Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: tom@minster.york.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: re: LP12 vs Axis
Message-ID: <4760@uwm.edu>
Date: 29 Jun 90 12:59:15 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Hi David,

>>Sigh. So, I'm a little stuck.  I really liked the better bass presence of the
>>Lynn LP12, so if it really was mostly attributable to the deck, I may have
>>to bite the bullet and get the used LP12, _if_ I can talk it down to $600.
>>On the other hand, I could wait around until a used Axis shows up, but I've
>>been looking for a while, and haven't seen any


Personally speaking, I would go for the used LP12 over an Axis or Linn Basik.
The dealer was right - it was the LP12 deck that was responsible for the better
bass response.  A seven year old Linn LP12 with all the upgrades should be in
a perfectly good condition (theres' very little to wear after all, and the LP12
bearing is very high quality).  The turntable is primarily responsible for the
quality of the reproduction - the arm and cartridge are passive components - the
deck drives them.

Stretch to the LP12 if at all possible - you will appreciate the differences
all the more after having lived with a good deck.  A very important point is
that while it may financially stretch you a little now, it will stand you in
a much better position to upgrade in the long term. The Axis (Basik ?) will
not really support a much better arm than the Basik that comes with it,
so if you ever want to upgrade you'd end up having to sell the whole deck.

Regarding surface noise - I've found this very much a cartridge dependent thing.
Some cartridges are better than others in this respect.  I recently put an
Audio technica OC9 into my Pink Triangle deck and was stunned at how quiet
the background noise was - it was almost eery between passages - as close to
CD silence as I've ever heard. 

Hope that's some help.

tom.

____________________________________________________________
 Tom Jackson, Advanced Computer Architecture Group,
 Dept. of Computer Science, University of York, Heslingto      3 n,
 YORK. YO1 5DD.  UK.               Tel: [044] (0904) 433747