The inspiration behind the LP12?

What looks like an LP12, albeit a little smaller? Which turntable was the first to feature a platter bearing and armboard which rest on a three-point suspension system?

Answer: The LP12? Wrong. Try the Thorens TD150 (Mk I and II) and your arrow has just split the proverbial apple in half. That's right folks. It's whispered within hi-fi circles that the TD 150 was the turntable which started the revolution.

Much has been spoken about the TD 150–check out the websites. The TD 150 is a favourite among tweakers too. Not surprising, considering that it has been described as, among other things, "a diamond in the rough" and "possessing great potential". These two qualities are pure seduction and come hither for those with an incurable itch to tweak and mod. Make no mistake folks— whether you're an analogue freak, a tweaker, or both (like me), the TD 150 beckons!

So what makes the TD 150 so very special? Find out more in a later posting! In the meantime, I'm going back to my records and the two objects of my affection, the LP12 and the TD 150.

My LP12 Sondek Reborn!

When it comes to upgrading the motor drive for the LP12, I guess that local Linnies aren't exactly spoilt for choice. There's not much of anything available out there and ebay isn't exactly overflowing with LP12 PSUs. The original Naim Armageddon is pretty rare today, while the Linn Lingo II costs silly money (about RM9k before discount). A new Armageddon will set you back nearly RM6k. If you're brave enough to set up a PSU yourself, you can have the Origin Live or Funk Firm shipped direct to you. Nope, these aren't cheap either, and quite complicated too. The Origin Live requires you to change the motor from an AC to a DC type, amongs other things, while the Funk Firm involves relocating the motor à la Pink Linnk. If you're not exactly a DIY techy person, these mods will have you chewing off your nails with anxiety and apprehension.

Hercules II PSU

So where does that leave our poor local Linnie who simply must have an upgraded PSU for his LP12? Enter the Hercules. Purportedly designed by a band of Linnies using the Valhalla as a template, the Hercules (now in MK. II guise) offers true upgrading and value-for-money. Installation is hassle-free and painless—not an absolute walk in the park, mind, but it ain't brain surgery either. The difficult part is getting the LP12 in a position where you can remove the original pre-Basik, Basik or Valhalla PSU without damaging anything. Once you have gotten that out of the way, the rest is easy as connecting the dots. Tip: hook up the power cable and on/off switch before you mount the Hercules. A minor complaint I have is the instruction manual, which could use better illustrations. I initially hooked up the ribbon cable the wrong way!

The SRM Ultimate LP12 Upgrade Kit

The SRM comprises 11 individual items which can be fixed to most LP12 models. You can choose to install one or two items or go the whole hog. The SRM kit is completely designed and manufactured by Stuart Michell of SRM in England.

The items in the Ultimate Enhancement kit comprise the Silent Base, Acrylic Platter Mat, Platter Damping Ring , Tripod Platter Support, Revolution Disc & Spindle Damping Device, Twin Motor Vibration Absorbers (MVA), Bearing Damping Rings (BDR), Main Bearing Spindle Support Pad (SPP), Ultimate Turntable Bearing Oil, Adjustable Motor Thrust Bearing and drive belt. (Coloured text indicates mods that I have installed). If you want to find out more about these items, check out: http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh204131/shophome.php

SRM/Tech also makes upgrades for the Planar 3 and Thorens decks.

What the SRM/Tech LP12 upgrade kit does is to address, in their opinion, some of the weak areas of the Sondek, from a structural and engineering perspective, and correct them. If there's one thing that compromises the sound of a great turntable, it is vibration being transmitted towards the cartridge and into the signal. Think of the SRM/Tech enhancement kit as little soldiers guarding any and all exit points by which stray vibration may escape, and halting them dead in their tracks (pun unintended). But before you begin ...

A warning!

Linn frowns upon any 'unauthorised' attempts to modify the Sondek LP12. Whatever you choose to put into your LP12 in the name of improvement, make sure you first read the LP12 setup manual carefully. In some cases, the SRM /Tech may overdamp the turntable, resulting in a dull and lacklustre sound. In the final analysis, what is perceived to be good sound is subjective, so adjust accordingly.

Setting-up

Installing the Hercules is straightforward and easy as pie. It sits on the cross brace bar and is secured by plastic clips.

On the other side of the scale, installing the SRM kit proved a little more tricky and will require a lot more time and patience to get it right. Rule of thumb is to install everything that goes into the chassis first.

If, at this point, you still do not know that you first have to disconnect the power cord from the wall socket before opening the LP12 baseboard, you have no right messing around with it !

The sound

I installed the Hercules first, without the SRM mods, then gave the LP12 a test run. Rummaging through my record bin, I pulled out for Nitin Sawhney's 12" 45rpm Breathing Light single. Now I daresay this record will sound good on any decent deck, and I've played it often on my unmodded LP12, and also on an Oracle Alexandria and a Rega Planar 3. This time round however, more details emerged—lightly tapped cymbals, and a more spacious soundstage.

Another surprise occurred when I played another favourite LP—Martha Argerich's live recording of Chopin's 1st piano concerto (Columbia OQ 7174 PM, Japan). During the quiet and introspective Larghetto, you can hear someone cough, twice. No, it wasn't Martha. This was a distinctly masculine cough. Incidentally, this performance of the Chopin was what bagged Martha the Chopin prize in 1965.

But I think the one thing that will blow Linnies off their stools is the bass. It's vivid, with bags of presence and even more important, images perfectly. It doesn't overwhelm the music like cheap boom-boxes, but its just more 'there'. I heard it on the Nitin single and on an old Yes LP, 1974's Relayer. Play the first cut on Side 2, Sound Chaser, and listen for yourself. Oh, I forgot to mention that the bass effect is audible even when listening at low levels, at least in my system.

Even with my mini monitors (Sonus Faber Concertino Domus), the scale and 'grandness' of the aforementioned Argerich./Chopin disc is so much more real, so very palpable. Never mind if the speakers would never be able to transport an orchestra and a grand piano into your room. But with sound this good, who cares anyway?

One thing's for sure—this change in the LP12's character will leave loyal Linnies either in raptures or in horror. There's defnitely no sitting on the fence with the Hercules II, and I absolutely belong in the former category!

Adding the SRM mods tightens up the overall presentation without blunting the edges. By the way, I also tried the SRM mods on an LP12 with the original pre-Basik PSU and the results were horrible, to say the least.

The verdict

Hercules II PSU
For: Unbeatable value for a very well made item. Easy to operate and user-friendly. Fits most LP12 decks.
Against: Nothing really.

SRM/Tech LP12 Ultimate Enhancement Kit
For: Attempts to damp the LP12 from resonances generated by the motor, bearing and platter assembly. My favourite mod is the Silent Base. I'd recommend anyone to immediately throw out the cheapo flimsy fibreboard that came standard with some early model LP12's.
Against: Some mods may not have the desired effect. The key is to experiment.

Associated equipment: LP12 (serial no. 038417), Linn Ittok LVII, Audio Technica ATC-03, Thorhauge MC FET preamp, conrad-johnson PV-11 preamp, Quicksilver GE 8417 mono amps, Sonus Faber Concertino Domus, AFA Hera speaker cables, Vecteur interconnects.