Introduced in 1973, the Linn Sondek LP12 has been in continuous production for longer than any other hi-fi product.
Why has the LP12 had such a long lifespan?
Whilst it was not the first turntable to have three point suspension (Acoustic Research in 1963 and Thorens in 1965 both had a suspended subchassis) the Sondek LP12 suspension was tuned in such a way that it provided better isolation against acoustic feedback from the loudspeakers. Ivor Tiefenbrun, the founder of Linn, would play the turntable to anyone who would listen in order to demonstrate its superiority over its contemporaries.
The LP12 was engineered to a high standard for its day, and the modular design means that any improvements to component technology can be retro-fitted to any LP12. This means that whilst other turntables have come and gone, the LP12 has managed to maintain its place at the top of the turntable tree.
Does a Linn LP12 need regular servicing?
If an LP12 is correctly set up in the first place, then it should perform superbly for many years. However, as a mechanical device it is subject to wear over time: the suspension springs can sag, the rubber grommets can harden, fixings can loosen, the belt can stretch, the motor pulley can become dirty, oil can be lost from the bearing.
All these issues can be addressed easily as part of a service at Hidden Systems.
