Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Linn Selekt LP12

The Selekt LP12 is the middle of three ready-configured versions of the Sondek LP12 belt-drive turntable from Linn of Glasgow, Scotland, placed between the Majik LP12 and the Klimax LP12 and taking over from the former Akurate package. The LP12 first appeared in 1973, and the Selekt build gathers several of the upgrades developed for it since then. The quoted UK price was GBP 10,570 in a standard finish, a figure that includes the Arko tonearm at GBP 3,000 and the Kendo cartridge at GBP 2,800.

Key specs that matter

The platter turns at 33 1/3 or 45 rpm, driven by a belt from a 12 V AC motor. The deck is 445 mm wide, 140 mm high and 356 mm deep and weighs 13 kg. The Kendo is a nude moving coil cartridge with a nominal output of 0.45 mV and a tracking force of 2 g, fitted with a boron cantilever and a super fine line diamond. Plinth finishes are oak, cherry, black ash, rosenut, walnut, piano black and high gloss white, and colour matching to a customer sample is also offered.

Engineering and use context

Five Linn parts define this configuration. The Karousel is a single point main bearing. The Kore is an aluminium sub-chassis bonded to an armboard machined from solid metal, so arm and platter bearing sit on one rigid part. Lingo is a hybrid power supply split between internal and external sections that drives the AC motor. Trampolin replaces the standard base board with a suspended aluminium one fitted with isolating feet. The Arko is a gimballed arm made from 7075 grade aluminium and was the first solo project of Linn designer Frank Murray, who built it from scratch with an integrated headshell, a U-shaped bearing housing, a counterweight dial that also acts as the arm rest, and a lift and lower device. The Kendo body is nickel coated and machined from the same 7075 grade alloy as the arm, giving one continuous material path from the stylus through the arm into the Kore. Because each of these parts is a separate module, the deck can later be moved up the LP12 upgrade path piece by piece.

Pairing

With its low output, the Kendo needs a phono stage built for moving coil cartridges with suitable loading, or a moving coil step-up ahead of a moving magnet input. Owners of a Klimax DSM can also route the deck through the Linn Urika II phono stage, which links to that player over Exakt Link.

Alternatives

The Linn Majik LP12 is the entry LP12 package, using the Krane tonearm developed with Clearaudio and a choice of Adikt moving magnet or Koil moving coil cartridge.