I’ve never been taken with the LP12; and not for lack of exposure. But I will say this; that is the first LP12 that actually looks nice to my eyes.
The softer lines and curves. Wonderful.
4 Likes
Ive would never be associated with a design as hideous as that SME.
7 Likes
I’m an old skool fluted afro plinth kinda guy, but I think the LP12/50 looks quite nice. Certainly better than the dreadful-looking Solstice and all the bling oilrig TTs one sees nowadays. If I were a multi-millionaire, I would certainly take a punt on one of the 250 units.
Gilad getting the world’s most famous designer to collaborate was a bit of a coup, and should get Linn lots of coverage (even if some of it will inevitably be negative).
Hopefully the technological improvements on this deck will eventually trickle down to us mere mortal LP12 owners.
Final thought – this announcement will really wind [all the right] people up, which is something Linn have been excelling at for the past half century. More to power to 'em, I say!
17 Likes
Ha ha, I never claimed it was pretty! Just making the 50K comparison, and that it would have interesting if Ive and Linn had created a new deck to move Linn forward with some fresh thinking and engineering.
Agree, Ive’s association is a real marketing gem.
Also, not sure if Ive chose a Rega P8 for some sort of design award, memory could be playing tricks though.
1 Like
Oh do they? That’s nice. I looked up my Naim boxes when I had such access …
1 Like
At least the SME exhibits function over form (IMHO), whereas £50k for an LP12, even a limited edition one is, IMHO again, something of a farce – this for a company which employed SME to design the Keel (evident from an SME factory tour vid) and has, over the years, denied the possibility that 3rd-party plinths could improve the sound.
2 Likes
I wonder what this would sound like on it
My Linn elite dealer talked about this quite some time ago. I wonder who will buy this
1 Like
Polish and picture Fraim Souvenir.
Bet loads would like it unique. 
I noticed you made one edit of this post.
Smelling mistake?
Just imagine what it would cost if Linn had been paying Ive for his design work!
1 Like
Good shout getting Jony Ive doing the styling, hes the Apple designer who went freelance
Its most likely 55k for Jony and 5k for the deck 
3 Likes
5 Likes
£50k for new metal hinges, plywood plinth, and a circular power button sounds great vfm……. £50k for any turntable is just ludicrous, the world’s gone mad
14 Likes
Almost ‘snap’. Mine is almost 37 years old - one of the first Valhalla models in ash black. It was a crazy decision to spend the refund of my police pension after an ignominious and disastrous 18 months. The autumn of 1986, and in the face of the demise of vinyl. As it turns out, buying the LP12 and keeping my vinyl was one of the best decisions I made LOL. I wish I had gone for one of the natural wood finishes rather than black, but that was the premium finish at the time (and extra £40 I seem to recall).
It’s much upgraded though: Several motors, Ittok from Basik Plus tonearm, Cirkus bearing, several new lids, an outer platter, and most recently totally new electronics and external power supply. I spent £2.5k last year when I only meant to have a general service! It would be interesting to total up everything I’ve spent over 37 years. It would be a lot less than £50k though!
4 Likes
They decided on the price tag just as a reminder of the 50th anniversary…?
5 Likes
Ah yes, but divide the cost of the deck by the number of hours that you’ve spent listening to it, and you’ll be able to convince yourself that it was a bargain!
2 Likes
Very true.
2 Likes
I’d never heard of Jony Ive or Lovefrom before this thread ( I don’t follow the hifi or tech press at all, & the only Apple thing I’ve ever owned is an mp3 player - can’t think of the name: a Nano?)
The Linn 50 looks ‘OK’…better than some of these ostentatious bling ‘oilrig’ decks for sure. Like Statement, the price is so far outside my limits I wouldn’t even dream of one… it would look much better with flutes, but I think almost any LP12 does.
I admit - this is a totally pointless post, but…
Happy 50th Linn and Naim!
3 Likes
In a world where people happily spend £5,000 on a mains cable, ten times that for a whole turntable doesn’t sound so bad. It’s a rich person’s plaything, but that doesn’t stop it from being rather lovely.
6 Likes