Hi A-Goners, I have an older Linn LP12(around 82 or 83) with the Cirkus/Trampolin ungrade, Lingo power supply and a Linn Akito MK2 tonearm with a Koetsu Red moving coil. I bought the Linn Akito MK2 when Linn first introduced the Akito MK2 about 7 years ago. It only retailed for $450.00 US.

Just to bring everyone up to speed, the original Akito was made in Japan. The armtube on the original Akito has a smooth finish vs. A rough finish on the MK2 version. The MK2 is and always has been built in Scotland.

The armlift is built in Japan. The bearing tolerances are much closer on the MK2. The Akito MK2 is every bit as good as the silver Ittok LV-2. I am researching the Ittok LV-3 in terms of a possible upgrade. I understand that it is basically like an original Ekos NOT the Ekos MK2.

Now, what is the deal with the BLACK Ittok LV-2. It was $300.00 more than the SILVER Ittok LV-2. I know the SILVER Ittok LV-2 was built in Japan. Where was the Black Ittok LV-2 built? Why was the BLACK $300.00 more? Is it better than the SILVER Ittok LV-2, you tell me. I have never listened to a BLACK Ittok.

If you have, please give me your thoughts. Back to the Akito MK2, in todays hi-end world, $450.00 is a BARGAIN for a 'brand new' Akito MK2. For that matter, the current $975.00 retail isn't so bad either. I really like the arm but like the rest of you, I caught the upgrade bug.

Complete Turntables. Titanium arm & ultra. Linn Products Limited is a company incorporated in Scotland.

I am finding it very difficult to upgrade. First off, I am not spending $3,000.00-$4,000.00 on a 'new' Graham 2.2 or a 'new' Linn Ekos 2. Aside from the Graham and the Linn, what other arms will successfully mount on a fully suspended LP12 that won't break the bank??

One problem with other arms mounting on an LP12 is the top of the Trampolin suspension is within about an inch or two of the armboard. The Linn tonearm cable exits the bottom of the shaft at a 90 degree angle so it will not interfere with the suspension. Most tonearm cables exit straight out of the bottom.

The cable isn't the only problem, the shaft can be too long as well. The mounting of another makers arm on the LP12 is not the only problem. Synergy between the table and arm is also a key factor. As much as I would like to believe that any arm would be able to, not only mount properly but sound great as well, I have to admit that Linn tables are meant to be used with Linn arms. Rega tables are meant to use a Rega arm. This also proves true with alot of amps and preamps.

System synergy is very important!! The reason the Graham arms work so well on the LP12 is because Bob Graham bought himself an LP12 and made the arm work. He built a custom armboard and mount for the LP12. Other tonearm companies that also build tables don't seem to care if their arm fits another make. So, where does that leave us LP12 owners with the upgrade bug? I would really appreciate any feedback you may have. Thanks for reading.

Well, I've said it to other Linn owners, and I'll say it again: the Naim Aro unipivot tonearm. A lot of people have negative feelings about these arms (I mean unipivots in general) but in my experince they sound excellent. The Graham is a case in point, the unipivot being the most easily achieved near-perfect bearing attainable in the physical world, due to it's design, and it sounds it. That's two tonearms which sound good on the Linn, and they're both unipivots. If you cannot find a used Aro within your time frame, then consider the host of other resonably-priced (new) unipivots out there: the Bluenotes, the Audiomeca, the Kuzma, the Clearaudio Unify, the Moerch, the cheaper VPI, and so on. There must be some in this long list which will physically suit your 'table.

All of these modern unipivots have clever design features as well. Jeff, I can comment on your sub-question about the black Ittock LVII. I have had one for about 7-8 years, on a Valhalla/Cirkus deck with serial number in the 51000 range, sitting on a Target wall shelf. The mat is the standard felt mat(with the special magic static that only LP12 users can see stuck onto the back sides of their LP's,, but that Linn denies is a nuisance). After trying several different cartridges, I was still not satisfied with the solidity of the bass or the impact character on drums. I wasn't looking to shake the walls -- I just wanted the drums to sound like something was whacking them directly. But basses sound distant, limp and watery, and drums sounded like a blanket was laying over them.

