I preface this as owning my original 1984 LP12 plus 2 others. It replaced a Thorens TD160 & simply trounced it. I have an emotional attachment to the LP12, however it is not as good as the lovers think, nor as bad as the haters say. The upgrade path is. a great strength but also it's achilles heel, do the better parts make an improvement, absolutely. At the same time a full boat LP12 can pass the price of some true super tables but they still can't address the inherent engineering compromises of the 70's. The price they charge are reasonable for the quality of their parts but they are hampered by their upgrade ethos & there lyes the problem. The LP12 deserves its iconic place in history & I will always own one but they have been surpassed in the modern age...But they always put a smile on my face when I look at one
The LP12-50 is not designed for me or for most people. And that’s fine. Let Linn have it’s halo product and let’s cheer on Linn for being here 50 years later and not ignoring folks that bought their LP12’s in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s or 20’s
Strange to have a celebratory two-party collaboration video where only one party of two is present. From an entirely visual perspective the result is a bit underwhelming. I’d like to understand what the contribution was, apart from the Apple-esque rounded off corners. That would make an interesting follow up please Linn.
No disrespect... as linn and johnny have designed some great things.... but adding a few curves and circled dail control to the top plate of an LP12 is a bit comical but I'm sure it was worth it
I am sure with Sondek 50 music is highly enjoyable. The design, especially in white and with rounded corners reminds me of the Dieter Rams / Braun design. Recently heard the 360, impressive how close you can get to music, unfortunately out of budget.
I would have had the arm board design curved on the right edge ( as it is ) but squared off where it meets the top plate or round off the top plate where it meets the arm board!
Yes, the curving just looks like a shoe horned in design detail change for the sake of it and doesn't sit comfortably with the existing look. Hopefully the functional changes are more pleasing and relevant.
Gorgeous. Expensive but I’m sure they’ll all sell and will appreciate in value. I have an LP12 that almost fully Klimax level but this special edition is almost 3x the price. Would love one but I’ll resist!
It is certainly a beautiful turntable (and the PR video shows the love that Linn has for music reproduction), perfect for a 50th year celebration of such a great product and company, I have owned and upgraded my LP12 continuously over the last 25 years, that is why I bought one. My question is though, if you bought a 50th special edition, how does this fit into future upgrade paths, I am assuming it has a keel with an armboard with rounded corners and the power/speed selector switch is bespoke also, will the keel 2 of the future have that aesthetic and power supply upgrades require to change the top plate switch, or is this a one off upgrade path of its own?
Yes it looks stunning but I bet this isn’t a common man product, something only the very rich can afford who would buy this as a status symbol rather than its sound quality. It’s a shame Linn has lost its way, other companies are now making stunning hifi that are more affordable and they too have the 50 year heritage such as Rega. By the way I do have a modern LP12 which is something that I aspired to since the 1970’s but it took a lifetime to be able to afford it. Just look at the views of this video at the time of writing this, 593 but only 31 likes so that must be sending you a message. You need to follow Rega’s example and produce quality items at a much lower price point to suit all pockets to get people into your system and then you may start to gain some more fans and even respect.
I kind of agree in some respects with what you say (I'm not rich man, I bought my Linn LP12 when they were almost affordable). Linn did try this in the 1980's by producing a cheaper Turntable, the 'Linn Axis' and budget MM cartridges, Basic LVX arm and cheaper range speakers but they are now fully committed to quality first and so it is hard to sacrifice some of those qualities just to make a cheaper product range, which as you said is already a full & rich market with other manufacturers doing a great job in varying price brackets. It is hard to compete with the likes of Rega etc... Roll Royce, Bentley, Ferrari & Mclaren et al don't make budget priced family saloons either. And when high end companies try to make a budget product it often fails in quality/price or expectations or sales etc. It's the old saying, "Horses for Courses". It's just that some horses cost more than others. High end performance costs more. One also has to consider the Law of Diminishing Returns. Maybe all Hi-Fi should be demoed blindfolded? I'd like to see more blindfolded tests done by listeners. Digital vs Analogue, £2000 Turntables vs £20,000 TTs vs £40,000 TTs vs £200,000 Turntables, all blind tested comparisons. PS, have a look for the video on TH-cam titled, The Gadget Show - Series 1 Episode 2 They do a Blind test Linn products. (it's from a few years ago, though a listening comparison between different product makers would have been good). Kind Regards.
