I hardly use my LP12. It’s a black plinth with Lingo 2, Ittok LVII, Cirkus and an Audio Technica VM750SH.
Should I upgrade it or flog it / trade in?
Sell it and use the money on service for your other boxes. It will be expensive.
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Why don’t you use it"?
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If it’s serviced and properly setup then probably not for you unless it’s the cartridge as I’m not a fan of the more expensive AT carts but many people really like them.
Alternatively, you could take some funds out of it by selling the Lingo and cartridge and getting a £100 Majik PSU and £30 VM95E cartridge, assuming you don’t mind loosing 45rpm. The Majik will fit in the plinth and free up some shelf space.
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Seriously, I’d recommend using it for a while. I couldn’t live without my LP12, in terms of the level of enjoyment I get from listening to my records. CDs or streaming just don’t come close. No need for an upgrade. If you already have plenty of vinyl, get stuck in?
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I think this is the key question.
@Camphuw - I only have a planar 3 but have not used it in over a year. I do love the sound of vinyl and will only listen to certain albums in that format but I seem to be busy and/or multi tasking such that I’ve switched to a more convenient format.
I do miss using vinyl and for that matter CD.
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You have a, what on paper looks like, good deck. Why don’t you use it and what makes you think throwing money at it will make you use it?
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Depends upon your record collection, how many you have, if you want to enjoy them, or are you sick of the sight of them?
A small collection that is easily duplicated with digital maybe just as well to cut and run and make life easy without the fumbling around with records.
On the other hand vinyl can be a joyful pleasure, but it ain’t cheap upgrading an LP12.
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Sounds like a lovely LP12 deck to me and should be good enough for your system.
I guess we need to understand why you don’t use it.
I have done a wealth of LP12 upgrades, which has made the sound clearer and cleaner.
However, I have always found the deck listenable. Upgrades don’t necessarily make you want to play more records.
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Good question. I bought in 2020 because I had recovered my record collection from 30 years previous. I had by then been using a NDS with my system and I wanted to enjoy those records; however, I found that streaming produced a more enjoyable sound to the LP12.
I had been assured that the LP12 would be comparable to the NDS; but to my ears it wasn’t.
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This is not a solution I had considered. But isn’t the Majik a retrograde step? I have about about 70 12inch discs so losing that functionality would be a pity.
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I think I have overlooked a significant factor; my amplification requires a service. But then in 2020 it had been serviced only 8 years earlier.
@Debs you make a sensible observation. I have around 500 LPs. I do miss the analogue days … but I have been seduced by the digital sound.
@Dan_M I don’t want to throw money at upgrades, and as I have suggested to debs it is perhaps a question of nostalgia.
I have long been an adherent of the appreciation of analogue sound. It made sense to my scientific understanding of sound. Perhaps, my ears are not so sensitive and my brain has become accustomed to digital sound.
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I am surprised that the LP12 isn’t as enjoyable as your NDS tbf.
I have had the NDS with 555PS. And ran an LP12 alongside as main sources for many years. And with 52 and 82 and 135s.
The LP12 with a great phono stage, Keel and Ekos 2 could work extremely well. And a better cart.
You may not need to do too many upgrades to get it where you want it to be.
I got my LP12 sounding amazing with Ekos 2 and Dynavector XX2Mk11. With a Kore and Karousel. But the Cirkus bearing should be good enough. I used a Lingo 1 and it was not lacking at all.
I am not sure what you want to do? Do you want to start trying things one by one to see if it yields an improvement?
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Hi. I found my LP12 took its biggest step forward when I changed the sub-chassis, in my case to a third party one. I didn’t want to pay Linn prices. I believe this was mainly/partly due to getting rid of the wooden arm board held on by 3 tiny screws. The cirkus bearing is fine but the Karousel gives a bit more weight to the sound. Please don’t go delving into different power supplies before improving the mechanics of the deck between bearing and stylus. ( my view).
Not heard your cart but AT carts have a reputation for being detailed lean and bright. Not sure if that is part of your issue.
I have heard “better” decks than my Linn but many seem clean, detailed, cold, emotionless, and boring. A direction Linn have headed in a bit over the years.
Hope this helps.
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I thought since you hardly use it then you might prefer this option and still have the ability to play the occasional record.
And yes, assuming your lingo 2 does not need a service (mine did after ~18 years) then the majik is a downgrade.
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I wouldn’t change the Lingo 2 or Cirkus bearing. I would potentially change to Kore or Keel and a used Ekos 2 and cart.
For me Ekos 2, Kore with Dynavector XX2Mk11 was the sweet spot.
But it sounds like @Camphuw doesn’t want to do any upgrades at all.
These upgrades could be done used relatively inexpensively by the right dealer.
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It looks like you’ve answered your own question there 
Just my 2cents worth, but considering the ‘last century level’ your LP is at, it would take a few expensive upgrades to bring it up to comparable modern digital standard. I think the standard of replay you seek from the music far exceeds the capabilities of your existing LP12.
If you’ve been hardly using it, then a half-way house option is to sell the LP12 but store your vinyl collection safely away. Live without it for the while.
After the passage of some time, a year or three, you can decide either to buy another turntable or; if accustomed to not needing it in perhaps sell your records.
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LP12 isn’t as enjoyable as a NDS probably due to setup – I went through all these, as virtually no dealers able to setup a LP12 at my side. Went through lot of trials and errors.
I mean even sitting on different area of the rack could result in either a right sound or dull sound, not to mention the suspension system etc. So as Naim’s CD players actually, but of course streamers are less like so.
If you still willing to get it an overhaul it worths you take it to LP12 experts for a service and you will rediscover the fun of LPs.
As Dan said all generations of LP12 sounds really good.
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Are you sure that is a good goal? Lol.
I’ve not heard a modern CD player that sounds as enjoyable as a good 20/30 yr old player.
Plus I have not heard a streamer that has made me open my wallet. Perhaps I am just set in my ways. Some/most of the modern systems I hear at hifi shows are unlistenable after 10 mins. Slight exaggeration but some truth imho.
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