction of the original source.
Features:
Extremely low noise patented main bearing
Perfectly balanced high inertia platter
Strong, solid kiln-dried wood plinth
Heavy gauge non-magnetic, brushed satin, stainless steel plate
Highly efficient 3 point spring damped suspension
24-pole precision synchronous low noise, high torque motor
Precision pulley and Neoprene flat belt
33rpm + 45rpm
Specifications:
Type: Belt drive analogue turntable with 3-point suspension
Platter: 2 pieces, made of non-magnetic Mazak 8. Production tolerance 0.025 mm, optimal weight distribution
Platter mat: Felt
Main bearing: 1-Point bearing, mirror finish, oil bath
Suspension: 3-Point-Subchassis, 3 adjustable precision springs
Motor: High torque 24-Pol-Synchronous motor, fully screened and mechanically decoupled from main bearing
Drive: Neoprene flat belt, concentric precision pulley (0.01 mm)
Speed accuracy: 0.03%
Power consumption: 13W
Dimensions: 445 (W) x 356 (D) x 140 (H) mm – Approximately 70 mm required at rear and 250 mm above the unit to permit opening of lid
Weight 10 kg
LP12 Valhalla Power Supply
The Valhalla is designed to isolate the rotation of the turntable motor from variations in the mains supply. At the heart of the Valhalla is a very low noise crystal oscillator, which produces a highly accurate square wave at an exact frequency. As the LP12 motor runs at its quietest when driven with a clean sinusoidal waveform, a precision filter is employed in the Valhalla to remove harmonics from the square wave, leaving only a pure waveform. The most uniform torque is delivered from the motor when both phases are driven at ninety degrees with respect to one another and this is achieved by a ninety-degree phase-shift network after the filter. The two resulting sinusoids are then boosted by an amplifier circuit and fed to the motor windings.
Introduced: 1982
Mains Supply Power Consumption 90 – 132 V; 198 – 264 V (AC) < 13 W
Linn Akito Tonearm
The Akito incorporates much of the technology developed for the Ekos tonearm. In order to achieve maximum strength and rigidity, high performance adhesives are used. The one-piece headshell and the bearing housing are high-pressure diecast for added strength. The new larger diameter bearing assembly minimises friction and play. Every detail of the arm has been optimised. This arm sets new standards of performance at this price level.
Specifications:
Lateral bearing friction: < 50 mg
Horizontal bearing friction: < 50 mg
Effectiveness mass: 10 g
Tracking weight adjustment: 0 – 3 g
Cartridge range: 2 – 10 g
Pivot to stylus: 229 mm
Stylus overhang: 18 mm
Effective length: 211 mm
Audio Technica AT-OC5 Cartridge
Specifications:
Frequency Response: 15 – 50,000 Hz
Output Voltage: 0.4 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
Channel Separation: 27 dB (1 kHz)
Output Balance: 1.5 dB
Vertical Tracking Force: 1.25 – 1.75 g (standard value 1.5 g)
Coil Impedance: 12 Ω (1 kHz)
DC Resistance: 12 Ω
Load Resistance: Head-amp: > 100 Ω; Transformer: > 20 Ω
Coil Inductance: 50 µH (1 kHz)
Stylus: 0.2 x 0.7 mil biradial nude diamond
Vertical Tracking Angle: 23º
Dimensions: 25.7 (L) x 16.8 (W) x 17.3 (H) mm
Weight: 8.0 g