I can see your point, not sure about losing its way though, entry into the LP12 world for me was £150, a fairly bashed up second hander from probably about 1980, I did have a Rega Planar 2 at the time, even the way it was the LP12 sounded good, I ditched the Rega turntable, and now there is nothing of that original LP12 left, I have spent a good deal of money over time with Linn, and each time the turntable changes, but it absolutely still keeps that musicality the LP12 does better than most. Linn are a high end hifi company, but they do offer a product that is great and relatively good value for money, thats opens directly to the high end LP12, as you grow with the turntable, possibly earn more money as you grow older and still stay with the LP12 - companies like Rega would die for that!
PPS, The first most important things to consider is, room acoustics and your ears. Then the production, recording and pressing qualities of the LP/CD/Hi-Res Files.
@@theworldaccordingto4555 I am well aware of Linns budget lines of the past but now vinyl is making a massive resurgence now is the time to re introduce them. It’s completely pointless making the best sounding hifi on the planet if the people buying it are mega rich people who don’t appreciate the sound only the status symbol price, maybe Linn is only interested in that market, after all as the saying goes the rich are getting richer with lots of disposable income. As for the car analogy I will tell you a little story. I was queuing in a petrol station waiting to pay when in pulled a top of the range Ferrari. The guy behind me made a comment “ nice car but I bet the driver is a w**ker! The driver got out and it was a fat old man. When he walked into the station everyone including the man behind the counter was laughing at him. I then realised that if I could ever afford a Ferrari I would not want one.
They can celebrate their milestone how they want. Best things about hero products today is that they eventually get filtered down thru their product lines tomorrow.
Jonys best were left on the table decades ago. Very uninspiring. I like to see other design elements not come from the same vision over and over and over again.
Congratulations and happy 50th Anniversary Linn, a great milestone and a great way to celebrate.
I preface this as owning my original 1984 LP12 plus 2 others. It replaced a Thorens TD160 & simply trounced it. I have an emotional attachment to the LP12, however it is not as good as the lovers think, nor as bad as the haters say. The upgrade path is. a great strength but also it's achilles heel, do the better parts make an improvement, absolutely. At the same time a full boat LP12 can pass the price of some true super tables but they still can't address the inherent engineering compromises of the 70's. The price they charge are reasonable for the quality of their parts but they are hampered by their upgrade ethos & there lyes the problem. The LP12 deserves its iconic place in history &
I will always own one but they have been surpassed in the modern age...But they always put a smile on my face when I look at one
The Linn Sondek LP12-50 IS AMAZING !
The LP12-50 is not designed for me or for most people. And that’s fine. Let Linn have it’s halo product and let’s cheer on Linn for being here 50 years later and not ignoring folks that bought their LP12’s in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s or 20’s
Alternatively, buy a Rega P10 with cartridge as you probably could not hear the difference (if any) and save yourself 45,000 GBP
ill stick with my 1988 lp12 with ittok oc9 cartridge ,still amazing me to this day...
Strange to have a celebratory two-party collaboration video where only one party of two is present. From an entirely visual perspective the result is a bit underwhelming. I’d like to understand what the contribution was, apart from the Apple-esque rounded off corners. That would make an interesting follow up please Linn.
No disrespect... as linn and johnny have designed some great things.... but adding a few curves and circled dail control to the top plate of an LP12 is a bit comical but I'm sure it was worth it
I am sure with Sondek 50 music is highly enjoyable. The design, especially in white and with rounded corners reminds me of the Dieter Rams / Braun design. Recently heard the 360, impressive how close you can get to music, unfortunately out of budget.
Sondek 50 design would fit well to classic Klimax style 😊
After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same.
I would have had the arm board design curved on the right edge ( as it is ) but squared off where it meets the top plate or round off the top plate where it meets the arm board!
Yes, the curving just looks like a shoe horned in design detail change for the sake of it and doesn't sit comfortably with the existing look. Hopefully the functional changes are more pleasing and relevant.
Completely disagree 😁. I think the design is perfect as is.
When I look inside a LP12 there is not much inside it and yet the top of the range LP12 is mega mega expensive.
Remember the power supply is in a separate box. I don't think that has been redesigned though.
Gorgeous. Expensive but I’m sure they’ll all sell and will appreciate in value. I have an LP12 that almost fully Klimax level but this special edition is almost 3x the price. Would love one but I’ll resist!
Interesting! ❤🎉🏴🎵🎷🎸📀
£50,000 for hinges that work.
That tonearm it's like Soviet engineering from the 70's.
please tell me they are only making 250 of them?