(But everything else about the sound was fine.) The depth of my dissatisfaction was reached after getting a new Linn cartridge fitted, and having the deck tuned up by one of the specially blessed-by-Linn super dealers in England where I was living at the time. Many bass passages were so reduced that they were nearly MIA, even on acoustic Grateful Dead numbers. Out of curiosity, I took the LP12 armboard I had just had replaced, and mounted it with an SME Series IIIS -- admittedly one of the cheapest arms from SME days of yore. I took off the Ittok LVII and new arm board, and put on the old armboard/SME IIIS with a relatively inexpensive high-output MC from Audioquest, early 90's vintage. I ran a 1-meter Kimber PBJ out of the arm base.

Bingo -- bass lines that had receded into the distance were back, and drums sounded like they were drums again -- not bone-crushing, but realistic at least. The top end was NOT as spacious-sounding or resolving, but it was still okay. I listened to this for a couple years. I should noted that this arm is not like modern hi-quality SME arms, which are heavy -- the one I used is extremely light. But I'm not really trying to say that it is a great arm for the LP12. My point is that it presented TO MY EARS a more realistic sonic picture than the black LVII.

The LVII significantly bettered it in some aspects, but the LVII's shortcomings outweighed its strengths compared with the cheaper arm. And yes, I had tried the AQ cartridge on the LVII before. It sounded crummy on the LVII, and bueno on the SME.

I eventually moved up to an Ortofon MC30 Supreme, and out of curiosity again (was that LVII really as lame as I remembered it?) put it on the Ittok LVII and had it re-mounted. I had the whole thing re-tuned and sorted by another blessed-by-Linn dealer in Virginia where I am now, and the drums still sound lame, and several bass lines just kind of fade into the background with no presence at all. Dealer tells me that moving to the Lingo power supply will cure what ails me, but that's what I heard before moving to the Cirkus upgrade, and it did not happen IN MY CASE (though it supposedly has worked for others).

So I'm thinking of trying a modded RB250 or OL Encounter first, but I may just abandon the Linn ship altogether and go with a VPI. I've read from others that I'll never get satisfying bass from an LP12 regardless of upgrades, but I haven't been able to compare the VPI's to check them out either. I spent 1 hour 10 mins at a Wash-DC area dealer TRYING to do that, but after a 3-Stooges comedy of errors presented by the store staff, I finally had to leave to return to work, without having been able to hear one properly (another long story).

Short answer: I have a black LVII, and I do not see any great sonic magic about it. The anti-skating calibration markings are off as several have noted before, but this is not a problem if you just adjust by observation anyway. But it IS easy to adjust the height, however, which makes it a breeze to experiment with VTA. In case you're wondering, I DID experiement with different pieces of both ss and tube gear and speakers in the chain, both at my house and a friend's. Results were repeatable and uniform. I think the LVII must do something great for SOME people's ears, but it just doesn't do it for mine.

Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture. The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'. Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm. It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice. Would this era be a Valhalla?

Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct? Any help and info is much appreciated. I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers.

I have a Rotel phono preamp for now. My dad has a early 90s LP12, so whilst i dont know the answers to most of your questions.

But i didnt know on his that it could play 45rmp until recently, when he showed me that it does, i dont know if its via an upgrade however. You hold the start button down and it goes from Green (33) to Blue (45). Had you tried that at all? That being said, one of his friend as an LP12 himself but from an early construction and his doesnt play 45's. I couldn't tell you what upgrades thats had. Nice purchase btw, i've always enjoyed the sound from my dads and would own one myself if i had the money!!

If it helps any, I used to own a Linn Axis from 1990 and an LP12 from 1985. The LP12 came with Valhalla so your turntable should have that power supply if it's from 1992. The Valhalla is recognisable by the simple black press button start switch which has a small LED inside and lights (red?) when running. The post from above mentions the 45rpm facility which is something the Axis had as standard but it's PS was altogether very different. G Sonic Motherboard Drivers here.

If you press and hold that start switch the light goes from red to green which indicates 45rpm. I'm not aware myself of an LP12 fitted with that from the period your turntable comes from. You can change any PS to anything you like. My Valhalla LP12 broke down due to a common fault with the PS (overheating resistor - R9?- blows a bridge and the whole thing is defunct) so I swapped it out for an Origin Live DC Motor kit which comes with its own box and cables and takes a novice like me about an hour to fit.

The DC motor upgrade was very significant, far better than an over-priced Linn AC motor PS in my view. The Origin Live has 45rpm and can even do 78rpm with a little adjustment. It's a fraction of the cost of the Linn and is better. This might not be a popular opinion but it's your money and I know if I still had a Linn where I'd be putting mine!

