The Scottish turntable manufacturer

Anyone visiting our website knows that quality and craftsmanship are synonymous with the company Linn, from Glasgow.

The Linn Sondek is a prime example of not only those attributes but the skilled engineering, with an eye for detail, that’s the envy of the Hi-fi industry.

So here at Audio T Manchester we are proud to now have the Linn Selekt LP12 on demonstration.

The New Bits

The Selekt LP12 comes into being thanks to two brand new components that elevate it from its predecessor, the Akurate LP12.

The first of these is the Arko tonearm.

With its silver finish and black base, the Arko is visually reminiscent of the old Ittok arm that impressed so many back in the 80s. The performance, however, has moved on.

The Material

Built on a gimbal base that allows for impeccable bearing tolerances, the 7075 aluminium arm is able to float delicately above the record with as near as possible to no resistance.

The 7075 grade aluminium has been used from the gimbal base all the way through to the headshell. This helps filter unwanted resonance away from the cartridge and down through the sub chassis.

The synergy of the 7075 grade aluminium continues into the other brand new component, the Kendo moving coil cartridge.

Delicate Intricacies

The Kendo houses its generator in a nickel-coated, aluminium chassis. The cantilever is boron, and has a super fine line diamond mounted at the end.

The Arko and the Kendo are mounted on to the now familiar Kore sub chassis, which provides excellent rigidity and stability.

Get the right bearing

Just like on the Akurate LP12 the bearing is the current Karousel single point bearing, which is somehow smoother and more consistent than the Cirkus that made way for it.

The whole thing is then kept moving by the unerringly Akurate (I made a Linn joke! Or pun, maybe it’s a pun?) Lingo 4 power supply.

Where there’s a will…

…theres a reason why Linn have been able to get away with selling the same turntable for nearly 50 years. It’s bloody good and every so often they work out how to make it better.

How much better?

Well having listened to it in our demo room we can safely say that Linn have done it again.

The Arko/Kendo combination work beautifully, the Kore then stiffens the chassis to keep things tight and pacey, the overall result is a fast and detailed sound that’s not fatiguing, with a smooth warmth that washes over you.

The Soro (Afrika) from Snarky Puppy sounds overwhelmingly huge and all encompassing, Salif Keita and his backing singers perfectly positioned in the sound stage, and flutes, wow!!, how such a small wind instrument can sound so big is a testament to the recording and the Linn been able to pluck all that detail out for you.

Alpha Blondy's Kalachnikov Love is another track that sounds massive, go figure, it was mixed at Tuff Gong studio, Kingston, Jamaica in 1986. Again the bass, played by Aston "Family Man" Barrett is tight yet lush, while Alpha's vocals fill the soundstage without harshness, and the synth sounds epic considering when it was recorded.

In a nutshell, the LP12 Selekt makes you want to play records, you could quite easily spend most of your evenings with many of your records spread across your living room floor as you decide what to play next.

We'd say that's not a bad place to be.

Need convincing? Interested in the Linn LP12 Selekt?

You can arrange a demonstration with us at the Manchester store, email or call us.

Thanks for reading.

Mike and Munir - Audio T Manchester

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