If it was $5000 I’d be seriously considering it… damn
It is certainly a beautiful turntable (and the PR video shows the love that Linn has for music reproduction), perfect for a 50th year celebration of such a great product and company, I have owned and upgraded my LP12 continuously over the last 25 years, that is why I bought one. My question is though, if you bought a 50th special edition, how does this fit into future upgrade paths, I am assuming it has a keel with an armboard with rounded corners and the power/speed selector switch is bespoke also, will the keel 2 of the future have that aesthetic and power supply upgrades require to change the top plate switch, or is this a one off upgrade path of its own?
It will be so interesting to see the detail of what they have done. Certainly the armboard corner has iPhone influences.
$60,000?
50.000…..
Fools and their money
Yes it looks stunning but I bet this isn’t a common man product, something only the very rich can afford who would buy this as a status symbol rather than its sound quality. It’s a shame Linn has lost its way, other companies are now making stunning hifi that are more affordable and they too have the 50 year heritage such as Rega. By the way I do have a modern LP12 which is something that I aspired to since the 1970’s but it took a lifetime to be able to afford it.
Just look at the views of this video at the time of writing this, 593 but only 31 likes so that must be sending you a message. You need to follow Rega’s example and produce quality items at a much lower price point to suit all pockets to get people into your system and then you may start to gain some more fans and even respect.
I kind of agree in some respects with what you say (I'm not rich man, I bought my Linn LP12 when they were almost affordable). Linn did try this in the 1980's by producing a cheaper Turntable, the 'Linn Axis' and budget MM cartridges, Basic LVX arm and cheaper range speakers but they are now fully committed to quality first and so it is hard to sacrifice some of those qualities just to make a cheaper product range, which as you said is already a full & rich market with other manufacturers doing a great job in varying price brackets. It is hard to compete with the likes of Rega etc...
Roll Royce, Bentley, Ferrari & Mclaren et al don't make budget priced family saloons either. And when high end companies try to make a budget product it often fails in quality/price or expectations or sales etc.
It's the old saying, "Horses for Courses". It's just that some horses cost more than others. High end performance costs more.
One also has to consider the Law of Diminishing Returns.
Maybe all Hi-Fi should be demoed blindfolded? I'd like to see more blindfolded tests done by listeners. Digital vs Analogue, £2000 Turntables vs £20,000 TTs vs £40,000 TTs vs £200,000 Turntables, all blind tested comparisons.
PS, have a look for the video on TH-cam titled, The Gadget Show - Series 1 Episode 2
They do a Blind test Linn products. (it's from a few years ago, though a listening comparison between different product makers would have been good).
Kind Regards.
I can see your point, not sure about losing its way though, entry into the LP12 world for me was £150, a fairly bashed up second hander from probably about 1980, I did have a Rega Planar 2 at the time, even the way it was the LP12 sounded good, I ditched the Rega turntable, and now there is nothing of that original LP12 left, I have spent a good deal of money over time with Linn, and each time the turntable changes, but it absolutely still keeps that musicality the LP12 does better than most. Linn are a high end hifi company, but they do offer a product that is great and relatively good value for money, thats opens directly to the high end LP12, as you grow with the turntable, possibly earn more money as you grow older
and still stay with the LP12 - companies like Rega would die for that!
PPS, The first most important things to consider is, room acoustics and your ears. Then the production, recording and pressing qualities of the LP/CD/Hi-Res Files.
@@theworldaccordingto4555 I am well aware of Linns budget lines of the past but now vinyl is making a massive resurgence now is the time to re introduce them. It’s completely pointless making the best sounding hifi on the planet if the people buying it are mega rich people who don’t appreciate the sound only the status symbol price, maybe Linn is only interested in that market, after all as the saying goes the rich are getting richer with lots of disposable income. As for the car analogy I will tell you a little story. I was queuing in a petrol station waiting to pay when in pulled a top of the range Ferrari. The guy behind me made a comment “ nice car but I bet the driver is a w**ker! The driver got out and it was a fat old man. When he walked into the station everyone including the man behind the counter was laughing at him. I then realised that if I could ever afford a Ferrari I would not want one.
This is the higher end of high end £50k starting price and only 250 will be manufactured
someone drunk too much... companies focusing on ultra rich clients are uninspired imho
They can celebrate their milestone how they want. Best things about hero products today is that they eventually get filtered down thru their product lines tomorrow.
Jonys best were left on the table decades ago. Very uninspiring. I like to see other design elements not come from the same vision over and over and over again.
Hard pass.