The Origin Live gear is better than Linn now anyway. Good luck and enjoy it.

How To Install Bf Vietnam Mods. Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture. The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'. Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm.

It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice. Would this era be a Valhalla? Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct? Any help and info is much appreciated.

I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers. I have a Rotel phono preamp for now. Click to expand.As far as I can tell, bearings on Ittok are fine. It plays very well, I've been jamm'n it a bunch last 2 days and I'm really happy with it. Bounce is great (I have a Thorens TD145 MK2, AR 'the Turntable' & a Soniograph sg3) so suspension is one thing I've had a little experience with I have a cement foundation floor in the den and the TT rest on a wood credenza.

No weird over tones or vibrations. I'd love to see how much more and I expand the sound AND play 45's on this TT but also happy for now until $$$ and knowledge stack up. If it helps any, I used to own a Linn Axis from 1990 and an LP12 from 1985. The LP12 came with Valhalla so your turntable should have that power supply if it's from 1992. The Valhalla is recognisable by the simple black press button start switch which has a small LED inside and lights (red?) when running. The post from above mentions the 45rpm facility which is something the Axis had as standard but it's PS was altogether very different.

If you press and hold that start switch the light goes from red to green which indicates 45rpm. I'm not aware myself of an LP12 fitted with that from the period your turntable comes from.

You can change any PS to anything you like. My Valhalla LP12 broke down due to a common fault with the PS (overheating resistor - R9?- blows a bridge and the whole thing is defunct) so I swapped it out for an Origin Live DC Motor kit which comes with its own box and cables and takes a novice like me about an hour to fit. The DC motor upgrade was very significant, far better than an over-priced Linn AC motor PS in my view. The Origin Live has 45rpm and can even do 78rpm with a little adjustment. It's a fraction of the cost of the Linn and is better. This might not be a popular opinion but it's your money and I know if I still had a Linn where I'd be putting mine!

The Origin Live gear is better than Linn now anyway. Good luck and enjoy it. Click to expand.That pretty much covers all the important upgrade history. There was the 25th anniversary edition in 1997, with Ivor's signature engraved on the top plate, and badge on back of plinth, where they were up to around 95,000.

The Keel, was introduced in 2006. To answer the original question, Linn did make a 45 adaptor, but obviously this doesn't improve the sound. The Lingo, was one of my favourite upgrades for the LP12, and a LP12, Lingo, Akito, would easily outperform, a LP12, Valhalla, Ekos. 1980 bought a significant upgrade to the Ittok, with the thicker arm pillar, and the bearing shaft material was changed in 1983, around serial number, 12,000. Either a Hercules, or Lingo, are very easy mods, the Lingo giving you a substantial sonic upgrade, the Hercules, giving you 45.

There is now a Hercules II, with an external Mode, power supply. This is not as good as a Lingo 1. That pretty much covers all the important upgrade history. There was the 25th anniversary edition in 1997, with Ivor's signature engraved on the top plate, and badge on back of plinth, where they were up to around 95,000. The Keel, was introduced in 2006.

To answer the original question, Linn did make a 45 adaptor, but obviously this doesn't improve the sound. The Lingo, was one of my favourite upgrades for the LP12, and a LP12, Lingo, Akito, would easily outperform, a LP12, Valhalla, Ekos. 1980 bought a significant upgrade to the Ittok, with the thicker arm pillar, and the bearing shaft material was changed in 1983, around serial number, 12,000.

Either a Hercules, or Lingo, are very easy mods, the Lingo giving you a substantial sonic upgrade, the Hercules, giving you 45. There is now a Hercules II, with an external Mode, power supply. This is not as good as a Lingo 1.

I would try the Lingo, a used original one is all you need. When I got my Linn Valhalla I swapped my cartridge from my Systemdek IIX and noticed that while clearer, quieter, and more open sounding the Linn was a bit lightweight sounding by comparison. I added the Lingo and the bottom register extended dramatically and developed a sense of weight and authority, dynamics improved, noise-floor dropped, timing improved, imaging got better, etc. If you dont notice that, then I would turn your sights to what the Linn is sitting on, which as others have mentioned is critical. One thing at a time tho, add the Lingo and see what you think.

Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture. The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'. Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm. It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice.

Would this era be a Valhalla? Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct? Any help and info is much appreciated. I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers.

I have a Rotel phono preamp for now.