Where did you start your vinyl journey?

A walk though time with the Linn Sondek LP12 A simple history guide to the evolution of the Linn LP12 turntable. I have had the good fortune to have spent my life working and servicing all of these versions over the years and have grown to love the Linn Sondek. Below we use the tonearm to show an amazing time-line of the improvements to this most magical of record players over the decades.

1973 

The year of so many classic albums. Dark Side of the Moon, Aladdin Sane, Tubular Bells, Quadrophenia, the list is endless... The Linn Sondek LP12 is born.  

In 1973 most hifi stores would sell the speakers as the most important part of the audio chain. The Sondek showed the world that getting more off the record was a much better way to hear music.

Partnered at the time with the humble Grace G-707 tonearm and a Supex cartridge, and Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy comes to life. 

1979

Breakfast in America, Reggatta de Blanc, London Calling while Michael Jackson's Off the Wall is number one for months..

The Linn Ittok LVII arrives, the first arm designed for the Sondek turntable and made in Japan at the Denon Parts company by Mr Ito, hence the name.

This would become Linn's top arm for many years, the early model had a split counter-weight and thin arm collar. The last model came with a built-in arm clip and is quite rare to find.

1980

You could be in the record shop queue for U2's first album Boy, AC/DC's Back in Black, or Joy Division's Closer LP.

The LVV was Linn's first entry level tonearm and came fitted with a detachable pressed alloy headshell and features overhang, lateral angle and height adjustment.

A short life span, but the S shape tonearm and ease of cartridge swapping adds a certain style and charm.

1983

Madonna, Spandau Ballet, Marillion & Talking Heads grace the charts. 

Linn's budget arm, the Linn Basik LVX, and later the much better LVX Plus with fixed headshell were arms produced in large numbers, making it easier to own a Linn LP12.

I have serviced many of these, and in good condition they still sound great today. We stock & fit replacement parts to these, which make a wondeful upgrade and bring a big improvement to the sound.

1988

The Ekos, was the first high-end tonearm to be built in Scotland, which at the time was partnered with the Troika cartridge & Lingo power supply. You could now play 45! This had to happen as the 12'' inch single was now selling like crazy.

The Ekos conveyed rhythm, groove and swing. Maybe not the most neutral of arms, but to this day still makes a great sound.

To be played loud with Heaven 17, Talk Talk, Thomas Dolby or Tracy Chapman . 

1991

The Akito was originally a budget arm made in bulk  in Japan, before Linn decided to build this better in-house.

Overtightening the arm could cause problems with this model bringing tracking issues, and is possibly the most fragile of products. The last model made is the Akito 3/b and the best version to own, production ceased in 2022. 

Massive Attack – Blue Lines, Primal Scream – Screamadelica & R.E.M. – Out of Time defines the era.


2006

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black, Muse - Black Holes And Revelations and Thom Yorke first solo album - The Eraser make the perfect choice for vinyl.

The king is dead meet the new king. The Ekos SE - Linn’s flagship tonearm, designed to nurture your vinyl and extract the maximum information from any record collection,  this arm sets the performance benchmark.

To this day, this is the finest Linn arm to own as virtually every component has changed since the introduction of the orginal Ekos. It's simply brilliant. I type this while trying hard not be like a salesman.. it's not easy!

2008

The Pro-Ject 9cc tonearm was introduced as part of the Majik turntable, Linn's new packaged starter LP12.

A strange arm to use with a hanging counter-weight and thin arm cue, but it helped many people get back in the groove as vinyl started to return.

If you are not into Lady Gaga, then don't worry as the Radiohead - In Rainbows, Rockferry by Duffy and Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree made great albums in 2008. 

2018

Ten years later the Majik turntable ships with the Linn SA250J tonearm. I loved the simple nod to the past with the design of this arm. Made in Japan by Jelco for Linn. However in 2020 alas the company came to an end... 

Florence and the Machine, Dua Lipa & Billie Eilish ride high in the charts album charts while you could be playing Orbital - Monsters Exist.

2020 

Meet the Krane. This is the current entry level Linn tonearm (made by Clear Audio) with a sound that is amazing for the cost, and is part of the latest Majik turntable - more details here.

Start with a moving magnet cartridge - but a moving coil brings way more to the party.

In 2020 Folklore by Taylor Swift was the biggest selling album of the year... but you may also like Bruce Springsteen's Letter To You, or even Khruangbin's Mordechai.

2022

Arko - made in Scotland. Makes a brilliant sound for the price. Simple and stylish this is part of the current Selekt turntable and can be fitted to any Linn Sondek LP12.

What next?... Stay tuned!

We only showed examples of Linn arms here... the lovely Naim Aro, Rega RB300, Mission 774, SME etc would have made this page rather long... 

If you own an Linn turnable we are happy to service it and make it sing again, more details here.

  • Windsor Audio - 35 Alexandra Road - Windsor - Berkshire - SL4 1HZ - 01753 017017