Linn LP12 FOUR YEAR OLD BLACK PLINTH WITH AKITO MKIII

Only used on weekends by a
little old lady from Pasadena……

Well maybe not the little old
lady but this LP12 Looks Amazing!

Beautiful Black Plinth LP12…
Recent production from 2010. Table is equipped with a current Linn Akito MkIII
tonearm, brand-new Mose/Hercules power supply and the latest version of the
Trampolin II All Aluminum base board.

 The MkIII name for the Akito seems to be a
Linn forum name but specifically refers to the latest machined version of the
arm. Officially a Akito 2b this arm is easy to identify. The newest version has
a machined from solid bearing block and yoke assembly that houses the vertical
bearings instead of the previous cast version. This is very easy to see if you
examine the surface of the bearing block that faces the front of arm tube. If
you view the same area on an older Akito MkI or MkII you will see the flashing
(leftover from the cast mold) that are in the midpoint of the bearing block;
that is half way between the top and the bottom of the surface that faces the
headshell of the armtube. Examine the solid bearing block and yoke in the
pictures of the Akito with this table and you do not see the tell-tall flash
from a cheaper less precise cast arm. The bearings and the ball races of the
MkIII Akito have also been greatly upgraded. The combination of the machined
parts and the much higher spec bearings and bearing races really sets this arm
apart from the older Linn Akito’s and head and shoulders above old worn out
Ittoks. Linn even used the same method of attaching the headshell to the
armtube like they did with the Ekos tonearms; they are bonded to the tube. The akito 2b MkIII is machined and built entirely in Scotland. Not in Japan.....

Some of the Linn pundits on the
forums compare the performance of the latest Akito as equal to the Ekos I and
approaching the Ekos II.  I have compared
both the Ekos II ( 1999-2000 vintage) and this Akito MkIII using a Koetsu, Lyra and Linn Adikit MM cartridges and if there is a
significant difference to be heard between the Ekos II and this Akito MKIII you will need an insanely high resolving
cartridge/ phono-preamp to tell the difference. 
Not to mention a pair of 18 year old ears!!

The power supply is a brand
new Mose/Hercules unit that provides both 33 and 45 speeds. It has a separate
power supply and outboard motor control unit just like the Linn Lingo. And
offers performance on par with the Lingo.

The base board is the latest
Trampolin II that has the cutouts to facilitate the extra wiring needed with
the inboard Linn phono stage. This latest version of the Trampolin also has a
ground lug on the inside of the baseboard to further ground the turntable
system.

The Black Plinth is the
latest spec corner braced plinth with the new style metal angle braces also
installed. The plinth shows excellent with a small handling mark or two. Cirkus
bearing is included as standard on this late model LP12.

 The supplied lid is clean and
shows no cracks. It was sourced from a different LP12 and does show the typical
signs of use with cleaning swirls and small marks and scratches.

 The cost of the above TT if
you went to a Linn dealer and sourced a similar spec TT would be $6,575.

I researched the prices from
one of the larger Linn USA dealers(published online) and found the following:

Black plinth chassis:   $3,200 

Akito 2B MKIII         :    
2,400

Lid and Hinges        :       
275

Trampolin II (latest):        250  

Mose/Hercules       :       
450

The Mose/Hercules is a direct
import from Hong Kong; the price reflects $50 for shipping and duty fees.

The total = $6,575.00 for a
new linn LP12. Yes the LP12 is overpriced; and yes I assume you are reading a
lot of verbiage about a four year old used TT because you agree the new retail
is a lot.

I have priced this excellent
condition 4 year LP12 at just south of 55% of new retail. Compare that to what others
are asking for a 25 yr old LP12 with a 25 yr old Ittok tonearm and 25 yr old
Valhalla power supply and ask yourself is this is a good way to start or
upgrade your LP12 vinyl affair??? A Linn Lingo Series II is not included but can be discussed; details must be worked out prior to shipping.

Have used the Audiogon scale of 7/8 due to the used condition of the dust cover.

 Please inquire if you have any interest in a 25th Anniversary LP12.

If you have any questions
please email and I will respond.  Buyer
pays PayPal fees and ground insured FedEx fees.