Linn Sondek LP12
Vintage & classic turntables · 1973–present In production
— typical US used price · originally £86 (1973)
Ivor Tiefenbrun's suspended-subchassis belt-drive of 1973 built on the Ariston/Thorens template with a superior single-point bearing, and its 'source first' marketing reshaped British hi-fi. Still in production today, every part upgradeable, so vintage examples can be brought fully up to date.
Britain's most famous turntable — over 50 years in continuous production with a unique upgrade ecosystem.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history, especially the belt, bearing and stylus.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | two-piece machined zinc-alloy (mazak) |
| Tonearm | none (sold armless; commonly Grace, Ittok, Akito) |
| Years | 1973–present |
Cartridge and replacement stylus
The fitted cartridge is not mapped to a verified replacement part. See the model-specific stylus guidance →
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Linn Sondek LP12…
Retailer searches
2 US retailers stock Linn — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |
Compare it
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